Prisoner, a new six-part action thriller on the BBC, is undeniably silly. The premise follows prison guard Amber (Izuka Hoyle) and contract killer Tibor Stone (Tahar Rahim), who are handcuffed together and on the run from a super evil crime syndicate. It's fun, but cor, is it stupid.
The story begins with Amber returning from maternity leave and volunteering for overtime to transport a special prisoner, Tibor Stone, from an isolated hideaway to the Old Bailey. Stone is a key witness against Harrison Dempsey (Brían F O'Byrne), head of the Pegasus Crime Syndicate. The National Crime Unit, led by Alex (Eddie Marsan) and Josephine (Catherine McCormack), has spent seven years building the case, which hinges entirely on Stone's testimony.
Of course, an ambush ensues. Kapow! Boom! Shooty-shooty! The van is overturned, and Amber handcuffs herself to Stone to prevent his escape. From there, the pair are pursued by Nina (Leonie Benesch), a splinter of Tilda Swinton, and face a series of increasingly improbable action set pieces, insulin shots for Stone's Type 3 diabetes, and ethical dilemmas for Amber.
The script is riddled with plot holes and weak performances, but the action is slick and fast-paced. Viewers may find themselves questioning why characters run over glass panes instead of joists, or why the NCU keeps repeating the stakes. But for those seeking unchallenging, pleasant company, Prisoner delivers mindless fun.
