Leo Woodall’s Apple thriller sinks
In Apple TV+’s new spy thriller, “Prime Target,” created by Steve Thompson, Ph.D. candidate Edward Brooks (Leo Woodall) is about to discover a new way to view prime numbers. But as he gets closer to developing his key finder, which could decrypt every digital key on Earth, the Luddite finds himself hunted by a series of interested parties. While some people don’t want to see Ed’s life’s work realized, others covet it for themselves, and even more want him dead. Taylah Sanders (Quintessa Swindell), a National Security Agency (NSA) agent who sees what Ed is dealing with and who has been monitoring mathematicians around the world, takes it upon herself to protect him. Despite the fascinating themes, ‘Prime Target’ is a dense and – as it progresses – increasingly boring program. It never really gains momentum and disappears before it even gets started.
The eight-episode series begins on the streets of Baghdad, Iraq. A young mother and daughter walk across the market to an ice cream parlor. The woman briefly stops at the ATM and is caught off guard when an explosion rips through, causing chaos, death and destruction. On the other side of the world, Ed, an aloof mathematician, is unimpressed by his new advisor, Professor Robert Mallinder (David Morrissey). His former advisor, Professor Raymond Osborne (Joseph Mydell), retired due to Alzheimer’s disease, making Ed uneasy about forming a bond with Mallinder. That all changes when, during a revealing dinner with Mallinder and his wife, Professor Andrea Lavin (Sidse Babett Knudsen) tricks Ed into showing the pair his research.
Ed’s discoveries send Mallidner into a panicky tailspin and lead Andrea, an archaeologist, to the streets of Baghdad, where the recent gas explosion has unearthed the remains of The House of Wisdom, an 8th-century library from which modern science emerged. This sequence of events puts Ed on Taylah’s radar and bonds the pair despite their deep distrust of each other and inability to agree on how to move forward with Ed’s formula. The duo’s race between Britain and France to avoid interested parties and complete Ed’s dissertation should be fascinating. Unfortunately, their incompetence and inexperience with covert operations result in numerous arguments. Ed’s stubbornness and a slew of chaotic and ill-conceived plans dampen the excitement of the series.
In addition to Ed and Taylah’s quest, “Prime Target” has a number of other glaring problems. The series tries to distinguish itself from previous spy thrillers, but relies too heavily on math and alternating timelines and not enough on the humanity of Ed and Taylah. Films like ‘Good Will Hunting’ and ‘The Bourne Identity’ franchise resonate because of their compelling main characters, the emotional richness of the stories and the shocking action. “Prime Target” is missing on all fronts. While it’s clear that Ed is a recluse and has neurodivergent tendencies, he’s almost completely deprived of much-needed emotional connection and personal development. Furthermore, Taylah is so focused on erasing her personal guilt that she is reckless and tiresome in her attempts to protect Ed.
‘Prime Target’ has elements that make dramatic thrillers so appealing. Yet the plot fails to generate excitement and anticipation, tripping over itself in terms of characters, locations and very predictable subplots. It’s pretty clear what’s at stake for the world when Ed completes his main quest. Unfortunately, because the audience is pulled in a million different directions (many of them unnecessarily), viewers are unable to cultivate any real connection with him or Taylah. Although the penultimate episode, “Prime Finder,” attempts to regain the momentum lost in previous episodes, the final scene is so baffling and ridiculous that there is little reason to look for any conclusion.
“Prime Target” feels like several TV shows jumbled together, and unfortunately the main storyline isn’t even the most interesting. Instead, the audience is left wondering about the background characters and unanswered questions. Woodall and Swindell do their best to navigate the storylines and dialogue, but to no avail. The mathematical equations, near-death experiences and terrifying confrontations with government authorities end with a dull thud. Cracking the code for global digital security should be a monumental undertaking, but when the consequences seem so insignificant, it’s hardly worth the effort.
The first two episodes of “Prime Target” will premiere on Apple TV+ on January 22, with new episodes released weekly on Wednesdays.
