Prime Target (2025)

The best parts of Prime Target are entrenched in the intellectual mystery of the plot, which brings out a heady conspiracy narrative somewhere between The Bourne Identity and National Treasure.

Even though it telegraphs its “surprises” way too often, it’s always entertaining — even as it gets tied up into plot knots by its end. As a bonus, Martha Plimpton co-stars and Stephen Rea appears in a smaller role. They get to chew a bit of the scenery, and it’s a welcome addition to this passable thriller that’s elevated by its lead star.

What “Prime Target” adds up to is an engaging, entertaining mix of scholarship and skullduggery that ultimately won’t do anything to convert those of us who thought math would be bad for our health.

The twists and turns of Prime Target defy explanation yet are delightful to unspool. .... I wasn’t sure if Prime Target had enough of a premise to sustain so many hours of viewing, yet I gleefully clicked through all eight screeners.

At times, the series could attempt to stand out a little more from the crowded pack of the spy genre, and it is also in periodic need of clarity over which force is in play for what reason, but overall, Prime Target is a well-performed, capably written, and well-structured spy thriller.

Basically, “Prime Target” is an engine to set two attractive young people on the run through a number of set pieces, interspersed with arguments about transparency and responsibility and whether there is such a thing as pure science in a dirty world.

A barmy but entertaining thriller.

It is derivative, preposterous, utterly unbelievable and great fun. It’s got confidence and style and is here to deliver escapism to the power of pi cubed, or something, and it does. Prime ridiculous entertainment.

While the show offers moments of brilliance, especially in its early episodes, it ultimately fails to deliver on the grand potential of its ideas, leaving a story that feels more like a tantalizingly unsolved equation than a world-changing mathematical breakthrough.

Ultimately realism isn’t the strong suit of “Prime Target.” .... A show about smart people that still allows you to turn down your brain and have a good time.

Poorly executed. Wanted to like it given the genre and had hope at the beginning, but it became insulting in its ridiculous story, poor acting (with some exceptions) and terrible script.

This film revolves around Leo Woodall (“White Lotus,” “One Day” & the young boyfriend in the new “Bridget Jones”). He plays a mathematics genius who’s working to find the prime number formula that would allow access to every password in the world. The financial sector and governments are against it, so he goes on the run with the help of an agent (Quintessa Swindell). There’s the potential for a typical political thriller, but show creator Steve Thompson has substituted action for math and mistrust. With his underplayed style, doe-eyed Woodall is continually compelling, seemingly hiding and/or struggling with so many issues, including his unique romantic entanglement. The show has intriguing aspects, but as with many series, it could have been tauter with fewer episodes. As it is, the **** concept isn’t especially original, as are none of the developments. The primary reason to watch is for Woodall’s charms, but that alone isn’t sufficient to make the series that strong. (Eight one-hour eps with an ending that's open for a 2nd season, but none has been announced.)

I wanted this show to be good… but it’s just not. I feel like my rating of 3 is generous… I promised myself I will watch the whole season, but I really hope that they put the show out of its misery and do not renew. I don’t care what questions are left unanswered. Issues: 1. technology: some of the ways they explain away circumstances is laughable. One scene has the lead needing to gain access to a system at a mysterious evil institution. How does he do it? Simple… waits til everyone leaves and conveniently happens upon a colleague’s username and password printed on a plastic card. Real secure! Not at all worried about doing this on camera. His spy sidekick effectively and coldly bullies him into doing it with zero guidance. Oh and though he succeeds at his mission - he of course is caught but no prob he just simply runs away from security through the front door. Yeah - a real locked down facility…. Another tech fail, our hero is being chased around the globe by the powers that be…. His boy toy hasn’t heard from him and is constantly texting him the whole time. Yet the feds can’t track him. UNTIL he finally decides to text back his beau?? Um……. If your phone is on (and his was) and it’s connected to internet/mobile networks (and his was) YOU ARE TRACKED. Many other shows know and acknowledge this. Not Prime Target. 2. Why are so many characters both cold and camp? It makes for an uneven experience that prevents you from warming up to any character… and it makes you laugh at moments you shouldn’t be laughing at. 3. The music is not giving. This is smaller but again it doesn’t bring you in it’s not inviting it’s jarring in a bad way. 4. The performances are so flat. This feels like it was meant for Netflix - just another throwaway to add content for the sake of adding content. Prime Target exists on the same platform as Severance… a show that continually blows minds week by week in a way that makes you feel, laugh, and get angry often all in the same episode. It feels like this show couldn’t dream of getting close to that. 5. Twists and conspiracies for the sake of twists and conspiracies. It’s forced - it’s not a gag everything that you could predict ends up happening basically. 6. This show thinks way too highly of itself while just missing the mark across the board. Booooooo all around… the one enjoyable constant? Visually gorgeous and prob shot on iPhone or whatever. But looks can only get you so far…

I made the mistake of watching the first two episodes, and feel compelled to stay awake through the final ones. There is no life to this-it is simply boring. This week's episode actually had some excitement to it- six weeks in, but I am waiting for the last episode to come so I can remove this from my watch next list.

Who writes this nonsense and who green lights it into production is a real mystery of Prime Target. As a viewer I want this to be interesting... but it is not. So much non-action is being told to us by actors telling us instead of showing. Too much of 'pensive moments', filled with empty looks into nothing... Booooring. Weird casting. Unclear if this is a teenage drama or action thriller. Unclear what is a "big stake" underlying the premise of the story. Main character is a tourist in its own story doing nothing and seems caring less about anything. Intriguingly bad. Well shot, locations etc but the story seems to be an afterthought. Who writes this nonsense and who green lights it into production is a real mystery of Prime Target.

They should insert dozens more gay scenes into the show. ...So the 3% who are gay can enjoy them.

It’s realization, cinematography and characters do the magic required from films: it makes an improbable premise believable. A plus: it’s aesthetic vibe

I find the show interesting and the cast is great. Leo Woodall gives a compelling performance

I find the basic premise of a prime number dominated universe actually fascinating, and after 2 episodes I find the series intriguing, original, and unflinchingly intelligent. Almost all the reviews I read think this show is a swing and a miss about a dude who can break all passwords and how unengaging a neurodivergent genius is as a protagonist - and maybe after finishing the series that'll make more sense. But for the time being I'm hooked.

There is no way that this show is 10-15 points worse than The Night Agent. So whoever made this happen just two days and two episodes in, needs a check. Reviewers?! Honestly?! Give it a chance. Besides anything, the "beautiful mind" intro is enjoyable.

Poor acting. Poor writing. Poor action. Don't need the sex. All in all: "skip completely and watch anything else."