This 6-Episode Netflix thriller has a 93% RT score, and it's too good to miss

Netflix isn’t new to gripping thrillers. But every now and then, it drops a gem, and you forget to breathe the whole time. Bodyguard is exactly that.

This British political thriller has just six episodes. So, it might not look like much when it comes to the count. But it has a lot more tension and excitement than many shows that are double its length. And the 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes proves it. It has earned every bit of appreciation and critical acclaim.

Created by Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty, Cardiac Arrest, Bodies), Bodyguard stars Richard Madden. You might know him as Robb Stark of Game of Thrones. He is David Budd, who is a war veteran turned police protection officer.

When he's assigned to safeguard a controversial politician, Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), things turn into a maze of distrust, secrets, and shocking twists and turns. It’s a rare kind of show that gives you action and character depth as well as political intrigue. And it is addictive!

Though it is from the year 2018, Bodyguard is still making waves on Netflix. There are many reasons why it is still being streamed and added to favorites' lists by viewers even after years of its original BBC release. But maybe it's the phenomenal performance from Madden (who, by the way, snagged a Golden Globe for this role).

Or maybe it’s the writing: how it manages to be sharp, fearless, and disturbingly close to real-world events. Whatever may be the reason, if you're a fan of great storytelling that will not let you down, Bodyguard should be the next thing on your Netflix queue.

Bodyguard on Netflix proves length doesn't matter

Six episodes don’t sound like a lot in the age of sprawling ten-season dramas. But that’s the genius of Bodyguard. It knows exactly what it’s doing and wastes no time.

Right from the opening scene set aboard a train with a possible suicide bomber, you’re thrown right into the plot. There's tension and some edge-of-the-seat moments. Netflix has a lot of slow-burners, but this one doesn’t wait around.

Richard Madden’s performance is a revelation. His portrayal of David Budd is layered. He is tough but vulnerable, stoic but breaking beneath the surface. You can see even the slightest doubt in his eyes and every twitch of his unresolved trauma.

His chemistry with Keeley Hawes is another highlight. Their dynamic crackles with tension politically and personally. You never quite know what’s real between them, which makes things unpredictable.

Netflix shows sometimes struggle to balance plot and emotion, but Bodyguard gets it just right. It’s not only about terrorist threats or conspiracies but about a man at war with his past who is struggling to hold his life together. And all of that while he figures out his job. The action sequences are brilliant, but what stays with you, undoubtedly, is Budd’s performance.

There’s also something strangely satisfying about watching a complete story in just six episodes. You won't find any moment that seems like a filler. It is simply compelling storytelling that respects your time and rewards your attention.

Netflix has been coming up with shorter formats, and Bodyguard might be one of its best success stories in that department. It’s the kind of show you can binge in a day, but you’ll be thinking about it long after it ends.

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