Richard Madden’s $300 million “Citadel” receives terrible reviews - will Hollywood finally sour on the Russo Bros.?
The Russos promised Hollywood (specifically streaming services) they would bring Marvel-sized magic to the small screen and sold streamers on the idea that they could create their own “cinematic universes” in which a shared story would exist over multiple entertainment programs.
Instead their brand has become synonymous with “formulaic”… “generic”… “derivative”… “cliched”… “boring”… “bland”… “cheap-looking”… and expensive
Their reputation has gotten so bad that many reviews for Chris Evans’s Apple turkey “Ghosted” actually pointed out that they were surprised it wasn’t a Russo Bros. movie.
Citadel had preemptively received a two season order due to peak streaming foolishness so Amazon is being forced to stick with this turkey for another year.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 58 | October 13, 2024 1:42 AM
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I'm just about to watch this. OP's Rotten Tomatoes link shows the critics thought it was average but the fans loved it.
Anyway watched it yet?
by Anonymous | reply 1 | April 28, 2023 12:07 PM
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The show literally premiered today. Fans did not “love it.” Insane fangirls logged in to elevate the score before even bothering to watch the series.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | April 28, 2023 12:11 PM
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Yeah I wondered that too R2. Agreed. Rabid fangurls left all those reviews. OK I'll give it a watch.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | April 28, 2023 12:14 PM
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Reddit seems pretty split on it from what I could see. Even the ones who liked it say it's just okay. The problem is that a non-fantasy show that doesn't rely on special effects and purpose-built worlds can't be "just okay" after you've spent $300 million on it.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | April 28, 2023 12:16 PM
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Brittany Witherspoon thinks it’s “tremendous.”
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 6 | April 28, 2023 12:34 PM
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If you have to go all the way down to Screen Rant to find a good review, you have a problem.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | April 28, 2023 12:46 PM
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I don't know which is worse - “formulaic”… “generic”… “derivative”… “cliched”… “boring”… “bland”… “cheap-looking”… and expensive or to have such a high audience rating for such a series.
It says a LOT about audiences that they actually like this kind of crap.
by Anonymous | reply 9 | April 28, 2023 1:10 PM
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Madden will need some twinks to comfort him
by Anonymous | reply 10 | April 28, 2023 1:14 PM
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[quote] Brittany Witherspoon thinks it’s “tremendous.”
Any relation to Reese Murphy-Spears?
by Anonymous | reply 11 | April 28, 2023 3:28 PM
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[quote] How’s Froy holding up?
R8 Even the boytoy must know it's a dud because he hasn't liked anything on Madden's instagram for several posts now, nor have they even been in the same city for the past month or more.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | April 28, 2023 4:33 PM
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R12 Is he allowed to while hubby is promoting and doing PR?
Richard Madden really threw his career down the toilet trying to cover up his sexuality. He went from the next big thing to a ghost because of those Brandon Flynn photos. He became a recluse and never recovered. Then all his projects bombed and his fans are bored by how private he is. It’s not even interesting following them.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | April 28, 2023 6:19 PM
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Well, Froy did like the most recent post. Fangirls are cheering once again.
by Anonymous | reply 14 | April 29, 2023 1:19 AM
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Richard Madden wasn’t heralded as The Next Big Thing on GOT, Kit Harington was
That hasn’t gone well either
by Anonymous | reply 15 | April 29, 2023 1:23 AM
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IMO the problem with Dicky is that he chose flashy projects that his agent encouraged him to do and probably paid well, but didn’t pan out. In reality he may have had a better career if he had chosen to do Bodyguard Season 2.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | April 29, 2023 1:26 AM
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No, Richard WAS hailed as the big new thing but fizzled after The Red Wedding.
Kit was not meant to be the main sex symbol at first. Closeted Richard was.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | April 29, 2023 1:29 AM
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A Sears Catalog disguised as a show
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 19 | April 30, 2023 12:12 AM
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There’s literally no buzz on social media for this, despite the massive marketing push it’s an instant bomb, I wonder if Amazon could potentially cancel the second season and figure it is more economic to pay the not-insignificant penalties than to actually be burdened with marketing a show no one wants to see. We saw this kind of thing with HBO’s second season of Perry Mason which just appeared with almost no promotion this spring.
by Anonymous | reply 21 | April 30, 2023 3:10 PM
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[quote] Richard Madden really threw his career down the toilet trying to cover up his sexuality. He went from the next big thing to a ghost because of those Brandon Flynn photos. He became a recluse and never recovered. Then all his projects bombed and his fans are bored by how private he is. It’s not even interesting following them.
Being openly gay has NEVER helped a leading man in the whole history of Hollywood. I should know.
by Anonymous | reply 22 | April 30, 2023 3:18 PM
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Yes but Matt Bomer is more of a Froy-caliber actor. Like even if Froy was straight he was never going to be a big leading man.
by Anonymous | reply 23 | April 30, 2023 3:45 PM
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[quote] Yes but Matt Bomer is more of a Froy-caliber actor. Like even if Froy was straight he was never going to be a big leading man.
Uh, Bomer is definitely a higher caliber actor than Froy. C'mon now.
I'd say Bomer and Madden are fairly comparable. Both are competent, decent actors, but nothing all that unique or extraordinary. Their looks are their calling card.
by Anonymous | reply 24 | May 1, 2023 8:27 AM
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Richard seems fairly awkward here.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 25 | May 1, 2023 8:52 AM
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The burning question is whether it’s as big a disappointment as Rings of Power which I was looking forward to then had to give up on after a couple of episodes. Richard is cute but life is too short for crappy or mediocre tv.
by Anonymous | reply 26 | May 1, 2023 8:56 AM
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R25 He seems awkward when it comes to anything these days. He doesn't come off as a fully confident, grown man comfortable in his own skin.
by Anonymous | reply 27 | May 1, 2023 10:25 AM
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R27 that’s what I thought. Tbh his body language and behaviour in that little clip reminded me of myself when I was maybe my teens or twenties and had very little self-confidence and wasn’t at all comfortable in my own skin. Madden is this highly successful and ridiculously handsome Hollywood actor yet clearly still has his issues, as we all do. Stanley Tucci on the other hand, while looking a fair bit older now, exudes confidence which is attractive.
by Anonymous | reply 28 | May 1, 2023 10:34 AM
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Well Hollywood for most actors is kind of a bipolar business, the excitement and ego-building of being attached to a hit, and the crushing defeat of being attached to a failure. Tucci is a character actor who will always have steady well paying work; but Richard is the star, he is the face of the series, and not only it is a gigantic turkey, unlike almost all other turkeys which actors can bury quickly in the rear view mirror, because of the bizarre business deal which resulted in a two season order, he’s yoked to this thing for another year.
Think of this as analogous to what happened with Batman V Superman, the cast seemed optimistic when making it and genuinely devastated when it was crucified upon release, and then they had to go back and start filming Justice League right way, which turned out to be one of the unhappiest, drama-filled shoots ever.
by Anonymous | reply 29 | May 1, 2023 11:15 AM
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[quote] Uh, Bomer is definitely a higher caliber actor than Froy.
String disagree, Bomer was a soap opera actor at Froy’s age, there’s no reason why Froy wouldn’t be able to have a similar career path. A pleasant actor who coasts on a beautiful face.
Richard is the real deal, he can actually act circles around those two.
by Anonymous | reply 30 | May 1, 2023 11:20 AM
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Matt Bomer has a way better career than Richard Madden. He’s not a leading man but he’s a character actor, which I don’t think he’d have ever been had he not come out as gay. He’d have been a failed leading actor who disappeared had he not come out.
It doesn’t matter if Madden is the better actor, Matt is better looking, he’s a non-recluse who will work events and the red carpet and interviews, and he has more personality.
Madden has absolutely nothing. A man hiding a secret. That he’s gay.
by Anonymous | reply 31 | May 1, 2023 11:34 AM
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[quote]Matt Bomer has a way better career than Richard Madden.
Madden makes more money than Bomer.
by Anonymous | reply 32 | May 1, 2023 11:55 AM
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Matt Bomer is not really a character actor, he’s just kind of niche lead. If he is a lead in a project and the whole thing revolves around him, he can do OK but if you put him in an ensemble piece he fades right into the background (Magic Mike, AHS, Boys in the Band).
Richard is a star and a star is the person who is always the most interesting person on the screen even when they are not the main character.
by Anonymous | reply 33 | May 1, 2023 12:05 PM
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R33 Yeah but his movies have sucked. He hasn’t done anything notable since “Rocketman” and that’s a stretch. He was big during “Bodyguard”.
by Anonymous | reply 34 | May 1, 2023 12:09 PM
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He hasn’t done anything because he’s been filming this thing. Duh.
Some people think show business projects just appear miraculously like hard candies in grandma’s purse.
by Anonymous | reply 35 | May 1, 2023 12:16 PM
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He's also far too lean. So now his face is gaunt. Josh Segarra has the same issue in Scream 6: he is 36 but his face makes him appear to be 10 years older.
by Anonymous | reply 36 | May 1, 2023 12:16 PM
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[quote] Richard is a star and a star is the person who is always the most interesting person on the screen even when they are not the main character.
If Madden is such a star, why does his stuff bomb so much these days? Why isn't he getting better picks at top projects (he couldn't even land the Gladiator gig)? Even in ensemble things, Richard also fades to the back. In Eternals, the other actors took attention in the film, even with less screen time, and even in this new show, folks seem to be talking far more about Chopra and Tucci than Richard. And if a star is "the most interesting person on the screen", why doesn't that translate into him being a real household name (of which he's really not, not in the way his fans think he is), and major projects being sold on his name and image alone? I mean, the man isn't even interesting in real life in interviews, press, etc. He comes off defensive and guarded, and practically lives as a recluse. That's not star power.
by Anonymous | reply 37 | May 1, 2023 2:11 PM
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Richard Madden will always be too short for that gesture.
by Anonymous | reply 38 | May 1, 2023 2:35 PM
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Bomer is like a Ken doll who can deliver lines. I'm surprised he didn't get the part in Barbie.
Madden is like his little sister, Skipper.
by Anonymous | reply 39 | May 1, 2023 2:41 PM
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Wow, Amazon using its shows as interactive product catalogs is either brilliant or the most cynical development of the streaming era.
I was thinking about watching this, but everything about it just seems so generic. It really does look like an AI-generated series.
by Anonymous | reply 40 | May 1, 2023 3:22 PM
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What’s the story with Richard and Froy? Are they still spotted together?
by Anonymous | reply 41 | May 1, 2023 4:32 PM
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Sometimes they are striped r41.
by Anonymous | reply 42 | May 1, 2023 4:34 PM
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R37
BECAUSE NOBODY EVER SAID LIFE IS FAIR
by Anonymous | reply 43 | May 1, 2023 4:51 PM
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With this being such a colossal bomb I wonder if they could potentially move this to FreeVee for Season 2. At least get some money back.
by Anonymous | reply 44 | May 1, 2023 4:53 PM
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[quote]I was thinking about watching this, but everything about it just seems so generic.
I watched the first two episodes, and generic is exactly the right term for it.
by Anonymous | reply 45 | May 1, 2023 4:55 PM
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NGL Richard seems somewhat ashamed of it.
by Anonymous | reply 46 | May 1, 2023 5:03 PM
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[quote] What’s the story with Richard and Froy? Are they still spotted together?
R41 As for pap pics, they have not been spotted together since last summer (when Froy was caught hiding behind the pillar on the hotel balcony in Italy). Since then, nothing. As for this year, Richard has been promoting Citadel all over the place, and is also shooting his new movie in Greece. Froy has been living in LA.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | May 2, 2023 1:09 AM
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Read between the lines
“ “Citadel, the #1 title on Prime! In its series debut, this show attracted one of the largest global audiences in the history of Prime Video – such an incredible performance for new and original IP,” Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke wrote on Instagram.”
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 48 | May 5, 2023 12:06 AM
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The thing with streaming outlets is they keep all real stats behind closed doors, and much of what they do put out is PR propaganda to hype the products. We've seen plenty of shows do well enough, supposedly, in the top tens of these various streaming outlets (some even number 1), and then only end up cancelled too after 1 season. So who really knows.
That said, if they really do make another season, they don't need to spend 300 million. It's obviously getting a major budget cut.
by Anonymous | reply 49 | May 5, 2023 7:27 AM
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Great points R49. It’s also worth noting that Amazon is getting a 25 million (?? Correct me if I am wrong on the amount) tax break to film season 2 in California. Plus it will not be filming under the Covid protocols they had to follow in 2021 and early 2022 and they have a creative team in place then seem to be pleased with, so reshoots should be minimal. There should be no way season 2 of this show is close to 300 million and if it is, something is very wrong!
by Anonymous | reply 50 | May 9, 2023 12:26 PM
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She was on stern show and she is insufferable. She’s so full of herself and he fake gushing over her obvious Mary of a Husband is the worst case of acting. Her fake “I got bad plastic surgery because I needed sinus surgery not to make myself for white and marketable” is laughable.
by Anonymous | reply 51 | May 9, 2023 12:36 PM
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[quote] An orphaned teenager traverses the American West with a sweet but mysterious robot and an eccentric drifter in search of her younger brother.
Only other thing the Russo bros have coming out is this starring Chris Pratt on Netflix. It sounds so terrible it may actually finally finish them off.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 52 | May 9, 2023 12:39 PM
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Madden was best in Bodyguard and Bomer was best in White Collar.
by Anonymous | reply 53 | May 9, 2023 12:40 PM
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It failed to Nielsen chart
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 54 | June 12, 2023 12:22 AM
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Italian spinoff/continuation "Citadel: Diana" is now streaming and this is the lead's hairstyle throughout the show.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 55 | October 10, 2024 6:46 PM
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Really, R55? Oof. I knew the spinoff premiered today – hoping it's better than the still rather bizarre original. The second spinoff ("Citadel: Honey Bunny") is set in India and comes out next month, and while the main series was renewed for a second season, there haven't been *any* updates since it first aired over 18 months ago, even after the Hollywood strikes ended. Odd.
by Anonymous | reply 56 | October 10, 2024 7:24 PM
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[quote]Citadel: Honey Bunny
You have got to be joking me with these titles.
by Anonymous | reply 57 | October 10, 2024 7:28 PM
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Anyone else watching the "Diana" spinoff? No spoilers, except for one that seems to apply to the original show: not sure if I somehow missed it – or if "Diana" is basically attempting to retcon it in – but was there any indication (aside from the admittedly ridiculous gadgetry seen in any given Bond or Mission: Impossible movie) that the movie wasn't set in the present? I'm asking because the first scene in "Diana" establishes the year as 2030, and it also quite specifically takes place eight years after the fall of Citadel – as shown in that show's opening scene set on a bullet train in the Alps.
To be fair, the technology on the original show was over the top even by Bond standards, and it makes much more sense for the show to be set in the near future. If so: "Citadel" must also be set in 2030, with flashbacks to everything that happened in 2022. It also establishes Manticore as having been founded in 2017. Still, I *really* don't remember anything along these lines in the original show (which I may need to rewatch just to find out), and the foundational event in "Diana" – set immediately after Citadel's fall in 2022 – is the destruction of the Duomo in Milan. (No, this isn't a spoiler. Again, it's the first scene after the opening credits. The mystery lies in the how & why it was blown up.)
Anyway, "Diana" has the same problem as the original in terms of brevity – six episodes wouldn't be enough even if they were an hour each, but many on both clock in at 35-40 minutes – but is MUCH better on whole. I never liked that the original launched with such a blindingly obvious "hey this show cost us $300 fucking million, so we're gonna blown 40% of it on an all-FX bullet train derailing" sequence. "Diana" has a very effective opening scene without the stunt theatrics.
And yes, they kinda-sorta explain Diana's ridiculous haircut.
by Anonymous | reply 58 | October 13, 2024 1:42 AM
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