The "Paris Has Fallen" series is an exploration of a predictable action pattern with a quest for an unusual rendition of it. The protagonist, Gerard Butler, fights to protect places or people against anonymous terrorists just like in previous action films. This series, however, seems to be lacking some qualities of its big-screen inspirations.
Produced by StudioCanal in the UK, the series begins with a terrorist attack led by a skilled leader played by Sean Harris. The targets: a party at the British Embassy in Paris. With the help of the French minister's security head, Vincent (Tewfik Jallab), and an undercover MI6 agent, Zara (Ritu Arya), the terrorist plan gets thwarted. But it does not end there as the elusive Harris' character slips away, leaving Vincent and Zara tasking themselves to hunt him down and unveil his motives.
The first half of the series follows a predictable, yet engaging, pattern of Vincent and Zara tracking Harris’ next target and unveiling the backstory of a failed mission in Afghanistan that seems to trigger his vengeance. While the action scenes, directed by Oded Ruskin, wonderfully capture the high tension, the development of the lead characters appeared less captivating.
Yet, the series shines through the exceptional performance of Sean Harris. His voice and reptilian rasp add a fascinating perspective to his villain role, even drawing some sort of sympathy for his character.
Despite the efforts to create a unique blend of drama and action, the series has underwhelmed with its repetitive narrative and somewhat uninspiring lead characters. For some viewers, watching the series might result in wishing to see pure action scenes before they doze off rather than enduring tedious character backstories and interpersonal issues.
Overall, the "Paris Has Fallen" series delivers a blend of action and drama that can vary in interest depending on individual expectations and preferences. The series is currently streaming on Hulu.
