‘Prime Target’ Review: Apple TV+’s Math-Themed Conspiracy Thriller Doesn’t Add Up to Much

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I don’t remember much about the calculus I learned in high school, as it was more than two decades ago since my last class. However, one thing that stands out is the emphasis placed on demonstrating your work rather than just the final result. The way we presented our reasoning and constructed our arguments was deemed equally important as reaching the correct answer.

The new Apple TV+ series titled Prime Target, while appearing well-funded, delivers an acceptable level of action that may leave you unimpressed and raises discussions that are relevant but not necessarily groundbreaking. However, it lacks depth by presenting flat characters rather than complex ones, and its dialogue is more declarative than engaging. Consequently, despite its efforts, the storyline fails to create a significant impact overall.

The main character, Ed (Leo Woodall), is a graduate student at Cambridge, standing on the brink of devising a theory to discover prime numbers. To him, this work represents a lofty purpose, an honorable endeavor aimed at unraveling the enigmas of the cosmos. He wonders aloud to a professor (David Morrissey), who seems troubled by Ed’s enthusiasm, whether perhaps the divine code on Earth, the fundamental structure of existence, is actually prime numbers themselves.

However, if it’s clear that Ed doesn’t care about the real-world implications of his research, others most definitely do. Organizations like the NSA are keenly observing, as they’ve identified potential risks to the global digital security framework from Ed’s work. Essentially, his mathematical formula could be seen as a dangerous weapon, capable of causing catastrophic damage – not just to personal privacy, but also to sensitive information such as bank accounts and even national defense systems. In this regard, Ed takes on a similar role to J. Robert Oppenheimer, the famous physicist associated with the development of the atomic bomb. To emphasize this parallel, the series creator, Steve Thompson, subtly references Oppenheimer in both the opening and closing scenes of the premiere and season finale.

However, the series falters in its attempt to appear sophisticated when instead it offers shallow characterizations and half-baked concepts. The protagonist, Ed, mirrors other brilliant, solitary, and somewhat eccentric characters we’ve seen on screen before, except he lacks depth or personal complexity. Woodall fails to capitalize on the subtle charm that served him so well in “One Day” and “The White Lotus,” and while I’m not certain if the portrayal of Ed as a reserved intellectual fits him perfectly, it might not entirely be his fault.

In the series, Taylah (played by Quintessa Swindell), who shares leadership duties with Ed, is portrayed as having a character that adapts to suit the storyline. Initially, we see her as an NSA agent using hidden cameras to monitor prominent mathematicians. Later on, she shifts to giving lectures to Ed about morality, responsibility, and privacy. It’s unfortunate that this isn’t convincingly portrayed as character development, despite Swindell’s passionate delivery of righteous indignation. However, since the show Prime Target fails to explore any internal struggles for her character, it appears more like an unexpected inconsistency instead.

The duo initially encounter each other approximately three times into the narrative, when Taylah recognizes that those pursuing Ed are also chasing her. However, even though they spend the majority of the eight-episode series together, their relationship never evolves beyond the stage of two individuals who merely find themselves bound by circumstance rather than genuine connection. The show, Prime Target, tends to maintain emotional distance in its portrayal of human relationships, so much so that when a character discloses what should be a heart-wrenching betrayal against a loved one, the reaction is barely noticeable.

In my gaming adventure, as Taylah and I dash across various nations, even making a pitstop in Iraq to meet Andrea, an antiquities expert who seems more like a plot device than a significant character, I find myself navigating the high-speed chases and intricate games of hide-and-seek typical of this genre. Frankly, I was hoping for more intellectual twists from these characters, but it seems they fall short in that regard. At least the visuals are appealing (all episodes were directed by Brady Hood), although I could do without the excessive shots of spiraling staircases, which seem intended to evoke Fibonacci sequences or similar concepts.

Fortunately, their flight exposes them to the two successful scenes on the show, one of which is delivered by Martha Plimpton as Jane, Taylah’s superior at the NSA. She convincingly portrays a composed boss who can confront a bully without batting an eyelash, yet she infuses her character with a soft and disarming touch, particularly when interacting with Taylah. Sharing a complex past and genuine affection for one another, they bring a sense of humanity to this drama that can sometimes feel distant and cold.

Harry Lloyd (from “Game of Thrones”) portrays Jane’s boss, Andrew, a character who is over-the-top and deceitful, always donning tailored suits. He finds it difficult to utter the word ‘love’ without contorting his lips into a sneer. As a character, he lacks complexity or depth compared to others in the script, but he is exceptionally well-drawn. Lloyd’s performance gives the impression of being transported from an entirely distinct series, featuring straightforward protagonists and villains with wicked laughter, along with numerous grand, simplistic actions. This portrayal seems to have no place for the philosophical discussions on ethics, ideals, or the beauty hidden in the universe that is characteristic of “Prime Target.” Considering how little such themes matter on this show overall, it might actually be an improvement.

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2025-01-21 17:25