Bodyguard (Season 1 - 2018) — Kate's Corner Blog

The first season of BBC’s Bodyguard had all the ingredients for a successful thriller: drama, suspense, mystique, and sex appeal (I mean… it is Richard Madden we’re talking about). Every scene in the short 6-episode season was rife with explosive possibility, from full-on sniper attacks in the hustle and bustle of London to bomb disposal on a populated train. It’s no wonder that Richard Madden has thrown his hat in the ring for the next rendition of Ian Fleming’s James Bond character. His portrayal of David Budd, a sergeant for Protection Command and Principle Protection Officer to the Home Secretary, was divine.

From the opening scene of the series, you know that Budd is a war veteran. You watch him reel from the faint echo of gunfire that registers as he hears metal grind against metal on the train carrying him and his two young children into central London. You feel for him right from the start. You silently thank all the people that risk their lives in the line of duty knowing that, when they come home - if they come home - they’re never really the same.

Without fail, every episode had me on the edge of my seat. When I began to wonder “What could possibly happen next?” I was pleasantly surprised by the myriad ways the writers incorporated novel terror into the show. Being a temporary resident of London myself, it struck me with fear just how many ways an attack could be concocted and brought to life in this unassuming city.

Apart from the action sequences, the character development itself was excellent. It’s reinforced in the viewer’s mind that Julia Montague, the Home Secretary, is evil and a sociopath before we even really get to know the character. And yet, it turns out that she was a victim all along, being painted as a villain to those that sought - and succeeded - to destroy her. Even Budd’s motives are questioned. You hear his take on the Home Secretary’s policies and sit front row to the vehemence he feels towards the administration responsible for thrusting his nation into war. At some points, I genuinely wondered “Who exactly is the bad guy here?” In the end, the show revealed that there is no one enemy just as there is no single hero. We are all flawed beings that, against our better judgment, fall prey to personal gain and selfish pursuits.

While there is an absolute abundance of morally repugnant decisions made by the characters in Bodyguard, there are also a handful of redeeming moments. One such moment brought tears to my eyes. Rather than end the show with bloodshed and adrenaline, the writers took us down a completely different path - one of healing.

At the end of the final episode, we see Budd enter an Occupational Health office to treat his PTSD. The raw emotion expressed by Richard Madden in this instance was palpable. He somehow made the words “I’m David, and I need help” provoke the deepest sense of sorrow in the audience. Being a sufferer of mental illness myself, I appreciated the special attention that was given to this scene. There was no shame, no pity, just unadulterated admission that some wars can’t be won on the battlefield.

Needless to say, I’m a fan of this novel series. I hope to see Richard Madden reprise his role, knowing that there is no one better suited to the task.