Bodyguard BBC1 - TV Review

I think the BBC have a hit on the hands with the “Bodyguard” starring Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden in this new political drama. I was intrigued with the opening episode it was heavily advertised by the BBC. It started with a highly tense opening sequence that set the tone for the rest of the episode for Richard Madden’s character protection officer David Budd. The outcome of the incident is a promotion to protection of a government minister.

He is a wounded war veteran with a broken marriage with two kids and problems he brought back from the war.

His new job is to protect home secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes) and straightaway I thought there was more to this as Budd settles into the job. It also serves the purpose of establishing Budd’s principles front and centre has we see him checking the home secretary via the internet with him interested in her full support of the war and sending British troops.

This shrewd Home Secretary seems to have her eyes on the Prime Minister’s job as factions in government wrestle for control. Sound oh so familiar. She also wants to introduce invasive new surveillance laws; a desire hammered home complete with ‘nothing to hide, nothing to fear’ rhetoric.

Montague lives alone and single and with Budd’s wife about to enter a new relationship could these two begin some kind of affair but after the opening episode could Budd could have some else on his mind. Was there more to a colleague sharing a Chinese meal with the home secretary in her private residence, lover’s maybe.

Neither Budd nor Montague is especially likeable, but we care about these two and their developing relationship, and want to know which of the many turns it might take. I hope that this partnership doesn’t turn ridiculous with, say, some cliché sex scene but it has to happen, doesn’t it.

Budd is a genuinely damaged human being whose actions and behaviour tread an ambiguous line between fiercely sympathetic and dangerously disturbed. Going forward, the key quandary appears to be whether we are following a hero, anti-hero, or soon-to-be villain. And the way in which Bodyguard places us firmly in Budd’s corner, and plays off this uncertainty, is arguably its finest quality.

Hawes’ Montague meanwhile strikes a note-perfect air of pompous self-certainty, with just enough dry wit, self-awareness, and humanity to make you doubt the supposed monster on the surface and oozes sex appeal. In this way, the two form an ideal complementary pair. Both are utterly ambiguous to begin with, leaving space for our expectations to be met, subverted or played with in interesting ways.

If you missed the first episode last night, I urge you to quickly catch up on iPlayer, for Bodyguard is intelligent, psychological storytelling so gripping you’ll have to remind yourself to breathe.

Hero, anti-hero, or soon-to-be villain it’s up to you to make you mind up?

Bodyguard started at 9pm on BBC 1 this Sunday, but the next episode is tonight at 9pm. the remaining instalments will air on following Sundays.