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Season 1 – Bodyguard

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Bodyguard 2018 Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 71 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
War veteran David Budd finds work as a police sergeant with London's Metropolitan Police Service, in the Royalty and Specialist Protection branch. He is assigned to protect the home secretary, the Rt. Hon. Julia Montague MP, a controversial and ambitious politician who is described as "the sociopath" by one of her aides, and who has plans to introduce invasive new surveillance powers for security forces. Finding himself increasingly at odds with Montague's policies and personality, and dealing with physical and psychological scars from his time serving in Afghanistan, volatile Budd is torn between his beliefs and his duty to protect.
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Bodyguard — Season 1

Bodyguard — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Bodyguard maintains a palpable tension throughout its pulpy proceedings to create an absorbing and addicting psychological thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Melinda Houston and Debi Enker Sydney Morning Herald Madden plays Budd like a time bomb poised to detonate, revealing a man scarred by his wartime experiences. Hawes is excellent as the hawkish politician and Mercurio keeps the twists coming through to the finale. May 18, 2020 Full Review Craig Mathieson The Age (Australia) She's older, upper class, English, and female; he's younger, working class, Scottish, and male. There's 50 shades of "ma'am" in the way he addresses her. Rated: 3/5 Oct 22, 2019 Full Review Matthew Gilbert Boston Globe It's two things at once - the list of who did what and the reminder of what happened - and it feels nicely succinct. Like everything else about "Bodyguard," including its hero, the opening is taut. Nov 9, 2018 Full Review Serena Seghedoni Loud and Clear Reviews one of those rare shows that will have you hooked to the screen from the very first scene to the last. Rated: 5/5 Nov 2, 2023 Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site What the series creators, fully consciously of it or not, do show is a country ruled by vehemently anti-democratic and authoritarian cliques, none of whom would exhibit the slightest qualms about establishing openly dictatorial rule. Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Huw Saunders Cultured Vultures While Bodyguard is being billed as a thriller, at its core it's that old favourite of the British isles, the police procedural - and crucially, even when it's just going through the procedures, it stays engaging. Oct 9, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Julia H (Warning: spoilers) It's an absolute monstrosity. Julia very clearly is attached to Budd because of the trauma from nearly being assassinated, but rather than show how their relationship is a traumabond, they make it seem as if she's genuinely in love with him. Not to mention how rushed their entire relationship was. I understand it only has 6 episodes, but honestly the way the directors go about the relationship between the two is a mess. In terms of acting, visuals, and other such things, the show is great, though. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 04/09/25 Full Review Travis B Pick a story and stick with it, dont start telling 4 or 5 different stories at once and leave everything open ended Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/25 Full Review Mike S This show was amazing, and Richard Madden was just great, I wish they would continue it but alas you don't get everything you wish for. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/25 Full Review Avindu G Non-stop drama full of surprises. But it's hard not to think that this is not how it was supposed to be played out. There were lot of moving pieces and it all gets put together suddenly like the show was suddenly called off, but at the same time it's how immersive this series is. A sincere masterful performance by the cast that captures shifts of emotions and contrasting identities. Great sound effects and excellent visuals with equally superior cinematography. It's a wonderful story about many things that's human, that's scandalous and flawed. It's a unique story considering it's theme so it's not wrong to expect seeing David Budd sooner than later. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/20/24 Full Review Groucho G Not bad but as usual, there’s some dumb stuff in it that detracts from the real thing. PC Budd not immediately admitting he knew the shooter - really? The guy was in his unit in the forces and would be easily identified by finger prints and DNA, so why lie and get caught later? The initial terror bombing scene - all commanders including expo were female - nice thought but not in real life. Lots of other irritating small things but mostly well acted and keeps you hooked. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/17/24 Full Review Tony J Good watch overall but it never really properly hooked me until the last episode. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/14/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Bodyguard — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Madden

David

Keeley Hawes

Julia

Sophie Rundle

Vicky

Gina McKee

Sampson

Pippa Haywood

Craddock

Paul Ready

Rob

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 26, 2018 Episode 1 After distinguishing himself by courageously neutralizing a terrorist threat, a troubled war veteran, now a sergeant of the London Metropolitan Police Service's Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch, is assigned to protect the home secretary. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 27, 2018 Episode 2 Another terrorist attack raises the U.K. threat level to severe and the home secretary holds secret meetings with the director general of the security service, freezing out the police and her own minister of state for counterterrorism. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 2, 2018 Episode 3 In the wake of two terrorist attacks, David is under more pressure than ever to keep the home secretary safe, but the threat to her life does nothing to curb her political ambitions. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 9, 2018 Episode 4 David struggles to come to terms with the fallout from the devastating events of the past 24 hours and he is questioned by detectives. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 16, 2018 Episode 5 Determined to push the investigation forward, David targets enemies of Julia, and his theories about a conspiracy at the heart of government look increasingly plausible. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 23, 2018 Episode 6 David makes a major breakthrough in the investigation into the attack on the home secretary, but his inquiries put him in mortal danger. Details

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Bodyguard — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Thomas Vincent, John Strickland
Screenwriter
Jed Mercurio
Network
BBC
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Aug 26, 2018
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