This Scottish Bodyguard Will Give You Massive Anxiety and Trust Issues

That first scene is pure stress, it starts on a train, and it is probably the most tense thing ever filmed. David Budd is just a dad trying to get his kids home but then he finds a suicide bomber in the bathroom. Most people would scream or run away but he just talks. He talks and talks until everyone is crying. It sets the tone for the whole series. You think you are watching an action show but really you are watching a man who is one bad day away from a total meltdown. The pacing is fast and it does not give you time to breathe which is rude but also why you cannot stop watching it.

David Budd Needs A Huge Nap

Richard Madden plays David and he is basically a human brick wall with feelings. He has ptsd and he hates the government but his job is to protect the home secretary who represents everything he hates. He says maam about a thousand times per episode. His accent is great and his face never moves but you can tell he is dying inside. He is professional but also totally unhinged. He sleeps with a gun under his pillow and has zero chill. You spend half the time rooting for him and the other half wondering if he is actually the villain because he is so sketchy.

Politics Is Just People Being Mean

The show focuses on Julia Montague who is the politician David has to protect. She is cold and ambitious and honestly kind of terrifying. The dynamic between them is weird because you never know if they actually like each other or if they are just using each other for power or protection. The show portrays the British government as a giant pit of snakes where everyone is spying on everyone else. There are secrets inside of secrets. One minute they are talking about surveillance bills and the next minute things are blowing up. It makes you glad you do not have a fancy job in London.

The Twist That Broke the Internet

Halfway through the series something happens that nobody expected. Most shows would play it safe but this one just throws the script in the trash and goes in a totally different direction. The mystery gets deeper and the conspiracy gets bigger until it barely makes sense but you are too invested to care. The ending is a bit messy and some people hated it because it felt rushed but the journey there is worth it. It is a show about trauma and how the system breaks people who try to do the right thing. It is loud and chaotic and very British. I've been waiting for second season, but I doubt it will ever come.