Netflix's 6-Part Thriller Series Is One Of Its Best

The six-part thriller series starring Game of Thrones star Richard Madden, Bodyguard, is one of Netflix's best thriller shows of all time. Netflix has a wide array of thriller shows in its catalog, from originals like The Diplomat and The Night Agent to licensed shows like Dark Winds.

While those are great Netflix thrillers, one of the streamer's absolute best is 2018's Bodyguard. It was a big hit, especially in Britain, back in the day, but many Netflix subscribers may have missed it when it was first released. Luckily, its six hour-long episodes make for the perfect show to binge on Netflix.

Bodyguard Is A 6-Episode Spy Thriller

Bodyguard is a six-episode spy thriller that follows David Budd, a former veteran of the war in Afghanistan and current police officer. Budd manages to thwart an attempted bombing on a moving train by negotiating with the terrorists, which earns him widespread fame in Britain. As a result of that fame, Budd is placed on the security detail of Julia Montague, the House Secretary, who he is diametrically opposed to politically.

All of that is truly just the setup for Bodyguard, and it all happens in the first episode. Without delving into spoilers, Bodyguard is filled with political intrigue through Julia's agenda, attempted assassinations, ongoing terrorism threats, Budd's family slowly unravelling, Budd himself suffering from PTSD, and more. Though it's only six episodes, Bodyguard is a wild ride that never reveals what the next twist will be.

Richard Madden Is Great In Bodyguard

One of the biggest attractions of Bodyguard is its star, Richard Madden. Madden was already a big star in 2018 thanks to his role as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones, but Bodyguard is arguably his best performance since the fantasy mega-hit. He's perfectly suited to playing David Budd, and he has such a great mix of action hero toughness combined with the earnest vulnerability of a veteran of war struggling to keep his mind and family from falling apart.

In fact, Budd's performance in Bodyguard was so good that it put him in contention to be the next James Bond, and it likely helped him secure the main role in Prime Video's Citadel, another spy thriller. It's hard to overstate just how compelling he is as a competent and skilled action hero. That, coupled with his incredible chemistry with both Sophie Rundle and Keeley Hawes, made for one of his best performances.

Why Bodyguard Never Got A Second Season

Despite a great performance from Richard Madden, a star-studded cast, and a genuinely gripping story, Bodyguard was never renewed for a second season. In 2019, Madden said that there had never been a plan for Bodyguard season 2 (via Daily Mail), but that the creators of the series were considering a second season due to its popularity. Now, eight years after the ending of Bodyguard, that second season is still nowhere to be seen.

The main reason Bodyguard season 2 hasn't happened is likely Richard Madden himself. Since 2018, Madden has appeared in four movies, including Marvel's Eternals, and he's starring in the Prime Video series Citadel, which is set to release its second season later this year. Madden's schedule is likely too busy for him to star in another series like Bodyguard season 2.

Now that eight years have passed, the chances of Bodyguard season 2 ever becoming a reality are very slim. The show no longer has the massive following it enjoyed in 2018, and Richard Madden has clearly moved on with his career. Still, even if it won't be renewed, Bodyguard already functions as a nearly perfect limited series.