Apple TV+ have crossed off a few genre boxes in their mission to become the next streaming giant – they had a crack at comedy with Ted Lasso, done soapy drama with The Morning Show, and animated Central Park. And now, they’re going properly smart with an espionage thriller.
The good news is, this one is actually good. Remember the buzz you got when you watched the first episode of Homeland – that buzz likely being lack of oxygen to your brain after holding your breath on and off for an hour? Tehran will give you the same, almost-can’t-handle-it level of tension. Our protagonist is Tamar Rabinyan, a Mossad Agent who is sent to infiltrate Iran, because it looks like they’re up to no good with nuclear weapons. It’s got everything you want from a spy show: dusty streets, heat so oppressive it almost comes through the screen, complex backstories and political tension. If thrilling espionage is your thing, you might well find Tehran both shaking and stirring.
Ed Power in The Telegraph calls Tehran “a gender-swapped Bourne Identity,” and compliments the show’s creator, who he says, “orchestras the tension masterfully, crafting a thriller as stylish as it is heart-stopping.” Dan Einav of The Financial Times agrees that it is Apple TV+’s “first truly compelling show since launch almost a year ago,” calling it a “thrilling watch.” In Varitey, Daniel D’Addario, however, says the series “feels built to flatter the present-day American posture towards Iran.” Apple know their audience, it seems.
First shown September 2020. You can watch the trailer by pressing play on the show image, or by clicking here.
