Alex Godman is trying to be an ordinary English banker but his family are Russian and had been in the criminal underworld there till things got too dangerous. They managed to keep a relatively low profile until his uncle tries to kill Vadim Kalyagin; the man responsible for their exile. He fails and soon Vadim has Alex's uncle killed. Alex now wants revenge and sets about using his financial company to help Vadim's rivals; notably Semiyon Kleiman, an Israeli. Inevitably Alex finds himself getting more deeply involved and he and his family are in greater danger than before.
The eight-part drama managed to be fairly gripping from start to finish despite the fact that many of its protagonist are less than sympathetic; most are either active in the international drugs trade or closely involved with such people. Alex may start as an innocent who is just trying to help is family but as soon as he starts dipping his toes in the murky waters of the drug business it is only a matter of time before he is up to his neck in it. There is a good sense of danger; this increases as the story progresses and there are a few shocking moments. James Norton does an impressive job as Alex. The rest of cast does a fine job too; not so long ago one would expect British actors putting on accents to depict the Russians, Israelis and other nationalities but here local actors are used and if the character isn't meant to be talking English then they speak their own language with subtitles; to my mind this is a distinct improvement. Overall I'd certainly say this was well made and gripping even if it won't be for everybody.
The eight-part drama managed to be fairly gripping from start to finish despite the fact that many of its protagonist are less than sympathetic; most are either active in the international drugs trade or closely involved with such people. Alex may start as an innocent who is just trying to help is family but as soon as he starts dipping his toes in the murky waters of the drug business it is only a matter of time before he is up to his neck in it. There is a good sense of danger; this increases as the story progresses and there are a few shocking moments. James Norton does an impressive job as Alex. The rest of cast does a fine job too; not so long ago one would expect British actors putting on accents to depict the Russians, Israelis and other nationalities but here local actors are used and if the character isn't meant to be talking English then they speak their own language with subtitles; to my mind this is a distinct improvement. Overall I'd certainly say this was well made and gripping even if it won't be for everybody.