The methods used by streaming services to justify how successful an original series or movie is varies from platform to platform, with Netflix the only one of the heavy hitters that releases viewership data on a weekly basis. In the case of Citadel, though, the statistics paint a fairly damning picture for the second most-expensive episodic project of all-time.
At a cost of $300 million for just six installments, the blockbuster spy saga needed to become a global phenomenon in order to justify not just the expense but its own existence, especially when a second season has already been confirmed alongside at least two international spin-offs, with Italy’s Citadel: Diana being joined by an unnamed-as-yet Indian offshoot.
However, after having three opportunities to secure a spot on Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming rankings, Citadel is nowhere to be found. Where does the blame fall? Well, according to Amazon Studios’ head of drama Odetta Watkins at the Banff Media Festival, “jaded” audiences are to blame, with the executive calling the show a “victory” while promising it’s only going to get bigger as time goes on.
“I think the show was conceived to be able to speak to the world and it has. Every show is not going to hit in every place on the same level. But as the franchise grows, I feel like the numbers will grow all over, including domestically. You’ll start to see the audience respond differently as it goes on.”
You’ve got to admire the optimism, and with at least three more seasons of the Citadel Spyverse to come if not even more, Prime Video has a trio of opportunities to ensure the mega budget franchise manages to not just survive, but potentially thrive.
