Who needs a new James Bond film, or a female James Bond, when you can watch an eight-episode series with a deadly female assassin at the helm? Just as good, and even more time to flesh out the plot, Prime Video’s latest action thriller television show, Ride or Die, stars Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer as a hilariously dynamic duo. The world could never be prepared for what these two have in store, but in their collaboration, they pack more than just a punch.

Best friends Debbie Claybourne (Spencer) and Judith Burton (Waddingham) thought they knew everything about each other. But like the rest of the world, everyone has their secrets. And in Judith’s case, mysteries from her past catch up with her all too suddenly. Revealing her deepest secret to her best friend, Debbie, could never have expected what she would find out next: Judith is an international assassin.

In the wildest set of coincidences, events and circumstances, Judith’s mysterious path emerges horribly wrong. The figure set out to destroy takes Debbie and Judith’s world and turns it completely on its head. Forced to go on the run together, the two best friends have a lot of confrontations to face — both physically and personally as well. Leading them down a time crunch across Europe, pitting them against Interpol, and even with the wrong set of crew, this highly trained assassin and her best friend must face more than just their fears.

From the trailer itself and the press tour Waddingham and Spencer have just done, as a female viewer, you can’t help but anticipate a wonderful connection and chemistry between the two. Of course, with their background and talent at the helm, they pull out all the stops and even exceed expectations. Right off the bat, Ride or Die has you asking the difficult questions, and with the end of every episode makes you want and need to know what happens next.

With such an ear-catching and hum-worthy theme song, the show’s opening credits make it clear that there were so many female minds behind the premise. Created and written by Tessa Coates, with Waddingham and Spencer as executive producers, it is no wonder that Ride or Die is filled with female empowerment and friendship. These two elements combine to provide so much joy and hope on such an adventurous and dangerous road.

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As the viewer is introduced to Judith, Debbie and their individual worlds and secrets, the revelations are made to us at the same pace at which they are to each other. With all series, we are taken between plot lines, and as each episode moves on, the pieces begin to come together. Coates’ creation is something to behold. A fun time in a short time, but with enough length to give us the chance to truly get to know these two women, the people they work with and those out to get them. With every plot point comes something else unexpected, and even when you think you know what to expect, a new twist is revealed.

Whether it be a television series or a film, over the time period that motion pictures have existed, there have been several action spy thrillers made. To make content that is actually new and fresh, it takes more than simply throwing in the unsuspecting plot twists. In Prime Video’s latest genre series, they not only got the script itself right but also the casting was impeccable. As always, you never know how it could have gone with another ensemble, but it can be confirmed that Waddingham has a new chance to shine as Ride or Die’s leading lady.

The best part of the collaboration between Waddingham and Spencer in these eight episodes is their chemistry. Not only do they have the capacity to portray empowering and strong women, but they also have the comedy background to give us lighthearted and funny scenes or moments within the darkness that surrounds both Judith and Debbie. From emotional moments like “… the person I was friends with isn’t real” to great one-liners “…I recently learned to curse”, these two ladies will pull out all the stops.

Combine their wit, humour and action power and pit them against their co-stars — whether friend or foe — and the ensemble comes together. A British-backed, action-packed and dramatic tale, with Bill Nighy, Ed Skrein, Sylvia Hoeks, Calam Lynch, Savannah Steyn and Jamie Parker’s characters adding additional twists and turns, Judith and Debbie might never stand a chance. That is what is so superb about the planning that threads its way throughout the show. You never know what will happen next.

Prime Video’s Ride or Die is everything you could hope it would be and so much more. Finally getting a well-crafted action thriller with two women at the helm feels so overdue that you cannot help but be filled with pure joy as you watch them kick butt all across Europe. Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer have done absolute wonders with their collaboration. Let us hope that more comes from these two working together. Prepare yourself for what they are bringing to Prime Video on Tuesday, July 14, and get ready to watch it all unfold.

★★★★

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On Prime Video from July 14th / Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Bill Nighy, Ed Skrein, Sylvia Hoeks / Created by Tessa Coates, Showrunner Matt Miller / Prime Video