Paris Has Fallen Series Review: It seems spy thrillers are the new obsession for both desis and videsis, and Paris Has Fallen is the latest entry into that genre. Following the footsteps of Olympus Has Fallen (2013), London Has Fallen (2016) and Angel Has Fallen (2019), this series once again revolves around a terrorist infiltrating the heart of government, targeting political leaders who led them into their villainous arc.
The first two episodes premiered on October 17, and they stay true to the established formula of the Has Fallen franchise. The setup feels almost familiar, so much so that it echoes the villain backstory from Pathaan, the Bollywood action-thriller starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham.
Much like Pathaan, Paris Has Fallen introduces Jacob (Sean Harris), a European Army officer who, after being captured by the Taliban during the war in Afghanistan, is left to die by Parisian government officials. Against all odds, Jacob survives years of brutal captivity, and now he’s back to take revenge on the political figures who abandoned him.
The show also mirrors Pathaan by presenting two protagonists—Vincent (played by Tewfik Jallab) and Zara (Ritu Arya from The Umbrella Academy). They come from different countries, with Vincent as the personal security officer of French leader Philippe, and Zara as an MI6 agent. After Philippe is assassinated in a terror attack, Vincent and Zara join forces, recruited into a secret security team tasked with protecting other government officials from Jacob’s vengeance.
If the first two episodes are any indication, the series follows a formula where Jacob targets one political leader per episode, allowing his revenge to unfold slowly but methodically. Creator Howard Overman cleverly uses this episodic structure to develop the central trio of Jacob, Vincent, and Zara. Each gets a solid story arc, but the downside is that the supporting characters—the ones destined to die—don’t receive the same level of depth. This lack of backstory for the victims makes their deaths feel more like plot devices than emotional stakes, weakening the connection between the terrorist and his targets. As a result, the show becomes somewhat predictable, with the next move or scene easy to anticipate.
That said, Tewfik Jallab and Ritu Arya shine in their roles, delivering engaging performances that keep the series entertaining. The pacing is well-executed, preventing you from losing focus or checking your phone, and the action sequences are solid, backed by impressive camera work and crisp editing.
So far, Paris Has Fallen feels like an enjoyable, one-time watch. Whether it can evolve into a standout title like its predecessors remains to be seen. You can stream the series on Lionsgate Play, where it’s available for free.
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