‘Dizzying’ new thriller starting today is an ‘explosive’ must-watch for action fans

Sky is premiering a nail-biting action thriller today (Thursday, 28th August) that deserves to shoot right to the top of your watchlist.

Packed with a stellar cast, jaw-dropping twists and impeccable action, the five-part drama is hurtling onto screens with a riveting two-part premiere.

The series will then continue for the next three weeks on Thursdays, and critics all agree it will get your pulses racing.

Atomic is led by Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen as Max, a drug smuggler who’s caught up in a high-stakes mission to transport volatile yet valuable uranium across North Africa and the Middle East.

Drifter JJ (played by Shazad Latif) is along for the ride, though their perilous trip soon catches the attention of CIA agent Cassie Elliott (Samira Wiley), who’s determined to stop the weapons-grade cargo from falling into the wrong hands.

Whether you’re looking for the ideal show to cap off your Thursday evening or plan to wait until you can binge all five episodes at once, reviews for Atomic all agree viewers will want to strap in.

The Irish Independent called the first episode “dizzying whirl of fights, flights, scrapes and shootouts”.

“Directed with real flair and kinetic energy by Sharriff Korver, Atomic rips along at a fine clip,” they added.

It’s not all thrills and spills, though, as their review also points out the “great odd-couple chemistry between Allen and Latif, who bring a surprising amount of warmth and humanity to what could easily be unlikeable characters.”

The Upcoming also gave Atomic a strong write-up, and claims “it’s Latif’s JJ who steals the spotlight.

“With no indication of who he is or what his motives are, Max’s unexpected ally remains a constant enigma throughout the show’s opening chapters. This intrigue only deepens when it’s revealed that he has some sort of connection to an ancient Syrian god.”

They concluded: “The first two episodes of Atomic are an explosive introduction to the new Sky miniseries.

“Although the plot is initially a little too messy for its own good, there are more than enough promising hooks to keep viewers eager to discover where Max and JJ’s deadly road trip will take them next.”

And TechRadar promises “big action sequences, life-or-death situations and, thankfully, a killer season finale that leaves us with two huge cliffhangers.”

Not only is the first season shaping up to be an exhilarating smash-hit for Sky, but it seems a second outing could already be on the cards. Will you be tuning in?

Atomic premieres Thursday, 28th August on Sky Atlantic and NOW.