As the episode begins, David Budd (Richard Madden) wakes up on a train. A young boy sleeps beside of him. His daughter is there as well. David covers up Charlie (Matthew Stagg) and tells Ella (Bella Padden) to do the same as the train stops to pick up more passengers. He notices a strange man outside get rid of his phone. The train’s guard checks on a mail in the bathroom. The man doesn’t seem to answer. David asks a passenger to keep an eye on his kids. He soon learns that the guard is worried about the man in the toilet. He learns that there is a possible suicide bomber on the train.

David gets Sandra’s (Olwen May) phone number and prepares to act. Officers arrive at the train tracks. David approaches the toilet. He calls the guard and tries to get her to unlock the exit doors. The call is dropped. He calls her again. He tells her to unlock the doors. David plans to throw the man off of the train. The man emerges and David does nothing. He simply follows him back to his seat. He calls Sandra and explains that the subject (Faraz Ayub) doesn’t appear to be carrying a bomb. He doesn’t believe the man is a threat. He plans to check the toilet for a bomb.

Officers outside prepare to storm the train when it stops. David opens the toilet door and finds a woman with bombs strapped to her body. David tries talking the woman down. The woman begins to sob. He tells Sandra about the woman. He tells her to stop the officers from storming the train. Passengers in the carriage are moved to safety. David introduces himself to the woman. The woman gives her name, Nadia (Anjli Mohindra). She explains that the man earlier was her husband. David offers to help protect the woman from her husband. He tells Nadia about his children. Officers outside agree to stand down.

Nadia begins to panic. David begins chatting about his time in Afghanistan. Nadia’s husband is taken into custody. Officers approach as David speaks with Nadia. Officers try to get David to leave. He refuses. A sniper zooms in on the bathroom. David tells the officer that Nadia wants to surrender. The woman cooperates with David. David refuses to let the woman leave the toilet. David spins the woman around and continues shielding her. David makes sure the sniper is unable to get a clear shot. Expo is finally ordered in. Karen arrives to defuse the bomb. Nadia cooperates with Karen. The bomb belt is removed from Nadia.

David and Nadia exit the train. Nadia watches as her husband is taken away. David tells Nadia that she is safe now as she is hauled away. David and the kids get a police escort home. Vicky (Sophie Rundle) is there to welcome them. The kids are quickly put to bed. Vicky doesn’t make David leave. They agree to chat downstairs. However, Vicky won’t kiss him. David decides to leave anyway. The following day, news reports about the event are aired. David drives and listens to the Home Secretary, Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), speak on the matter. David speaks with his boss about the situation. He learns that he will be assigned to the Home Secretary.

David begins investigating her. He learns that she is very supportive of military action overseas. We see that David has scars on his back from his time in the military. David meets with Julia. He wants to speak with her about using the underground entrance. Julia doesn’t seem interested. He learns that Julia likes to be seen. David observes everything from a distance. He rides with Julia that night as she conducts business on the phone. David gives Terry directions. Julia shuts them down and prefers Terry to take the conventional route. Julia wants to know how long a diversion would take. David doesn’t have an answer. Still, he wants to take his route anyway.

Julia finally makes it home. David escorts her inside. He searches the room. Julia doesn’t want David to search her study. He does so anyway. She continues arguing with him. Julia learns that David was responsible for stopping the train terror attack. She begins changing her tune with him. Rob Macdonald (Paul Ready) arrives outside. David gets the door and speaks with Rob. David turns down crackers and leaves. He soon returns home. He calls Vicky and speaks with her briefly. She doesn’t seem too eager to speak with him. She doesn’t like the fact that David is drinking. She hangs up on him.

The following day, we hear more news reports about terror attacks. Julia prepares for a radio interview. Julia gets coffee spilled on her. David lets her wear his. The interview begins. David watches as Julia speaks about her plans. She is accused of trying to monitor phone calls, emails, and social media without judicial review. He watches the interview again and again that night. He doesn’t seem too impressed with Julia’s statements. The following day, David is forced to rush upstairs. He is ordered to remove Dyson from the building. She argues with Rob.

David manages to calm her down and escort her downstairs. She explains that she was fired. She belittles Julia. Next, Julia is stopped by Roger Penhaligon (Nicholas Gleaves). He ridicules her TV interview. Roger gets rude with David when he requests they move indoors. David manages to shut him up. Julia wants to know if David is really biracial. He admits that he is not. The day ends back at Julia’s place. Her house is searched by David once again. She gives him his shirt back. She apologizes about Dyson. David is asked about his wife and kids. They chat about their work life. Julia speaks about her decision to become a politician.

He asks her if she meant what she said on the television. She insists she is making the hard choices. She explains that she doesn’t need David to vote for her only protect her. David leaves. That night, David stops himself from calling Vicky again. In the morning, he visits her. He apologizes for the other night. Julia is shown on television arguing her case. David again wants to talk with Vicky. She tells David that he needs help. She tells him that she has met someone. David pleads with her not to get divorced yet. He tells her that she can get the pension if something happens to him at work as long as they’re legally married. Chanel Dyson (Stephanie Hyam) meets with a reporter.

Dyson ridicules Julia to the reporter. She explains that Julia wants to heighten fear and seize power. The reporter doesn’t like the fact that Dyson was fired. Chanel is told to get something concrete and contact her back. Luke Aitkens (Matt Stokoe) arrives and asks Chanel if she is getting in. She eventually gets in. David attends a meeting with the Veterans’ Peace Group. He listens to Andy Apsted (Tom Brooke) talk about military action overseas. Luke is there as well. Andy speaks out against Julia. After the meeting, David speaks with Andy about life and PTSD. Andy tries to get him to join counseling sessions. Andy isn’t happy with David’s new line of work.

David speaks about killing politicians. He returns home and prepares a handgun. He meets with Julia and Rob the following day.

 

Bodyguard Review

I normally do not like these types of shows. However, Bodyguard is a little bit different. It stars Richard Madden as David Budd. While he might seem like a calm, cool character, it is clear that he is being eaten alive by his past. He is losing his family as well and he isn’t the only one. There are plenty of past soldiers just like him out there. David seems to despise Julia Montague despite being put in charge of protecting her.

Could he overstep the line and kill the one is supposed to be protecting? It is definitely an interesting scenario. The opener was pretty good. The show seems to be leaning liberal, but I enjoyed it. The opener scores 8 an out of 10.