Hanna is a TV series about a teenage girl raised in isolation who is hunted by a government agent. It is also, at times, a very literal chase scene. The two things do not always fit together.
Trailer, via Prime Video.
The Forest Setting
The show opens with Hanna, played by Ella Purnell, living in a remote forest with her father, played by Joel Edgerton. He trains her to fight and to survive. When she is discovered, the CIA sends Marisa, played by Sarah Snook, to capture her. The hunt begins.
The early episodes are tense and well-shot. Purnell carries the weight of a character who has never met anyone her age, and her performance grounds the fantasy. Edgerton plays the father as a man who loves his daughter but knows he is putting her in danger. Their scenes together are the heart of the show.
The Hunt Begins
The middle episodes slow down. The plot stretches thin as Hanna and Marisa circle each other through a European city. The tension dips, and the show leans on action sequences to fill the gaps. Some of these sequences are effective, but others feel padded.
Snook, as Marisa, is the standout. She plays the agent as cold and professional, but the show gives her moments of doubt. These scenes work best. When the series tries to make Marisa a full villain, it loses its grip.
Into the City
The middle stretch drags in places. The city setting offers new dangers, but the pace does not match the urgency of the earlier episodes. Some viewers may find themselves checking their watch during these scenes.
The show also relies heavily on the idea that its main character is a superhuman child soldier. That premise can feel dated next to newer shows that handle similar material with more nuance. The show does not fully explore the moral cost of raising a child to be a weapon.
Face-to-Face
The final stretch brings the two characters face-to-face. It is a strong payoff for viewers who stuck with the show. The resolution ties back to the themes of family and freedom that ran through the first episode.
“I am free.”
That line, spoken by Hanna at the end, sums up what the series is trying to say. It is a small moment, but it lands.
A Solid, Uneven Watch
Hanna is not a perfect show. Its pacing problems in the middle stretch keep it from greatness. Some viewers may find themselves checking their watch during the slower episodes.
The series is worth watching for Purnell’s performance and for the strength of its central idea. It is not worth watching for its middle stretch.
| Episode | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Forest |
| 2 | The Hunt Begins |
| 3 | Into the City |
| 4 | The Chase Continues |
| 5 | Face-to-Face |
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