Everyone is raving about The Assassin on Stan, and this new action dramedy really lives up to the hype.

The Stan Original Series The Assassin is a comedic take on an old favourite trope — the retired hitman, called in for one last job. Only this time, the story follows a cool and devilishly witty retired hitwoman and her awkward, estranged son. And I loved every minute of it.

"The relationship at the heart of the story is between this mother and son, which is quite unusual to see. It's a nice road to go down for our central story," lead actress Keeley Hawes told Mamamia of the new six-part series.

The Assassin comes from Jack and Harry Williams, the writers and creators of The Tourist, The Missing and producers of Fleabag. And if that's not enough to convince you there's a powerhouse team behind the series, it also boasts a fantastic cast led by Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore. 

So, what is this take on a "menopausal James Bond" really all about? Julie (Hawes) is a retired assassin and Edward (Highmore) is her estranged son. Julie has neatly tucked herself away on a picturesque Greek Island, using her location to avoid the tough questions her London-based son wants answers to (like, 'Who is my dad?' and 'Why is our relationship so fraught with tension?' and 'What do you do for work?').

But when Edward turns up on the island, he's ready to demand answers about his paternity. Because a mysterious source has transferred him a hefty sum of money on his 30th birthday. Kind of like an espionage-coded Mamma Mia, he follows his mother around the island trying to have the one conversation she wants to avoid. 

Keeley Hawes leads The Assassin as Julie. Image: Stan.

But when Julie's former life catches up with her, a devastating encounter turns her peaceful existence on its head. The dysfunctional mother-son duo are forced to work together in a fight for survival, pushing their relationship to its limits as they flee.

And this is where things get interesting. 

As Julie and Edward race across Europe in an attempt to find safety and freedom, they uncover a dark conspiracy. One that sees them cross paths with the wealthy Cross family — including Kayla (Shalom Brune-Franklin), Ezra (Devon Terrell) and their dad, Aaron (Alan Dale).

Elsewhere, in a Libyan prison to be precise, a Dutch man named Jasper (David Dencik) — who claims to have dirt on the Cross family — is desperately trying to clear his name and escape what he claims was a set-up to see him put behind bars. And he'll do anything to be set free.

Also elsewhere, this time in London, a mysterious woman is crafting oddly sinister paintings in an art class. What does this have to do with anything? Now, I can't tell you that. But I can tell you the woman, played by the delightful Gina Gershon, is perfectly unhinged.

All the while, Julie and Edward are on a cross-continental journey fraught with real-life murderous tension and interpersonal conflicts. Nothing says "we're being chased by dozens of trained assassins" like stopping to bicker about some nonsense with your mum. I mean, I guess that's just how it is for these two. 

Over the course of six thrilling and wickedly witty episodes, the creators have strung together a series of complex threads and cameos. One moment you think you've nailed down your answer, the next you're questioning everything thanks to a twisty surprise at the last minute. 

"You spend the whole time thinking, how are all these different crazy characters going to connect? How are these storylines going to come together?" Keeley Hawes told Mamamia of the show's many surprise pivots and twists. "That's what [the Williams brothers] did in The Missing, The Tourist — you're sitting there constantly trying to work it out, which is great fun, and then it's all tied up, really brilliantly and really surprisingly in the end."

Australia's own Alan Dale stars in The Assassin. Image: Stan.

The simultaneous storylines and multiple different locations bring the velocity up a notch, jumping between moments at a fast pace that keeps you engaged.

From sailing on a luxury yacht, to hiding out in safe houses, the present threat of danger takes Julie and Edward on what can only be described as a visually stunning — if terribly stressful — journey. The series is a treat to watch, as new beautiful locations unfurl throughout the season (even if they stand in contrast to the killer chaos on screen).

Speaking of, the drama and heightened stakes are actually in keeping with the very dangerous situations our characters find themselves in. Groundbreaking, I know, but it's not always the case when it comes to crime dramas these days.

If you know one thing about me, it's that I love an action flick or an espionage thriller — but I can't stand it when the writers are scared to be brutal. There needs to be high stakes; the assassins and spies and villains need to be cutthroat. And the action in The Assassin feels realistic, with some tense sequences keeping me on the edge of my seat, especially any time Edward was involved.

But it's really the back-and-forth banter between Julie and Edward that adds levity and magic to this storyline.

"It's that sort of British-Australian sensibility," Hawes told Mamamia. "You don't necessarily laugh out loud, but it's like it's always there and adds some nuance and texture, and keeps it real. I think that was the balance of sort of finding humour in a way that doesn't completely undercut the tension of the scene, but just gives you more of an insight into the two of them and how they see the world the same way."

One moment you're chuckling at their ridiculous family antics, the next you're anxiously waiting for them to escape another sticky situation, but all the while you'll find yourself thoroughly entertained.

All six episodes of The Assassin are now streaming on Stan.

Feature Image: Stan.