Hannah Waddingham: The Glam Hitwoman You Need!

's foray into being a glamorous hitwoman in Prime Video's action-comedy series Ride Or Die has received rave reviews from critics. 

The eight-part show, created by Tessa Coates, premiered on Wednesday.

Early reviews have praised the electric chemistry between the two lead stars, Hannah, 51, and , 56.

The pair play long-time best friends Judith Burton and Debbie Claybourne, whose lives are upended when a botched hit reveals that Judith (played by Hannah) is actually a secret international assassin. 

It has so far achieved an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes and critics have praised the magnetic bond between the two leading ladies, while also noting the pacing could be improved by losing some of the sub-plots in the middle episodes.

The Telegraph awarded four stars and said while you shouldn't expect to be 'gripped by the plot', the show should be enjoyed 'for its two central performances and the chemistry between them. 

They wrote: 'Spencer has serious acting chops and an Oscar under her belt but she also excels at comedy. As for the larger-than-life Waddingham, her charisma and energy power the whole adventure.'

The Guardian told its readers to 'get Waddinghamed' in their glowing four star review. 

They praised it as a 'perimenopausal comedy thriller caper of your dreams' as they wrote: 'It is a mark of Ride Or Die’s success that you don’t realise until it’s over how unusual it is. Two fifty-something actors playing fifty-something parts that allow them to be funny, dramatic action heroes?

'There is a parallel joy in watching two actors spark off each other and throw themselves into rare and unlikely parts both deserving of and uplifted by their talents. It’s the perimenopausal comedy thriller caper of your dreams, but one that everyone can enjoy. Get Waddinghammed. You know you want to.'

The Wall Street Journal called the series 'compelling'. They said: 'Waddingham has actorly chops but also the physical attributes to be both a perfectly plausible thumper of bad guys and the proverbial bombshell when the situation demands. She is also, as “” fans know, very funny.

 '"You kill people for money," the wounded Debbie says, accusingly. "If I did it for free," responds Judith, "I’d be a serial killer." Food for thought.

'In many ways, the entire project feels like an action-comedy response to the assorted woman-centric series produced by  and/or . Does it over-accelerate en route to a climax? It does; most thrillers do. But Ms. Coates has refashioned a rather well-worn premise into something compelling. With no small assist from her cast.'

The Hollywood Reporter also praised the connection between Hannah and Octavia but said the plot was over-complicated. 

They wrote: 'So compelling is their connection that it helps gloss over some of the show’s flaws, which include an overly complicated plot (I regularly forgot who was chasing whom and for what specific purpose) and at least a couple plot reveals so creaky that Debbie would’ve rolled her eyes if she’d come across them in a book club selection. 

'I’d be lying if I said it didn’t occur to me at some slightly saggy point in the middle of the season that this premise might have been more efficiently served as a two-hour feature film, in the vein of Spy or The Heat.' 

Variety also joined in on comparisons to Thelma & Louise, which follows two best friends become fugitives of the law. 

'The humour here isn’t as punchy as the beloved 1991 film, but the power of female friendships remains a pillar of the series. 

'Spencer and Waddingham have a robust and genuine chemistry - a companionship that will undoubtedly resonate with countless viewers. Moreover, watching Waddingham as a full-fledged action star is something everyone should be witnessing on a daily basis.'

The LA Times also echoed criticism of the plot as they explained how romantic subplots were underdeveloped. 

They wrote: 'It can be preposterous and complicated to a fault. The barely developed but welcome romantic subplots, of which there are three, are lighter than air; indeed you will recognise them before the characters do.

'Yet it’s a straightforward narrative on the whole - all text, no subtext. You know who to root for. Even the non-thriller themes - female friendship, aging, ageism, admitting the truth about oneself to oneself and one’s dearest, the invigorating effects of danger are explicitly expressed.'

All eight episodes of Ride or Die were released on Wednesday, and are now streaming on Prime Video.