Peter Capaldi appears comfortable playing "Tucker," the verbally aggressive political advisor in this story examining whether those behind the scenes truly control events. He has a strong dislike for British International Development Secretary "Foster" (Tom Hollander), who finds himself embroiled in an international controversy regarding a possible war after making an off-the-cuff remark on radio. “Tucker” believes he can impose his views through sheer force and a constant barrage of colorful language, but the American counterparts are more nuanced – "Gen. Miller" (James Gandolfini) and State Department deputy under secretary for countries starting with C - "Karen Clark" (Mimi Kennedy) accept "Foster" at face value, leading to a rapidly unfolding series of maneuvers, deception, and surprisingly driven young assistants. Occasionally, it combines the feel of a “Yes, Minister” episode with the clever writing found in “West Wing,” but largely I felt it was overly repetitive and coarse. I believe "Judy" (Gina McKee) would have been completely justified attacking "Tucker" with a stapler, and after about fifteen minutes I started to question why she didn’t. His unrestrained unpleasantness undermines any sense of believability. The earlier television series succeeded because their humor stemmed from something relatable, the wit was more refined, and the characters weren't so crude. Hollander performs well as the minister who simply occupies a position without strong convictions, and Chris Addison is also good as the indecisive analyst "Toby," who has truly perfected the ability to remain neutral. Ultimately, for me, it lacks any sense of refinement; the pace is quick but the lead character is too jarring and unconvincing. It was created during a period when the role of chief of staff to the British Prime Minister was under scrutiny, making it an easy target for Ianucci to satirize – I simply prefer my comedy to be more considered and less slapstick.

Source on TMDB