The Agency Seasons 1 & 2 Review: One of the Best Spy Shows in Years
Spy shows are really hard to do well. Most times they end up being totally mediocre (something like Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan series). These sorts of shows tend to be watchable, but not truly top-notch TV. So, it was a total shock to me just how great the first two seasons of The Agency are.
The Agency is a show I’d never even heard of until recently, after I was hunting for something new to watch. That’s honestly sort of surprising considering just how stacked with talent the cast of the show is, featuring big names like Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, and Richard Gere. Throw in the fact that The Agency is based on an acclaimed French TV series and boasts George Clooney as an executive producer, and it’s incredibly surprising that more people haven’t even heard of the show.
The series follows CIA agents at London Station, with our story beginning when Fassbender’s character, whose code name is Martian, is recalled from a six-year covert assignment. Martian had been working in Ethiopia, where he had built a complete life for himself, including an intense romantic relationship with a woman named Samia.
After Samia suddenly also shows up in London, matters quickly become complicated for Martian and (of course) the plot thickens. Story-wise, there’s not a super unique hook beyond this to differentiate The Agency from other shows of its kind. Still, it’s a spy show with plenty of twists and turns (as you’d expect) and some incredibly smart writing.
Many programs these days are designed to be watched by people who aren’t paying 100% attention. There have been reports recently about how Netflix mandates having characters rehash the plot frequently in its films for this reason. And I think it’s true that many of my fellow TV viewers enjoy glancing at their phones or laptops while also watching something on television.
The Agency is absolutely not a series where you can get away with that type of TV viewing format. There are interweaving plotlines and you definitely have to pay attention. This is more of a “smart person’s spy show.” That possibly limits its audience somewhat.
If you’re looking for a quality, first-rate spy thriller though, this is the one to watch. Everything here is great, from the writing to the overall production to the pacing and acting. Martian isn’t the most likeable character a lot of the time, but he surely is an intriguing one.
Other characters, like Jeffrey Wright’s Henry, who’s Martian’s boss, and Danny, a newer agent played by Saura Lightfoot-Leon, are easier to root for. Danny’s storyline feels a bit separate from the other storylines that play out in Season 1, but everything becomes more tied together in the second season.
The first two seasons of The Agency are streaming now on Paramount+. I seriously hope that the show is renewed for a third season. It certainly deserves one. If you’re in the mood for a spy thriller, they don’t get much better than this, and I definitely recommend it.
Grade: 9/10