The Agency

Brilliant best show I have watched in a while Really well cast and stylishly done Roll on series 2.

The clothes were fabulous Great pace to it and you needed to pay full attention No scrolling on your phone and semi watching or you were lost Surprised not more talk about this show Can't wait for next series as I said.

In 'The Agency' three stories compete for your attention.

In one (and the primary story by far) a CIA operative is attempting to rescue another spy who is captured behind Russian Lines near the Ukraine border.

In another, that same operative is attempting to save the life of his lover; a Sudanese Economist.

In the third, we follow the efforts of a young woman, new to the CIA, attempting to move up the ladder and land a prestige spy-assignment in Iran.

What is interesting is that these three stories are not tied together, either in terms of plot or character overlapping. With one exception: the spy 'handler' / 'mother hen' played by a wionderful Katherine Waterston who is linked to each of the three plot-lines. Fiercely protective, fiercely effective, likely in love with our CIA Operative, she is the strong force behind the ten episodes.

For a TV Series, this series' overall production is excellent. Set for the most part in London, U. K. we see that city as both grand and dangerous; its boulevards and architecture perfect backgrounds for the malice and double-dealing behind its walls.

The series is a bit overly complex; particularly the attempt to save the American spy; there are too many Russian Generals involved, too many Russian names that look and sound too much alike to be easy distinguished. This, added to by the story's slow movement / advancement may leave the viewer frustrated. The young woman advancing up the CIA ladder is a story tight, easy to follow, and suspenseful; more interesting is that we're never really certain of her motives. Saving the Sudanese woman is the love interest every good story needs, and in this case, gets.

Michael Fassbender is believable as the worn out CIA Operative. Jeffrey Wright has just the right amount of righteous indignation as Fassbender's immediate superior. Richard Gere as Wright's boss; kind of wasted in a role anyone might have played. I will never forget Jodie Turner Smith as the regal and vulnerable Sudanese woman. Nor Saura Lightfoot-Leon. As the ladder-climbing young agent; terrific.

Here's a series with difficulties, pARticularly in its earlier episodes. And I would never fault anyone for giving up on it. But for those who stick around, I've got the feeling you'll find it worthwhile.

In an era where many quality series seem to be lost in the streaming void-blinded by our own questionable viewing habits-The Agency stands out as a stylish, under-the-radar gem. The series is as strongly acted as it is elegantly shot, building tension at a deliberately measured pace before unleashing it with a cinematic bang.

This is a spy thriller that doesn't just rely on flashy gadgetry and overblown plot twists. Its narrative demands your full attention, weaving together coherent yet unpredictable turns that even manage to keep pace with the relentless churn of modern politics. Michael Fassbender is, as always, a tour de force, effortlessly anchoring the narrative, while the rest of the cast delivers performances that shine from the opening scene to the final credit roll. And yes-Richard Gere proves even Hollywood's golden oldies can still steal the spotlight.

However, not all is smooth espionage. The screenplay occasionally appears to be juggling on too many storylines, with the "Teheran" arc feeling like an unnecessary detour that could have been trimmed without sacrificing the overall impact. Despite this minor misstep, The Agency remains a high-caliber piece of entertainment that challenges its viewers and merits attention well beyond the confines of the Netflix bubble (and I'm glad that it has earned a lot of viewers!)

I have not seen the original to compare. However, knowing it was a remake of a French original I approached this with some trepidation as US remakes are usually pretty poor on the whole.

This though I was pleasantly surprised by. It offers something different to the usual spy thrillers focusing more on relationships to agents, colleagues, and loved ones that are often not touched on or rarely developed. Whilst this could still go further than it does those elements are just as important to the story as the main plot line. It's that plot line that is the slow burn as it takes it time to unfold but it is refreshing in a US remake that there is no reliance on action sequences. Action sequences are few and far between and only introduced when necessary. Instead we get a greater focus on the who what and why of the of the various plots and sub plots.

I found it compelling, with Michael Fassbender as Martian/Paul excellent in the main role ably supported by an excellent cast.

There is one thread throughout that seems to have little relevance to everything else that is going on but I suspect it is there because it will become much more important in subsequent series. However, it appears as a little padding to this series, although it is an interesting and watchable side plot. That and the slow burn stop it from becoming a 10/10 series but overall it is well with the watch.

The Agency: Central Intelligence is a must watch for anyone a fan of spy thrillers. First of all, the cast is absolutely amazing. It stars Michael Fassbender, Jeffery Wright, Richard Gere and Katherine Waterston. That cast right there is reason enough to five this a try and on top of that it's a really good show too. I won't be surprised to see this show and most of the cast nominated for some awards come award season. The series is about a covert CIA agent (Fassbender) who is ordered to leave his undercover life and return to the field with his ex lover (Waterston) who he's still in love with. His love for her starts to interfere with his real life and the mission. If you're a fan of spy thrillers or a good mystery series then give this a try. You won't be disappointed.