Review by C.J. Bunce
The Copenhagen Test sneaked onto Peacock in the final days of the year as a thrilling new spy-fi series, a high bar for action shows to start the year. An improvement on the kind of story told in Night Agent and FUBAR, a bigger cast and stronger production values make this tale of spy vs. spy government corruption the kind of TV viewing that should chalk up more seasons. It’s similar in its up and down consistency to The Day of the Jackal and Killing Eve, but more surprises and international settings in future seasons could elevate this to something in the realm of better efforts like The IPCRESS File, Black Doves, Counterpart, Chuck, or Burn Notice. The fact we have a growing list of modern spy-fi series to compare is an improvement on the last decade. In eight episodes viewers will encounter the best of the genre: sleeper agents, high stakes, ticking clocks, chases and escapes, shifting loyalties, betrayal, clever sleights of hand, double-crosses–all those things that keep fans eager for the next James Bond movie.
Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu is in the driver’s seat as Alexander Hale, a rising agent eager to make his way up the ranks in Washington, DC, spy work. Just as The Night Agent introduced us to a new secret agency to watch spies, this series’ version is The Orphanage. Founded by the elusive St. George, the agency “watches the watchers,” hiring former spies from the likes of the CIA and other agencies. This story leans into The Manchurian Candidate trope, as Alexander learns he has been implanted with nanotechnology that allows someone, somewhere to see through his eyes. Since he’s deep into State secrets, he and those around him are quick to find he is the unintentional mole in the organization. But is he the only one?
Alexander is whisked into The Orphanage over competing agent Cobb, played by Mark O’Brien, a guy whose knowledge if spywork is impeccable. He’s also a jerk and lacks all the social skills to move up the ladder the right way. Everyone including Cobb could be at some level an insider in the “hack” on Alexander’s mind, which is part of some older spy effort. Alexander has headaches that are getting worse, something he should disclose but fails to do. Helping him is his ex-girlfriend, played by Hannah Cruz. Is she involved, too? Are his parents involved? Played by Lauren Tom and Oscar Hsu, Alexander’s parents brought Alexander into the country as a baby, with the aid of young but rising international insider Victor Simonek, played in the present day events by everyone’s favorite Star Trek villain actor and Warehouse 13 intrigue master Saul Rubinek. Victor becomes Alexander’s only trusted confidante, a retired spymaster aiding Alexander’s efforts.
But two characters have equal footing with Alexander in the series. First, Sinclair Daniel plays the umpteenth spy character in the genre named Parker. This Parker is young and naive but also skilled. Her inexperience makes you think she is supposed to fail. She’s guided by third level spy honcho Peter Moira, played by Brian d’Arcy James. Moira seems to play it all by the book. He’s also ready to put a kill order out on Alexander the moment he becomes a liability. You see, Moira knows Alexander has the brain hack, but he’s keeping him on board hoping to draw out whomever is behind the hack, communicating with him freely only inside a boardroom-sized Faraday cage. But Parker, maybe being of a younger generation, isn’t quick to write off Alexander, who she aids along the way–unknown to him.
Ultimately the best of the spy features comes courtesy of the other co-lead. Scream’s Melissa Barrera’s manipulated agent Michelle (or is it Natalie?) heightens the quality of the show delivering a layered, complex performance. At first Alexander knows her only as a bartender. She is an actor playing a character who lies for a living, frequently making up the plot as she goes along, and Barrera sells it. She’s badass in her decisive execution of her job and in her ability to slightly pivot in ways that make the viewer think one thing, successful at tricking us every time. Was Alexander dreaming about Michelle even before he met her, or is that just a coincidence? One other great agent tags along to add to Barrera’s spywork and hand-to-hand fight sequence fun. That’s Anthony Jhade (Killjoys, Murdoch Mysteries) as Remy, a character who is strong enough to garner more development next season. Will there be a second season? Peacock hasn’t yet made the announcement so it’s anyone’s guess.
Story-wise the series stumbles by stepping backward a few times–grinding the momentum to a halt to show us backstory–when it should just charge ahead. Is anyone simply a spy trying to fulfill their job under the Constitution? Never in the story do we see the characters perform work on counter-intelligence operations against other nations (a mirror of where the U.S. stands at present?). It’s all spy vs. spy. But it works. Adding to the top cast of characters are various puppetmasters played by Law & Order and Forever’s Kathleen Chalfant, True Blood and Law & Order’s Adina Porter, and Case Histories and Lodge 49’s Adam Godley. Filling out The Orphanage cast is The Twilight Zone and The Rookie’s Sara Amini as friendly office manager Ellie and Star Trek Voyager and Star Trek: First Contact actor Marnie McPhail as a tech-savvy analyst.
A great addition to spy-fi on the small screen, The Copenhagen Test is not one to pass by. Catch it now, streaming all eight episodes on Peacock.
