The Spy

Incredible watch. The spy is an edge of the seat thriller based on Mossad agent Eli Cohan. This 6 episode mini series chronicles the years Eli spent as a spy in Syria and befriended top Syrian officials and smuggled information for Israel. After th initial 2 episodes the show wasn't feeling thrilling enough but gosh the next ones blew me away. There is this always inate sense of urgency but calmness in this show unlike many others high octane spy action thrillers. Sacha gives a performance of a lifetime as Eli and is smooth as butter in the show. I always enjoy these kind of stories personally as they not only entertain you but give you a wealth of historical knowledge. While this show might have it's fair share of historical inaccuracies, but it still tells and incredible tale. I would have loved if the show had more episodes so that it could have been a little more detailed considering that this period was succeeded by the escalation of conflict between Israel and Arab countries. Apart from this minor blip the show is very well written and acted.

I was not aware of the story about Eli Cohen so this series was interesting on a historical point of view and I learnt stuff. I didn't have any bias towards one side or the other before starting and I don't think either side comes out of it better or worse than the other as the story telling makes you at times feel sorry for some of the Syrian characters and annoyed at some of the Israeli ones, and vice versa. At times I thought the mentions of Saddam Hussein, Arafat or Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden may be gratuitous but it turns out not really. The latter in particular was really involved in the project.

All in all the costumes, sets, props and acting were good and convicing. Both Sacha Baron Cohen and Hadar Ratzon Rotem did a great job at their respective roles. The only actor I had a bit of an issue with was Alexander Siddig who plays Suidani and comes across almost like the Terminator, glaring seriously in every scene and looking obviously suspicious of Eli (even the worst spy would have noticed).

That is fabuluous initiation into a dramatic role of Sacha B.Cohen. Very organic immersion into character.

Worse to see!

I wasn't sure until the 2nd episode that this was going to be a fantastic drama/thriller. I was stressed the whole time because you fall in love with Eli, (played by Sacha Baron Cohen). It was heart wrenching and incredibly real, a true story done with respect to the true hero's of this operation. I am amazed at how versatile Cohen is on so many levels. He truly nailed this role and I could tell the story meant a lot to Hollings. I predict this was an award winning performance for Sacha. I binged the entire mini series in one night. Edge is your seat suspense all the way through. Cinematography was beautiful. Music exceptional. You can't go wrong with this one and it is definitely a story that deserves to be heard.

Great story and it is absolutely true. Actors are superb. Sasha Baron Cohen unbelievably good and not in a comedy. Watched in one sitting.