The Agency: Central Intelligence

A well-made series where Richard Gere and Michael Fassbender are wasted on it and play at 40-55 percent of their abilities and instead of the latter, though playing nicely and convincingly good, I would have liked to see Richard Armitage in his place and rank. The Russian and Ukrainian situations and visuals are mostly good as well as are the scenes with Sami Zahir and Danny.

A little suspension of disbelief here and there and you got yourself ten convincing episodes of high value targets drama.

Please bear in mind that it's mostly done right without stellar realism that are impossible to reach at a fictional level without making fuss, creating conflicts and deteriorating the storylines' plots.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 7.5
• Production value/impact: 7
• Development: 8
• Realism: 7
• Entertainment: 8
• Acting: 8
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 8.5
• VFX: 8.5
• Music/score/sound: 7
• Depth: 7
• Logic: 6.5
• Flow: 7.5
• Political/Drama/thriller/psychology/sp i: 7
• Ending: 7.

I must say that I was lucky enough that a couple of years ago I bindge-watched The Bureau and to be honest is probably one of the best things I have ever watched. Nothing up until this point was even remotely close to it. There is a correlation between the two series, obviously it was mentioned that it was "influenced" by it, but tbh I wasn't expecting similar storyline. Don't get me wrong, the series up until this point is amazing, great cast, good cinematography, but it wasn't something I haven't already seen in the French version. It's too early to say how it will turned out to be, but I highly suggest to anyone who hasn't watched the Bureau to watch it. You won't regret it. After Fassbender played professional hitman in David Finchers movie The Killer, and I saw he was in the cast, I immediately knew he is a great choice for the role. Those type of series actually require certain amount of concentration while watching them, so you can keep up with all the characters in the storyline and the little details about them. It's not something you would watch, while riding your bike on the indoor trainer. Some would even consider them slow paced, maybe even boring, but exactly those characteristics and complicated personal battles that the characters have, plus the slow buildup of tension, is what makes them great in my opinion. Those type of series you either love them, or you don't like them at all, there isn't a middle ground.

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.

This is a strange one, an spy action series without action.

I mean there is some action but that one is just complementary, the main part is psychology, building drama and staff.

It is a smart show but because things are moving with a slow pace you have time to think about it and process the plot, making the cracks more obvious.

I loved this approach of not filling me with dumb action that force you to shut down your brain to watch it, it was like a fresh breeze of air comparing to other action shows.

But stills sometime it feels odd and temporary spoils the pleasure of watching it.

Overall, not perfect but solid, didn't regret watching it.

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.