Spy City

An intelligent series, to enjoy without absurd frights, is not for those who are looking for a JAMES BOND, nor for those who want bombs, explosions, wrecked cars, absurd and endless pursuits without sense, it is intelligent action, the real one ..., a very good spy series, and wonderful Berlin setting "Spy City is really good. Go in with pure excitement, leave the dread behind. The best compliment I can pay the show, before we get into specifics, is that it feels like 10 episodes of TV jammed into six. If that sounds like a weak compliment, it's not; it means the people who created the show really, really cared about plot, have a lot of ground to cover, and are not going to futz around in telling their story. This is a welcome change from shows that can't be bothered to have more than four really critical dramatic beats, but take 15 episodes to get there and fill the empty space with ridiculous, intelligence-insulting twists. So that's the other very good compliment I should give: The writers of Spy City trust that you're smart, they write to your level, and if you're not smart and you fall behind or drop off? Too bad.

Convincing performances, tightly woven script, beautiful "retro" cinematography takes you back to the tense and grim Berlin of 1961 Berlin... the only shortcoming is that there are only 4 episodes--- when do we get season 2 ???

Another reviewer has said in a negative way, everyone's a critic. Isn't that the point of allowing comments? If someone doesn't like what they saw, their opinion is perfectly valid and if they take the time to explain why, probably even more so.

I have watched two episodes, the second was slightly better that the first.

Not convinced that Dominic Cooper makes the most convincing spy, especially in the first episode fight scene, the choreography was appalling.

I also feel that there is something odd going on, continuity is somewhat questionable, some costume choices strange both for the period and the setting, and I have yet to feel any empathy for any of the characters.

As I said the second episode was a little better and it's probably worth waiting for the next. If there's no improvement I won't care about it enough to carry on.

It's not LeCarre but if you're into LeCarre, this has a strong vibe to it, in the sense that it's not action-oriented but more grey matter stuff. The only thing that threw me off a bit was the decorum (it didn't feel 60s enough, I don't know, maybe that's just me). All in all, it was an excellent production and the acting is also spot-on. Some didn't like the lead but I think he was a good fit in with the role. I must say I resonated most with the character of Ulrike. Really enjoyed, do indulge!

Spy city tells the story of the secret services in Berlin shortly before the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961. The story is entertaining and is broadly consistent with the historical facts.

But the realisation was a bit sloppy. Suits, clothes and cars that are a bit too new for the early summer of 1961, a phone box and a record cover from the 1980s and a film that only had primiere months later. Not accurate enough to satisfy the history-minded viewer.