User reviews

This show is a brilliant highlight of Canadian TV. There are many people who are quick to point out historical inaccuracies - there are some in every crowd who insist on making it less fun for the rest of us - but this show is emotional, fast-paced, and fairly accurate for a show that is only loosely based on a real life spy camp in WWII.

The acting is brilliant. Warren Brown (Luther) is a gift to Canadian TV as tough guy Neil Mackay, Jack Laskey intrigues as synesthesiac Alfred Graves, and Evelyne Brochu (of Orphan Black fame) shines as front-running woman Aurora Luft. Up-and-coming Torontonian Connor Price is brilliant as young Harry, and Dustin Milligan is great as Tom (although this last character took a bit of time to grow).

The few episodes following the pilot were a bit slow, but the last few episodes of Season 1 were brilliant. Dramatic, exciting, and emotionally-driven. Worth sticking around for.

This show displays great acting talent and features some brilliant writers. But most importantly, it's a way for Canadians to learn more about the country's history in the Second World War, which is often overlooked.

I'm hooked.

Just watched the first episode and am already sucked in by these characters. I want to know so much more about Alfred and his 'talent.' Love the premise, love the characters. CBC is really on a roll these days. I've been a huge fan of Orphan Black and Rookie Blue so to see the creative brainiacs behind those shows get together is a match made in heaven.

Really excited to continue watching this series and it makes me super proud of what we do in Canada!

Also - I had to look up my IMDb password to log in and comment on this - my first comment on ANY television show ever.)

I think that X Company is one of the best shows on television. The fact it is Canadian is an extra bonus. I started watching because I was intrigued by the fact it was largely based on a Canadian spy camp and I have not been disappointed.

The story lines are fantastic, the acting amazing and cinematography is breathtaking. I like the fact that the characters are flawed and are more than one dimensional.

We are currently in the second season and every week I am impressed at how the storyline each week is more and more compelling. I can't wait to see what happens next.

I hope more people give this amazing show a chance.

As a World War II and Holocaust Historian, I am quick to point out flaws when I find them. While this series does have its flaws, it is an absolutely gripping series. It is something that an individual who knows nothing about the war or espionage can sit down and be on the edge of their seats as they watch. Each of the five "spies" has something we can all relate to our admire, which makes watching this series even greater. I hope this series continues to get millions of views as I would love to see this continue for many seasons if possible! My greatest fear is that they will finish with season two, or even worse, not have the funds to complete the second season.

I've been waiting a while to watch this and it really didn't disappoint. Really tense, really well written, with great characters. First Orphan Black and now Xcompany. Canada is on the up- and-up TV wise.

I thought that it also looked great from an aesthetic point of view. Production values were high and it was very cool to see a show set it Europe that seems to actually be filmed there. Acting was also top notch.

I recommend this show to anyone who wants to watch a damn good thriller with damn good characters and a plot that keeps moving at a good pace.

I was eager to watch this pilot episode and it did not disappoint, beautifully filmed it has the feel of a movie rather then a series, and bearing in mind that X Camp actually did exist makes it even more interesting. The writing takes you along a journey that the cast headed by Hugh Dillon as camp commander Duncan Sinclair brings to life with amazing skill, and includes some heart stopping moments, showing not everything even in war is black and white. It has heart, feeling and even some laugh out loud one liners.

Can't wait for the next episode and is WELL WORTH a watch....definitely a hit show.

I anticipated watching "X Company". It would be quite a change to see a TV show about Canadian spies instead of American ones, I thought. While I have a few reservations, I will continue to follow it.

The story begins in 1942. Canada had declared war to Germany, Italy and Japan before the United States. In order to gather intelligence, the Canadian government sets up a secret training camp near Lake Ontario or outside of the city of Whitby to be more exact. This is where a group of Canadian, British and American recruits get trained before being sent behind enemy lines to spy, kill and sabotage on the European front.

Like any drama about WWII made before it, "X Company" contains the "must-haves" (or clichés) of the genre: harsh German officers, conscientious German officers, an idealistic genius, a troubled genius and the brutish guy. Even though the pilot doesn't elaborate much on most of the leading characters' back story, I expect further episodes to delve a little deeper. After all, every seconds of the pilot was smartly spent making us witness the spies' first mission.

Morever, it was good to know that Americans, who didn't have any intelligence service back then, relied on Canadians to train their first modern spies. Add to that the cast's capability to make you feel their character's fear during a mission. However, I have one minor reservation. While the pilot is set in France, I was irked to see French-speaking characters, be they Canadian or French, talk among themselves in English with an affected Francophone accent. This is weird coming from a Canadian TV series with a budget high enough to cast non-Canadian actors and film action sequences!

Despite a few flaws one can expect from a network TV series, "X Company" has the intensity of an espionage thriller combined with an appreciable dose of historical veracity.

Is this historically accurate? No, not at all. Is it entertaining? Very much so.

This is all character development. Story. I really cant wait for the next series now that series 2 has been given the green light.

In this day and age we have Agents of Shield, Captain America et al. All of which are complete fantasies. This is a hi-bred. It is demonstrably a more realistic rendition of Marvels Agent Carter, same same but with a thin veneer of accuracy. More compelling than Carter, simply because it is more closely aligned with the truth.

Having said that, it is a very well characterised fantasy rendition of reality where the emphasis is on characterisation.

In any event, very compelling. Looking forward to the next rendition.

It's fantastic to see a new TV drama that puts our current geopolitical struggle into historic perspective; in X Company the audience get to witness how ordinary people rose to the challenge against such overwhelming military adversity to win victory. While we can always rely on our soldiers and intelligence officers, recently our leaders seem somehow weak and more inclined to appease, reflecting a willingness to overlook our enemies ruthlessness and utter hatred for our way of life with bizarre, conflated statements often ignoring the elephant in the room which in turn worries a great many people.

To the show, I love the cinematography, shooting locations have been chosen with great care with matching attention going into the period costume recreating a completely believable period during World War 2. The cast is completely unknown to me apart from Warren Brown, the English detective in 'Luther' (what a show that is!). Hugh Dillon seems up to the task before him though. However, X Company is let down by the script which at times can come across as pedantic, hopefully, this can be addressed by season two.

Another element that inspired me to write this mini-review is how the producers have avoided that particularly American pitfall; pumping themselves up at the expense of their allies. You'll notice in British, Australian and Canadian TV shows covering war they don't get caught in the trap of boosting their own national reputation at the expense of the allies which reflects very well on them and poorly on American producers.

All in all a quality Canadian historical drama which should appeal to both WW2 buffs and viewers looking for something outside of generic cop shows and the dreadful reality TV swamping our TV sets at the moment.

I am binge watching this show. I have seen it once, so I am watching it again. I love the chemistry between the characters.

I having grown up in Canada have been so used to poor acting and poorly filmed shows. I remember how happy we were finally getting cable so we didn't have to watch CBC. BUT as of late things have been picking up; e.g.. Flashpoint, Vikings and now X-Company. Good acting,entertaining, and 8 out of ten special effects. There is one special effect that was quite blatantly off but I appreciate that more than some crappy CGI effect. I know dh-t21 didn't like it but his review was less than informative and juvenile. (Maybe upset that it is mentioned the US doesn't enter the war until later :) Anyway the characters thus far are deep and well-portrayed. Lots of emotion in this first episode and some good British actors who add realism.

I hope that the season continues and all 8(?) episodes are broadcast and not replaced by something else.

I'm usually not overly critical of shows & movies. If I'm mildly entertained, then it's fine. This series, unfortunately, has elicited my first IMDb review mainly because of its poor quality. The storyline is totally implausible, the characters are not in any way realistic, no matter how much poetic license you give them, and the research is completely non-existent. Characters speak to each other in ways that would simply never happen in the real world. Uniforms, ranks and insignia are constantly used incorrectly, not just minor errors but glaringly obvious mistakes showing dreadful, if any, research. Situations and circumstances are also just not believable for WW2 Europe and if the war had actually been conducted in this way, we'd all be speaking German now! Sometimes a show can still be entertaining, despite its shortcomings and inaccuracies. Unfortunately, X Company is so bad that it genuinely has left me regretting the time I've wasted watching the first few episodes.

Hold your breath tension filled moments in this behind enemy lines drama. Watch CBC.ca to watch episodes if you have missed any. Well written scripts and acting is superb. Jack Lanksky's character is especially intriguing. The toggling between "Camp X" and the Resistance fighters in France keep the show moving along nicely. The storyline of the plight of the Jewish people is introduced early in the series and is given the air of how the outside world can barely comprehend the atrocities that the Germans were inflicting on them. The show incorporates the use of the German language with subtitles give a more realistice sense to the autheticity of the show. The portrayal of the French police part in the rounding up of the Jewish people lends a truth to the historical facts of WWII.

I care about this subject matter because my father was involved in similar work in WW II. This is edge of your seat tension and drama and it brings WW II back so vividly, in a way that makes you feel for these characters and the peril the whole world was in at that time. I started with season 3 (my cable on demand only had that much) and am dismayed to hear that it was cancelled and there will be no season 4. Good news is that seasons 1 and 2 are out on DVD. Season 3 will surely follow in time (the finale was just last week). I can't recommend this highly enough. Previously my best series of all time was the Sopranos. This one moved me far more and is just as excellent as far as acting, scripts, sets, everything. Just watch any episode and you will be hooked and have to find out what happens. When I saw the very first episode after watching season 3, all my questions were answered about the way these five people were recruited. The way it introduces them is sublime. And yet you don't even need to start at the beginning to love this series. Jump in anywhere and you can follow along.

Absolutely ten out of ten stars because there's nothing better on TV.

X Company is a Canadian world war II spy drama. I won't go into the specifics except to say its competently done and follows the standard allied spy formula.

The characters are fairly predictable, save a savant type, who has a memory for pretty much everything. He enhances the spy teams abilities but at the same time his personal and psychological limitations threaten the units welfare.

The acting is reasonable but by no means exceptional. What is noticeable is the lack of chemistry between the team members. This is not helped by the rather dehumanizing "this is war", attitude displayed by some of the team. Especially the thoroughly unlikable British agent.

Just as noticeable is the revisionist nature of some of the storytelling. Claims such as the allies "don't bomb civilians" are demonstrably illogical and are reminiscent of contemporary claims made by the US in its drone war. Bombs don't care who they kill. Just ask the residents of Dresden.

An OK drama but nothing special.Would benefit from revised (more human)characterization and knocking off the revisionist history. Six out of ten from me.

I am from the US but am aware of Canadian efforts in code cracking & espionage. Big military show fan. Sure this is a dramatic presentation with human elements to sell the show but I really enjoy it as does my wife.

I see that one fellow with be on Dirk Gently this season. Dustin Milligan.

Torben Liebrecht as Franz Faber is a treat to watch. The conflict, the loving but neglected wife, the handicapped child and the"issue" to be dealt with.....ugh, but nicely done.

I enjoy the teamlead Evelyn Brochu. Its an interesting twist but then again women do make the best spies. If willing they are most trusted and can get intimate access. History speaks to this with example after example.

At first when I ran across this show I thought it was something from years ago and that Evelyne Brochu might be Rose Byrne.

We enjoy the rest of the cast as well and the writing is very solid. Some of the story elements bring history home and slap you in the face with the small stuff like the consequence of action against the Nazi's, German blood and heredity laws etc.

A very generous theme. And an admirable use of it. The stories about ordinary people becoming, in WWII heroes are fascinating and more than interesting. But it is the exact serie who you deserves. War, spies, people in human gestures, wise script, good performances, right atmosphere. And the tension minutious build. So, a fascinating story and a real remarkable war serie.

After seeing 6 episodes, I must say I am hooked. The cast is very good (each in their own way, not just skill wise), with very likable and admirable personalities. They each bring to the table their own background, unique skills and perspectives on subjects during each mission, making each member of the team quite valuable.

It has an excellent written plot (for example, a brief glimpse showing of scenes to happen down the road during the episode end and beginning), leaving you in the utmost suspense as to what will happen next.

As for the historical parts (Nazi uniforms, historical accuracy and what not) is pretty good, featuring the show is re-capping what happened more than 75 years ago, being shot in mostly France.

Overall very well done, a highly recommended watch for Drama/historical thriller.

This compelling Canadian-made drama hooked me from the first episode I watched this year. I happened to see the pilot after the first season was complete and therefore had to go on-line to catch up.

The characters are well written and the story is realistic, if not entirely accurate historically. The Germans speak German which adds to the authenticity but I wonder why the French do not speak French for the most part.

The settings, both outside and inside various buildings and other structures ring true and are carefully created. This adds greatly to the sense of period and makes the historic settings even more realistic.

Having not been a tremendous fan of Canadian drama in the past I am thrilled to have found this series and highly recommend it. Even the cinematography is sound and avoids some of the 'cleverness' and 'artsiness' that sometimes makes Canadian drama difficult to watch.