Allegiance (2015)

Allegiance takes a potentially preposterous situation and makes it provocative.

While Allegiance covers some of the same ground as both FX’s excellent period drama “The Americans” and Showtime’s resurgent “Homeland,” Nolfi and crew do a good job, particularly within the constraints of a broadcast network, differentiating their show’s mission.

This espionage thriller is still a fairly conventional network series and not nearly as subtle and complex as “The Americans.” That doesn’t mean the NBC version is unwatchable, though, just more homogenized and predictable.

While the hour is entertaining and moves briskly, it lacks the subtlety (not to mention violence, great opening credits and bad wigs) of The Americans.

Allegiance certainly won’t win many points for originality, but the episodes do clip along on a serialized basis, keeping the principals constantly scheming to stay one step ahead of the two sides between which they’re caught.

Allegiance does a decent job of propping up its crazy premise with some juicy intrigue and solid performances, though Stenhouse comes off as rather bland.

A series both formulaic and limited in the writing department, Allegiance shows no signs of the immense ambitiousness of “The Americans.” ... The theme [of sleeper agents] does its work and carries Allegiance, as do Hope Davis, outstanding as the desperate Katya, and Scott Cohen, impressive in the role of her husband.

Its lead characters for the most part are appealing and accessible, even if their machinations aren’t always well-oiled.

The premise strains credulity, and the setup is convoluted. Yet the spycraft is fun, an affecting cast makes you care. [30 Jan/6 Feb 2015, p.123]

What NBC most likely wanted was a less intense, more audience-friendly mass-market entertainment with a clear hero and a leavening sense of humor. And that's what George Nolfi, who based his series on an Israeli show, has provided.

Allegiance is a broadcast network series that doesn't have the writing or the acting chops to compete with its FX counterpart. The series is, however, entertaining on its own merits.

Allegiance’s real mission, like “The Americans,” is to draw us into a believable family crisis and, in that regard, the show’s results are mixed. Some performances are strong (particularly from Davis and Stenhouse) and the first three episodes demonstrate a knack for getting everyone — viewers included--to hang together off the same cliff right at the 57-minute mark.

The first three episodes are essentially capers involving spy chasing spy as angst-ridden Russians try to defect, the CIA tries to get to them and the SVR sics the O’Connors on everyone.

Allegiance is a curious duck, indeed. Smart and sophisticated certainly, but -- occasionally--a bit dim-bulbed and hokey, too.

Even when it’s fun, Allegiance doesn’t do anything The Americans isn’t doing far better.

Early episodes are, regrettably, filled with television tropes. Still, Allegiance could evolve into the show it clearly hopes to be. But only if it plays to its strength, which is to say Hope Davis.

The problem is that Allegiance seems to have painted itself into a corner with its overwrought premise. It dictates that at least once an episode.

The pace is generally fast enough to distract from the convoluted plot.

Without the nuanced characters and slow-building suspense of The Americans, Allegiance is just a preposterous thriller. That puts it right at home on NBC, but still far behind its obvious inspiration.

Allegiance is a competent thriller. But bushwablocking is easier said than done as the labyrinthine family dynamic dominates each of the three episodes sent to critics for review.

the pilot episode is briskly paced and told with a certain amount of flair. Technically, it's not without merit..... [But] It needs to get smart or risk being exposed as a pale impostor lurking among the elite TV operatives.

It's not terrible, but rather aggressively mediocre.

Allegiance, set in the present-day, is at attempt to be a thoughtful drama about the differences between loyalty to family and loyalty to country, but its atmosphere is as drab as an early John LeCarre novel, without the prickly dialogue or tricky plotting.... And: We lost Parenthood to this?

Allegiance is not terrible, although its characters are paper-thin, and, beyond feeling derivative, the show isn’t all that credible.

Allegiance does not demonstrate any of that careful planning; indeed, it is almost exactly the same thing as “The Americans,” except executed less well, with the complexities sanded off.

The story lines feel a bit contrived, though, and the action sometimes a trifle forced. We like the spies better than their thriller.