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Critic Reviews
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Counterpart blooms and grows as an absorbing sci-fi/spy thriller with elemental questions about how identities can be forged and changed by environments and circumstances.
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There are more than enough carefully planned connections and well-calculated twists to inspire security in this tantalizing tale. Instinctively, two J.K. Simmons has always sounded better than one, just like one million Oprahs is one million times better than one. But “Counterpart” is more than a trending topic. It feels like a series that’s here to stay.
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It’s a slower burn than you might expect, but it also grows a little more rewarding with every episode. It’s one to keep an eye on.
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Excellent, intriguing and occasionally action-packed.
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The series really belongs to Simmons, so much so that unfortunately when the story leaves his behind things can get a little too slow. The layers that he gives both of the Howards is impressive, but the empathy and affection one feels for our Howard that is being played, seemingly, as a pawn is enormous.
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Simmons, as you might expect, is equally convincing as each Howard Silk, but he's only getting revved up for the many twists and turns taken in this 10-episode thrill ride. ... Still, no matter how convoluted things get, you keep coming back to the two Howards, and, because of Simmons, you want to.
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A smartly constructed and atmospheric spy thriller.
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Through six episodes, Mr. Marks doesn’t do anything especially interesting with that premise, but luckily for him and us, Mr. Simmons, an Oscar winner in 2015 for “Whiplash,” does. ... In Counterpart, Mr. Simmons works so subtly, and seemingly effortlessly, that you always know which Howard you’re watching, but you’re never aware of how you know.
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Counterpart, the compelling new Starz drama that's mostly an old-school espionage thriller with a little bit of sci-fi tossed in and, we shall see, maybe an existential exploration of identity, is a hodgepodge of interesting ideas that drag you forward into the confusing narrative, with one central and undeniable hook: J.K. Simmons.
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Counterpart moves at a deliberate pace in the early episodes, punctuated with moments of violence and surprise. It takes time for us to acclimate ourselves to the show’s concept, but once it sinks in, we’re hooked. The performances are superb, especially Simmons, who is so good as both Howard and Other Howard, he should be nominated for two best actor Emmys.
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Counterpart is one of those twisty shows that could threaten to become convoluted the longer it goes on, but in early episodes it’s more intriguing than it is confusing or frustrating.
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An extremely stylish doughnut--it has a logical hole at its center ... Alongside a first-rate cast that includes the wonderful Olivia Williams and that great Dane, Ulrich Thomsen, Mr. Simmons is amusing to watch, segueing from Howard 1 to Howard 2, hinging his twin performances not just on emotional reaction but carriage and posture.
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But just as there are two Howard Silks, there are essentially two Counterparts: the spy drama with science fiction trappings, and the character study with same. Spy Howard often has to carry bureaucrat Howard through the latest crisis, and the character version of Counterpart can more than carry the spy story when it starts to feel too pokey.
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The spy/conspiracy story is kind of a dud, but Howard's a keeper. [5-18 Feb 2018, p.11]
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Counterpart is built on a rather unwieldy premise that will either support seasons of absorbing brain-teasing or tumble over and scatter like a colossal Jenga tower. ... Throughout all the setup of this riven world, imagined by show creator Justin Marks, Simmons shines. His performance as both Howards is endlessly entertaining, and it kept me engaged in the story even when I wasn’t certain exactly what was happening.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 98 out of 126
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Mixed: 13 out of 126
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Negative: 15 out of 126
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Jan 21, 2018
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Jan 21, 2018
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Feb 12, 2018