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The Recruit (2022)

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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63

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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The Recruit

Now Playing: The Recruit

The Recruit (2022)

Series Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: December 16, 2022

Summary: Newly hired CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo) discovers a former asset (Laura Haddock) is threatening to expose the agency's secrets unless they clear her for a serious crime in this spy thriller from Alexi Hawley.

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

Recent Episodes

No episode information is currently available for this season

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

63

Positive:

10

Mixed:

6

Negative:

2

Critic Reviews

90

Screen Rant Felipe Rangel

Aug 28, 2025

Season 2 Review: Despite only having six episodes, The Recruit season 2 works as one giant thrill ride. I never thought the show was rushing through events, as season 1 also succeeded with a faster pace than other spy shows like Michael Fassbender's The Agency. Read full review

80

Decider

Joel Keller

Dec 16, 2022

Season 1 Review: The Recruit is a mostly silly show, but Centineo has more than enough charm to carry viewers through the more absurd parts of the season’s ongoing plot, and there are enough veteran actors in the supporting cast to make us think the comedy-thriller tone of the first episode will be able to be sustained for the entire season. Read full review

80

The Telegraph Ed Power

Jan 29, 2025

Season 2 Review: It feels as if its licence to thrill could be revoked any second – but as time-killing hokum, The Recruit hits the target like 007 taking aim down a pre-credits gun barrel. Read full review

63

The Mercury News Randy Myers

Feb 6, 2025

Season 2 Review: An improved second season patches up a few rough edges in Netflix’s enjoyable spy romp, and does so by repositioning its jocular, off-the-cuff spirit in mostly a new setting, South Korea. Read full review

58

Consequence

Paolo Ragusa

Dec 16, 2022

Season 1 Review: Overall, The Recruit is certainly a fun ride with some great action and an interesting story. But it’s unpolished, and could benefit from better dialogue and more nuanced relationships between characters. Read full review

50

The A.V. Club

Manuel Betancourt

Dec 16, 2022

Season 1 Review: [Owen's] an engine for the show’s plot to move forward, for us to skip recaps and watch episode after episode to see what happens. One just wishes there was more to this spy drama than cheap thrills wrapped around a pretty boy who keeps failing upward (and into the wrong hands, over and over again). Read full review

30

The Hollywood Reporter

Angie Han

Dec 16, 2022

Season 1 Review: Whatever cutting satire or righteous anger The Recruit might have to offer is badly diluted over eight bloated hours — lost amid paper-thin characters, flimsy twists and a wishy-washy tone. What it turns out instead is a piece of content so forgettable, the CIA wouldn’t have to lift a finger to disappear it from public memory. Read full review

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7.6

Negative:

0

User Reviews

10

Aurevilly

Dec 20, 2022

What happens when a human, who was probably a golden retriever in another life, becomes a lawyer by mistake and gets hired by the CIA legal department because he always does the opposite of what he should? The best dark comedy of the year, with the chaos that usually precedes and follows aWhat happens when a human, who was probably a golden retriever in another life, becomes a lawyer by mistake and gets hired by the CIA legal department because he always does the opposite of what he should? The best dark comedy of the year, with the chaos that usually precedes and follows a golden retriever in action.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

10

ruckutha

Feb 26, 2023

Great show, very fun to follow, super interestic, similar to jack ryan with john k. in a way. Has comedic elements as well. His love story is interesting to follow as well

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

9

bigpapa

Dec 25, 2022

This is great TV to me. I don't believe it's trying to present itself as anything other than what the trailer shows. I guess some people will expect a full on "Bourne" thriller and in that instance they will be disappointed. But it has easily enough of that to keep me going and I binged it.This is great TV to me. I don't believe it's trying to present itself as anything other than what the trailer shows. I guess some people will expect a full on "Bourne" thriller and in that instance they will be disappointed. But it has easily enough of that to keep me going and I binged it. I think it has enough suspense, thrills, action and humour to hold you during and leave you wanting after. Noah Centineo is bloody good though it's solid acting on all counts, good dialogue and story and great locations and direction. There's not much really new here but truly that'd be a hard ask these days. I believe that that is why this a great show. It somehow feels fresh still and thoroughly enjoyable. I am really looking forward to the next season. Please?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

8

Monsterskill

Jan 2, 2023

It's entertaining. I generally dislike any show with CIA propaganda, but this show was funny and had a lot of action. The acting can be off at times, and the plot is pretty ridiculous, but that's kind of the point. I recommend it for a good action/drama/comedy.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

7

RobMarr75

Dec 31, 2022

Unrealistic, but fun. The protagonist isn't exactly likeable, but the idea that he's really trying to do his best is entertaining. Plot moves quickly. If you like spy stuff, I think you'll enjoy it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Seasons & Episodes

63

Series Overview
Season 2

76
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: January 30, 2025
- No episode information is currently available for this season
Season 1

59
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: December 16, 2022