The Spy

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 6, 2019
User Score
6.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 29
  3. Negative: 6 out of 29

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User Reviews

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  1. jeremyp
    Sep 8, 2019
    7
    A great and true spy story deserves a deeper look than this rather shallow rendition. It's by the book. Our hero is heroic displayed, but his humanity is largely in the shadow. The dialog is dumbed down for the audience-the characters seem to be talking more to the audience than each other-and the plot is Ian Fleming when we need Le Carre. It's really a propaganda piece for Israel ratherA great and true spy story deserves a deeper look than this rather shallow rendition. It's by the book. Our hero is heroic displayed, but his humanity is largely in the shadow. The dialog is dumbed down for the audience-the characters seem to be talking more to the audience than each other-and the plot is Ian Fleming when we need Le Carre. It's really a propaganda piece for Israel rather than an exploration of the psychological tension of living a double life in the devil's lair.… Expand
  2. MichaelBeatch
    Sep 9, 2019
    8
    I caught a glimpse of episode 1 and I am not someone who watches television, nor do I binge watch. I don't have the impulse or time. When the trailer showed up on Netflix, I was fascinated. The performances are great and I like this kind of genre. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I liked seeing Sacha in a serious role because he has a mesmerizing dramatic side. The lighting, cinematographyI caught a glimpse of episode 1 and I am not someone who watches television, nor do I binge watch. I don't have the impulse or time. When the trailer showed up on Netflix, I was fascinated. The performances are great and I like this kind of genre. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I liked seeing Sacha in a serious role because he has a mesmerizing dramatic side. The lighting, cinematography and smooth grace of the visual appeals to my eye.… Expand
  3. psylife
    Sep 10, 2019
    3
    An ultimately mediocre piece of zionist / israeli propaganda. Hollywood propaganda pieces are usually more entertaining and just better at rendering synthetic lies and stories. Watch it and see for yourself.
  4. OlivierPiel
    Sep 11, 2019
    0
    The acting is atrocious (Cohen is overacting all the scenes but other actors are also weak). It is a show that appears artificial, trying too hard. One example is the use of a colour lens that make appear all the scenes in Israel set in the past as faded photographs. It's a gimmick that adds to the bland, boring atmosphere of the series.
  5. SScholder1
    Oct 28, 2019
    9
    If you're not a racist, try to ignore the racists. This is well done. True story. If you think anything that shows people treating Jews or Israelis badly is a lie because you're a racist then maybe watch something else without any jews in it.
  6. geewah
    Jan 23, 2021
    7
    An entertaining telling of one of Israel's most famous spies, Eli Cohen.
    Baron Cohen does an admirable effort in the lead but at times seems to try to hard.

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Best TV Season of 2019
93
#93 Most Discussed TV Season of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Stuart Jeffries
    Dec 5, 2019
    60
    There isn’t anything wrong with Emmerich’s performance, but his presence highlights The Spy’s deficiencies by reminding us of a much better drama, The Americans, in which he played CIA Agent Stan Beeman. The Spy, by contrast, looks conventional, old fashioned, plodding.
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  2. Primetimer
    Reviewed by: Aaron Barnhart
    Sep 11, 2019
    100
    Sometimes it takes an ordinary thriller or procedural to make an extraordinary point. The Spy offers entertaining proof of this.
    Read full review
  3. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Nick Allen
    Sep 10, 2019
    75
    “The Spy” is a compelling albeit uneven limited series that offers a unique character study of a spy, and in this case, a true chameleon.
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