SummaryHoward Silk (J.K. Simmons) works as a low-level employee at a Berlin-based spy agency when he discovers his employers protect an opening to a parallel dimension. In the other dimension, he meets his counterpart named Prime (J.K. Simmons) in this sci-fi thriller created by Justin Marks.
Created By:Justin Marks
❮ Counterpart
Season 1
Season Premiere:
Dec 10, 2017
Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
User score
Generally Favorable
7.4
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Season Episodes
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
87% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
13% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Jan 25, 2018
91
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.
Jan 30, 2018
80
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.
User score
Generally Favorable
78% Positive
99 Ratings
99 Ratings
10% Mixed
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
12% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
Jan 1, 2020
10
Awesome show, every once in awhile you go blindly into a show and get completely floored.
Jan 23, 2019
10
So, if you have never heard of Rainer Maria Rilke - you will probably not like or understand this series. If you are not curious about who Rainer Maria Rilke is - you will probably not like or understand this series. But, perhaps the series can be enjoyed on different levels. I see dozens of reviews of Counterpart by individuals who enjoy the series - none of which indicate they have a clue about what the series is about.
Jan 22, 2018
80
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.
Jan 19, 2018
80
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.
Jan 16, 2018
75
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.
Jan 18, 2018
70
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.
Jan 17, 2018
60
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.
Jun 17, 2018
10
This is truly an awesome show. Something different, well thought through. One of the best Series I watched in a while and cannot wait for the second season. Lead actor staring J.K Simmons who plays his two roles brilliantly. Do your self a favor and check it out.
Jul 22, 2019
6
One problem with Counterpart is that it devotes a fair amount of time to relationships--marriages, love affairs, etc--and I spend this time wondering if people's feelings for one another have anything to do with anything outside the bedroom. But the main problem, as I see it, is Howard, by which I refer to "Howard Alpha." He's the good guy. He's moral, principled, honest, loyal, compassionate, and understanding. And that would be great if he wasn't also pretty damn boring. His problem as a character is that he knows nothing of what's going on around him and that makes him little more than a puppet getting jerked around by all the other players. I mean, basically this show is the Cold War with scifi decor. It should be at least interesting if not absolutely thrilling and it is neither. The acting is fine. The visuals are low budget but good enough. The story is just flaccid and our titular hero is dull. I saw season 1 to the end out of sheer determination. I doubt I'll bother with season 2.
Jan 15, 2019
6
Sounded interesting then remembered a TV Twilight Zone similarity, and in researching found indeed session 1 episode 21, which aired 26 February 1960 titled ‘Mirror Image’ the same situation as ‘Counterpart’, in fact the lead actress Vera Miles in the TZ 1960 episode clearly mentions several times the ‘counterpart’ world seeing her ‘other self’ and that ‘they’ were trying to take over. Originality died with the invention of fire.
Mar 3, 2018
2
It's not terrible. The issue is it throws you into situations without giving you any kind of back story or idea of whats going on. Very little character development ahead of time. Most episodes you have zero clue why things are happening. Its not mysterious. Its just confusing.
May 27, 2018
0
I kept waiting for it to get better but it never did. This show is both confusing and boring. I won't be able to force myself to sit through the second season. The show is a bit reminiscent of Deutschland 83 but that show is far better.
