Critic Reviews

The Agency season 2 opens the door for the show's next chapter to be its grittiest and darkest yet, which is saying something, and that is what makes the spy series must-watch TV.

Shockingly well made. Tense and intense, “The Agency” gives off “MI-5” and “Sleeper Cell” vibes

Things may come to a head slowly in this second endeavor, but once the explosive secrets each of these characters harbors begin to fester, nothing can stop them from igniting.

Good, smart, propulsive spy thriller.

The more episodes I watched, the more I started to grasp and comprehend the show’s pace and framework and came to appreciate its intentionality. This is a world I want to understand because it feels like I’m watching an intricate puzzle being put together. It’s a unique world I enjoy being in so I’m looking forward to seeing where The Agency goes after a strong start.

The truth is there are no bad performances here—just the occasional actor straining against an underwritten villain, a product of a show with more than a dozen characters to track across the world, and the writer’s choice to rarely give us their POV.

Deeply engrossing (in the three episodes made available to critics), the espionage thriller explores the human cost of covert work.

Paramount+ and Showtime's "The Agency" doesn't have the spy action that fans of "Mission: Impossible" or James Bond may expect, but I found the two episodes sent to press consistently riveting due to the sharp dialogue, incredible ensemble, and tight filmmaking.

I’ve never worked for a foreign intelligence service (I would say that, wouldn’t I?) but it certainly feels authentic and, more importantly, it’s a chilly, complex, utterly engrossing drama that unfolds in unexpected ways.

The Agency returns for a much stronger second season that improves on many of the show’s previous shortcomings, even if its slow-burn approach might not be for everyone.