Released: 6th September 2019 (Netflix)
Number of Episodes: 6
Certificate: 15
Created by: Gideon Raff
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Hadar Ratzon-Rotem, Yael Eitan Noah Emmerich, Alexander Siddig and Waleed Zuaiter
As the Cold War, independence and decolonisation took hold in the 1960s, the topic of spies and their covert operations took on a greater prominence. The Spy, a straightforward and simple series covering Middle Eastern espionage, is a great effort all around.
The Spy tells the story of the real life Israeli operative Eli Cohen (Sacha Baron Cohen), who is tasked with infiltrating the Syrian government in the 1960s. Taking on an assumed identity and mingling with political figures, Cohen bluffs his way into the higher ranks while working to keep his cover intact. All the while, his wife Nadia (Hadar Ratzon-Rotem) continues life at home, not knowing of her partner’s work. We mostly follow Eli on his various escapades from the corridors of power to the surrounding borders where conflict could erupt at any moment; the latter is often the main source of tension as the deeper the protagonist goes, the more pressure he is under to conform. Though this build-up is clearly felt, there could have been a stronger balance between Eli and the distance from his family to balance out the two sides. The final component of the action are the discussions at Mossad, which are often presented through projected transmissions of Morse code. The story boasts plenty of intrigue and at six episodes long, doesn’t outstay its welcome. The conclusion felt a little underhanded however; the real events involved a fair amount of discussion and debates from the United Nations in France and these occurrences are portrayed in a rather basic manner that lacks the discussions shown in the earlier episodes.
As the titular figure leading the proceedings, Sacha Baron Cohen really makes an impression with arguably his most serious role to date; he’s both capable and anxious in Eli Cohen’s work, making for a dual-sided performance that consistently impresses throughout. Hadar Ratzon-Rotem is equally compelling as Nadia, her husband’s absence weighing heavily on her and her children. Where The Spy really impresses is the dialogue; Eli interacts with a wide range of individuals from politicians to army officials and the charismatic way he enters their circles always makes for some fascinating exchanges. For example, the then Syrian President candidate Amin al-Hafiz is brilliantly played by Waleed Zuaiter, delivering a calm confidence alongside a blissful unawareness of the efforts to watch his movements. The performances really come into their own in the final moments as things boil over into a brutal climax. This ruthlessness is personified by Alexander Siddig’s Ahmed Suidani, who is relentless in his pursuits to expose traitors.
With its precise, saturated look, The Spy is firmly committed to absorbing the viewer into its setting. It falls somewhere in between the black and white classics and the more modern takes on the genre, with a strong authenticity to match. The settings of Israel and Syria are very well recreated; despite being shot mainly in Moroccao and Hungary, the architecture, costume work and surrounding landscapes all look very convincing across the six episodes. The series looks its best at several key set pieces, particularly a lavish party held at Eli’s establishment in Damascus. The music complements the sequences brilliantly, blending between traditional sounds of the time and more intense notes that mark the spy’s stealthier engagements. The series offers a compelling vision of past events that keeps audiences engaged.
It’s a little lacking in balance and conclusiveness but The Spy is ultimately a tense and authentic portrayal of Eli Cohen’s life and profession. Its greatest strength is the interactions between the characters and the authentic events that come to fruition over time; if nothing else, the series is sure to transport you into a very well realised vision of the 1960s Middle East.
Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)
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