Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Agency episode 9I have to preface this review by saying that, while I am aware thatThe Agencyis based on a successful French TV series,Le Bureau des Légendes, I have never watched the original. As such, while some watching Michael Fassbender’snew spy seriescould more or less know where things are headed, I’m in the dark as to what the original series showcased in its first season finale and subsequent seasons. I preferred it that way to be able to judgeThe Agencyon its own, and episode 9 has set up a finale I can’t wait for.
The Agency
Cast
The Agency is a 2024 espionage thriller following covert CIA agent Martian, who is recalled to London Station, disrupting his undercover life. As a former romance rekindles, Martian’s career and true identity are jeopardized, leading him into a high-stakes world of international intrigue and deception.
The Agencyepisode 8did a good job setting up what would unravel in episode 9. Even though Samia does play a role in the new episode, her departure last week is not walked back in any way, which I’m grateful for, as it allowed Fassbender’s Martian to branch out and focus on more exciting developments. Volchok caught the CIA’s move to use his secretary to track where Coyote would be, which means the Americans lost their only lead. Danny also had to make a move she was uncomfortable with and episode 9 explores the results of those plotlines.
The Coyote Storyline Faces Exciting Events
The Agency Does A Good Job Of Setting Up Season 1’s Finale
Finding Coyote has been the CIA’s top prioritysince the start of the series, with Martian, Henry, and Bosko trying everything they can think of to make that happen. Episode 9 explores what appears to be a masterful plan from Martian to finally solve the CIA’s problem. I love that the show made a point of exploring Martian’s current mental state before he was thrust into the action. A conversation between Jeffrey Wright’s Henry and Harriet Sansom Harris' Dr. Blake depicts just how troubled Martian is and how he is not really thinking straight.
The mental aspect of a show that loves to delve into characters' psyches and thrives on paranoia is especially important.
Starting the series as a veteran agent who can do no wrong, Martian has become somewhat erratic due to the situation involving Samia. The mental aspect of a show that loves to delve into characters' psyches and thrives on paranoia is especially important. While it is clear Martian is not 100%, Fassbender’s character can still be trusted to get the job done. Martian successfully manages to flip a Valhalla officer, getting the CIA a direct line to stop Volchok and retrieve Coyote. Martian does that by going back into the field for the first time since being undercover.
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While we are told Martian is unstable and have seen that progress slowly over the past episodes, the spy is at his best during this operation. He handles it all with ease, later coming up with a plan based on the intel acquired to create a kill box that brings the crew from Felix back into play. It had been so long since we had seen those characters that I had not even thought about them coming back to play such an important role in the story. It seems like the finale might beThe Agency’s most action-packed episode.
Martian Makes His Most Difficult Choice Yet
The Consequences Could Haunt Him
Since the start of the series, Martian has been torn between his work and his feelings for Samia. After trying to keep his situation a secret and failing, Martian convinced the CIA to recruit Samia, but she refused, not wanting to betray her country. While I thought we had possibly seen the last of her in episode 8,The Agency’s new hour brought the character back in a key role. Martian was now forced to choose between his work and Samia, as Osman threatened him, saying she would die if Martian did not reveal the contents of his undercover mission.
I liked how Martian had to make an impossible choice, and even though other characters might think he is not his best self, the spy chose the mission over love.
I was unsure about how it would all play out. While Fassbender’s character has done everything to get Coyote back and proven himself to be very good at his job, his love for Samia is clearly strong enough that he would decide to let everything go to save her. However, he did not. I liked how Martian had to make an impossible choice, and even though other characters might think he is not his best self, the spy chose the mission over love. If that is not a ruse and Samia is really killed, that choice will haunt Martian.
As his future self says in the episode’s flash-forwards, Martian will not come back from this. I’m excited to see how Martian will be affected by his decision in the future as Volchock and Felix clash. Elsewhere, episode 9 was also a big one for Danny. The character managed to pass a test to go to Tehran with Reza, all thanks to some needed help from Naomi, who prepared her beforehand. Danny has succeeded in her mission so far, butThe Agency’s season finale will have her on foreign soil and anything could happen.
New episodes ofThe Agencydrop weekly on Paramount+ with Showtime every Friday.
