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FBI & CIA: A Classic Buddy Cop Rehash
20 Feb
Summary
- CIA agent and FBI agent must team up to stop a rogue agent.
- The new series is criticized for its predictable plot and character dynamics.
- Showrunner David Hudgins stated it would focus on lead character relationships.
CBS continues its procedural drama expansion with "CIA," a new "FBI" series that pairs Tom Ellis as a laissez-faire CIA agent with Nick Gehfluss as a by-the-book FBI special agent. They must collaborate to prevent national security threats from a rogue agent carrying sensitive information.
The series' production saw multiple showrunner and director changes before its premiere. Originally, it was intended to differentiate itself by focusing on the relationship between its leads.
However, "CIA" largely adheres to the familiar "buddy cop" formula, pitting a rule-bending agent against a principled one. Critics found the writing predictable and the character dynamics uninspired, likening it to "Lethal Weapon" without the humor.
Despite the actors' charm, the show's reliance on established procedural tropes is evident. The pilot episode's mystery involving a former CIA asset and stolen technology is presented as complex yet resolved swiftly by the CIA.
Overall, "CIA" is described as a predictable entry in Dick Wolf's franchise, fulfilling network and viewer expectations for a procedural. Its potential indistinguishability from other "FBI" siblings raises questions about its long-term appeal, though hints of spy drama are present.
