I’m a big fan of espionage thrillers, so since I still have my Peacock subscription, my husband and I decided to binge-watch it last December. I was especially interested in Simu Liu being cast in the lead role, since I only know him from Marvel’s Shang-Chi. It turns out that his Chinese heritage is key to the story, as Liu portrays Alexander Hale, a first-generation Chinese-American analyst working at a secret spy agency known as The Orphanage.

The title Copenhagen Test is basically a loyalty test for U.S. Government agents, which sheds light on the ‘Sophie’s Choice’ dilemma that Hale encountered during a hostage-rescue mission in Belarus. The twist is that Hale’s brain has been hacked using nanotechnology. His senses are essentially compromised by nanites that send audio and video to an unknown third party. The show takes a bit to really get going, but by the end of the second episode, I was fully invested in the characters, not just Liu’s but also those working in the agency, more on that later.

The series is created by Thomas Brandon (with Jennifer Yale also credited as show runner along with him). I noticed that James Wan served as one of the executive producers. The espionage angle is quite clever. Sure, the neuro-hacking aspect dips into ‘suspend-your-disbelief’ sci-fi territory, but it still remains grounded enough that it feels plausible. The Orphanage creates a fake world around Hale, assigning him a “girlfriend” and sending him on a perilous, maze-like mission. The unsettling concept does add a heightened sense of urgency and paranoia, the key ingredients for any spy story. I appreciate that it’s not non-stop action and that many quieter, dialogue-rich scenes are equally captivating.

The 8-episode runs roughly one hour each, and the tone is more serious with not much comic relief. One of the best things about it is the strong production values. The sleek, modern, high-tech vibe of the agency’s headquarters and the stunning cinematography around Toronto give it a classy appearance. The costume design team outfitted Liu in the kind of refined outfits that would make even 007 jealous. As a huge Bond fan, I think it’s awesome to see an Asian actor take on a spy role. Similar to the Bond series, there’s a beautiful love interest with divided loyalties, and Melissa Barrera gets to have fun with the role of Michelle. Their playful chemistry shines through, and the two athletic actors pull off an intense, well-choreographed fight scene seamlessly.

While the series may not feature big-name stars, it has a solid, racially diverse ensemble cast. Liu has established himself as a believable action star, but in this role, he also gets to explore his dramatic chops. Hale can come off as a bit too stoic at times, but that’s by design since he has to mask his true loyalties while the lines between what’s real and fake are increasingly blurred.

My favorite supporting character is Samantha Parker (Sinclair Daniel), a predictive analyst at the agency who plays a vital role in figuring out what’s really going on with Alexander’s altered reality. Her boss, Peter Moira (Brian d’Arcy James), relies on her to be the ‘playwright’ as the drama with Hale unfolds. Parker understands Hale better than anyone, even though he’s completely unaware of her existence. Saul Rubinek also has an important role as a chef of a swanky restaurant with ties to Hale’s past, while Adam Godley gets to showcase much more as the main antagonist compared to his role in Down Cemetery Road. Lastly, you’ve got the mysterious leader of The Orphanage with a code name St. George (Kathleen Chalfant), she’s giving me M vibes, a la Judi Dench.

The later episodes get a bit over the top as one layer of mystery unravels after another, especially the scenes involving Hale’s former fiancée. That said, the conclusion is quite fulfilling as it avoids a major cliffhanger. The show runners tie up the story arc nicely while still keeping the possibility of a second season open. I’m definitely up for another season of this, but I hope they deepen Liu’s character’s emotional complexity. Hale is an intriguing protagonist, and although we grasp his motivations and moral compass, overall, the character feels somewhat underdeveloped. I find it quite interesting that Hale’s Chinese parents contribute to the broader narrative, which is an unexpected surprise.

If you’re into spy stories, you’ll probably love The Copenhagen Test. It’s currently streaming on Peacock.

Have you seen this series? I’d love to hear what you think!