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.
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I have heard good things about the show although I have no interest in subscribing to Peacock as I can’t afford another streaming service right now.
I hear ya! I’m actually canceling Peacock in a couple of weeks; we only had it as there was a promo last year, so we tried to binge on as many things as we could. I can only subscribe to 3-4 things at a time, it just gets way too expensive.
Great reviews as always. I don’t normally watch television shows but the Copenhagen Test definitely sounds like a series I would enjoy. I do admire films/shows that focus on the lives of spies. I’m also a huge fan of Simu Liu. I think he’s an incredibly underrated Asian-American actor that has charismatic presence. I loved his performance in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”. I’ve not seen him in many movies so it’s nice to see him headlining a television show. So, even when I don’t take interest in television, I will definitely check out “The Copenhagen Test”. It definitely sounds like the kind of show that I will adore.
Here’s my thoughts on “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”:
Hey Hassan! Like you, I was only familiar w/ Simu Liu from Shang-Chi, but I think he makes for a compelling lead here. He’s got the athleticism to pull off the action stuff and is sensitive enough for the dramatic scenes. He’s actually Asian-Canadian, as he grew up in Toronto. If you like spy stories, you would enjoy this one.
Btw, if you love Ben Kingsley in the Marvel movies, you should check out Wonder Man on Disney+, he’s excellent in it, as is Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Thanks for the feedback Ruth. I do like Simu Liu, even though I have only ever seen him in Shang-Chi. I agree he has a strong muscular physique that makes him suitable for action movie roles. I am a fan of spy stories as well. So, even though I don’t normally watch any television shows, I will be sure to check this one out. It definitely does sound like the kind of series that I would enjoy.
Interesting recommendation for Wonder Man. I do love Ben Kingsley and felt he did a truly great job of portraying the Mandarin in the Marvel movies. I adored his role in “Iron Man 3” where he was first introduced as the Mandarin. So, I’ll definitely check out this show as well.
Here’s my thoughts on “Iron Man 3”:
Yeah, Ben Kingsley is definitely the best thing about Iron Man 3, I think you will enjoy Wonder Man!
This show was heavily marketed by NBC/Peacock! The trailers were all over my YouTube feed and during football games on Sundays. So, it sounds like they spent quite a bit of money on the production and marketing. I would watch it if I have Peacock but I don’t and I won’t subscribe to that service until they have more shows that I want to watch. It’s good seeing Simu Liu in a big production show again, after Shang-Chi, he has been doing a lot of bad movies.
Oh that’s good that they marketed this one well as it’s worth a watch, and I think it’s a bit underrated. While I was watching it, I was like, ‘This is a GOOD show; more people should talk about this one more.’ I hear ya about waiting until there are more good shows before you subscribe to a certain streaming service. Right now there’s this one, The Day of the Jackal, and the new one Ponies with Emilia Clarke that’s getting great reviews.
As for Liu, I haven’t seen any other film he’s in besides Shang-Chi, but he’s good in this series.
Oh I take that back. I actually saw him in Barbie and Last Breath, but those are small parts. I think he can do action and comedy well, so if he plays his card right, he can have a good career in Hollywood.
Hi Ruth, if you want to check out Simu Liu before his big Hollywood debut, watch the sit-com Kim’s Convenience. He plays the son in a Korean-Canadian family who runs a convenience store. The series is worth checking out (the parents are the real stars), probably still on Netflix.
Oh I did watch a couple of episodes of Kim’s Convenience, it’s funny, but there are too many seasons to catch up on. Yeah, all the seasons are still on Netflix, thanks Patrick!
I’m a sucker for spy stuff. Just started this and I’m pretty hooked! Rooting for Simu Liu to shine (my boy gotta do something in between Shang-Chi movies) and I’m a fan of Melissa Barrera. Post-Scream movies it seemed like she was being touted as the next horror scream queen. Cool to see her in something a little more subdued.
Hey Adrian, glad you’re watching this too. Ahah, I think Simu Liu has been keeping busy between his Marvel gigs, but more in supporting roles in films, so I’m glad he got to lead this series. I like Barrera too; she’s quite underrated, I think. Never saw her in Scream as I don’t watch horror, but I hope she gets to do varied roles instead of being typecast in the horror genre.
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Hmm, this sounds intriguing. I love Saul Rubinek. (Yes, worked with him)
No Peacock here (how many streams can 1 guy afford?), but this could show up on Crave, which carries a lot of Peacock product.
Thanks for the review and positive tip, Ruth! I’ll be watching for it!
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I love Saul Rubinek in Frasier, one of my fave sitcoms ever. So cool that you’ve worked with him! Yeah, I happen to have Peacock for half a year so we binged watched a bunch of stuff from there until we canceled. This one is well worth your time, so if you can have access to it, I highly recommend it, thanks Resa!!
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