Critics are enjoying Michael Fassbender’s performance in The Agency; however, reviews are also split when it comes to other elements of the new Showtime series.
The first two episodes of The Agency will premiere on Paramount+ with Showtime on November 29, 2024. With new episodes continuing to drop on Fridays, the series stars Fassbender as a character named Martin, while the cast also includes Jodie Turner-Smith, Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, and more.
What are critics saying about The Agency?
The first reviews of The Agency have now been released and, while most critics agree that Fassbender and the rest of the supporting cast are quite good in the series, there are differing opinions on the writing, tone, and pace.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg wrote, “Directed in its initial installments by Joe Wright, the series looks terrific and sometimes builds suspense. What it doesn’t have, at least in early episodes, is much consistency. Each of the three chapters sent to critics has a different set of attributes and different points of frustration, which in turn add up to an overall frustration. It’s completely possible that these elements could come together fluidly by the end of the first season, or that what feels like disjointedness could turn out to be versatility. For now, however, it’s hard to latch onto the show despite its potential.”
TheWrap’s Zaki Hasan said that, despite the fact that The Agency should land in “must-watch territory,” it’s “weighed down by a sluggish narrative that struggles to match the undeniable visual flair.”
Hasan also pointed out that there are a number of similar shows that have recently popped up — Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, Peacock’s The Day of the Jackal, etc. — and says The Agency “can’t help but suffer in comparison, lacking the ingenuity or depth to stand out in a crowded field of superior dramas.”
Roger Ebert’s Brian Tallerico was more positive toward the show, saying he found the first two episodes “consistently riveting due to the sharp dialogue, incredible ensemble, and tight filmmaking.”
Variety’s Aramide Tinubu further said the initial episodes are “deeply engrossing” and play into exploring “the human cost of covert work.”
