Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse.
The Recruit is a 2022 spy thriller television show released by Netflix. Created by Alexi Hawley, it stars Noah Centineo, Laura Haddock and Colton Dunn. The story follows a brand new lawyer at the CIA who gets entangled in dangerous international power politics when a former asset threatens to expose the nature of her long-term relationship with the agency.
UNDER THE LENS: Intermixing Stories
Intermixing Stories: In so many streaming shows we see the expunging of side stories or supporting character stories in favor of everything relating to or flowing into the seasons or lead heroes story. While The Recruit is focused on Owen and his story, we take time off to see what the supporting characters lives and the work they do at the CIA. We see Owen’s coworkers deal with AI robots built for torture that go crazy, being drugged so a black op can go through, and chasing down a spec-op operator who won’t pay his child support.
The stories are funny and all to work to establish Owen in the CIA and in the eyes of his co-workers. The side narratives are all entertaining and funny, while allowing us to see a wider view of the world of the CIA in the show. While the show could have been narrow, we now see what is a sprawling landscape, and the show is better for it!
HIGHLIGHTS
- The show managed to work all its characters into the narrative well, no one was left out
- The small cameo by Nathan Fillion was fun
- The show balanced violent paranoia and quirky humor well
QUOTABLE QUOTE
Owen Hendricks: Higher stakes, a bit more challenging, but the bottom line is… I’m a guy that doesn’t mind falling on his face.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Have you ever had someone you were trying to help who you were not sure was trustworthy? What did you do?
CONCLUSION
Overall The Recruit is a rowdy, violent, and comedic romp through the world of the CIA, its full of bad stabbings, assassination attempts, and endless lies and lies to hide those lies. Owen is a likely hero who we just WANT to cheer for, he is the everyman who is in way over his head but always manages to find a way through it all. Laura Haddock is electric as Owen’s psychopathic asset who just may care more than she lets on. The Recruit is a strong first season, and promises even more in its second, that being said it does suffer from a finale that feels slightly underbaked and unfinished. However, the season cliffhanger is a good one that promises to explain just what is going on. If you enjoy spy shows with humor, then check this one out!
