REVIEW: The Recruit Isn’t Your Average Spy Series

Netflix’s new series, The Recruit, finds Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo) starting his new career as a lawyer with the CIA. Fresh out of law school, the young lawyer jumps headfirst into his first assignment, but may have bitten off more than he can chew. When an asset, aka Max Meladze, (Laura Haddock) threatens to reveal agency secrets if she is not released from jail, Owen heads out on a worldwide adventure that throws him headfirst into the world of international espionage. With the support of his roommates, Hannah (Fivel Stewart) and Terrence (Daniel Quincy Annoh), and his CIA co-workers, Violet (Aarti Mann), Lester (Colton Dunn), and Janus (Kristian Bruun), Owen must unravel the truth before it is too late.

Creator Alexi Hawley brings a new spin to the world of espionage with The Recruit. Rather than having the story be filled with over the top action scenes and death-defying moments every episode, Hawley takes a more realistic approach when it comes to these scenes. He makes it believable for Owen to be in a car chase or jumping off a bridge into a river rather than unbelievable. Will this approach be a winner for the audience, maybe not, but this approach allows the audience to connect with Owen, and maybe even relate to him. Hawley also managed to balance the story telling of Owen’s personal life and professional life with ease. At no point do you feel overwhelmed or confused by either storyline. Everything is laid out and simple to understand. There is nothing complex about most of the characters. Each character is introduced with an exact plan and at no point does Hawley deviate from that plan.

Centineo’s approach to Owen is definitely realistic, and yet a little campy. The obstacles being thrown at Owen may, or may not be realistic but he handles them like a pro. He was the perfect casting choice for this character. Add in Laura Haddock’s portrayal as Max Meladze and you are guaranteed a fun time. Max is a character that will grow on you as the season progresses. Her character is extremely complexed, and Haddock nails the performance. However, the wins don’t stop there. The entire supporting cast adds their own level of intrigue and laughs to the story, especially Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, and Kristian Bruun, who play Owens CIA co-workers Violet, Lester, and Janus.

If you are looking for a show that has a good mix of politics, thrills, and humor, The Recruit is for you. The show is filled with fun characters and a great storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final episode wraps. I do recommend setting aside a chunk of time for this series if you are going to watch. You may end up, like me, binging it from start to finish.