THE RECRUIT on Netflix is a new action, adventure, thriller, and crime series about the world of spies. Noah Centineo is perfect in the lead as the just-hired lawyer at the CIA. Read our The Recruit Season 1 review here!
THE RECRUIT is a new Netflix series with eight episodes in its first season. It’s quite a genre-blending series with action, adventure, thriller, crime, and a touch of comedy. It reminded me of both Alias and (in particular) Killing Eve.
The plot centers around Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo), who gets in over his head fast after landing his dream job in the CIA. However, he’s not a spy. He’s a lawyer. Before long, it turns out that your job title doesn’t really matter when working in the world of spying.
Continue reading our The Recruit Season 1 review below. Find all eight episodes on Netflix from December 16, 2022.
A wonderfully engaging new spy mystery
He plays the young CIA lawyer, who has quite the crazy first week when he comes across a letter threatening to expose the agency. The letter comes from a former asset Max Meladze (Laura Haddock), who is currently in prison for murder.
Naturally, she wants out and threatens the CIA to force an exoneration.
Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo) quickly becomes entangled in the craziest situation. However, he seems to have the same approach as Pippi Longstocking; “I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.”
Obviously, this approach to your job is more dangerous than usual when working for the CIA. Especially since nobody at the CIA trusts one another, and there’s quite a brutal hazing practice. Owen Hendricks needs to learn the ways of the CIA (and the international spy rules) fast!
Oh yeah, Noah Centineo can carry a show!
Let’s be clear about one thing: If the lead character in a series doesn’t work, then the series as a whole probably won’t work. Fortunately, Noah Centineo (Black Adam, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) is absolutely perfect in the lead as Owen Hendricks.
It’s a classic spy premise and if you enjoyed Killing Eve, you should enjoy this.
Max Meladze is no Villanelle, but Laura Haddock (Netflix series White Lines, Guardians of the Galaxy) does manage to lean in close to that iconic character. In The Recruit, Laura Haddock also reminds me even more of Angelina Jolie than ever before. Think Salt!
And then there’s Noah Centineo because we need to get back to him. From his comedic timing to his charming (but never in an obnoxious) ways, he works unbelievably believable as the young CIA lawyer.
Also, he’s handsome but not ripped, which works, because why would he be as a lawyer?!
In supporting roles, which each has actual value for the story (whether for plot or pure entertainment), we also see quite a few familiar faces. These include Kristian Bruun, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Fivel Stewart, Byron Mann, and Linus Roache.
Watch season 1 of The Recruit on Netflix now!
The creator and showrunner (as well as executive producer) of The Recruit is Alexi Hawley. He wrote the 2004 Exorcist: The Beginning, but has otherwise been working mostly in the world of TV series. This includes the intense and intelligent The Following which I personally enjoyed a lot!
Directors on the eight episodes are divided between four that each direct two. Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith), begins, then comes Alex Kalymnios (Quantico), followed by Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr., and Julian Holmes (The Boys) rounds out season 1.
Both the star of The Recruit, Noah Centineo, and director Doug Liman, are also among the executive producers, so they’re all in on this production. And it makes sense because it really should be a hit with a big part of Netflix subscribers!
The Recruit season 1 is on Netflix globally from December 16, 2022.
Details
Creator: Alexi Hawley
Directors: Doug Liman (101- 102), Alex Kalymnios (103-104), Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr.
(105-106), Julian Holmes (107-108)
Cast: Noah Centineo, Laura Haddock, Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Fivel Stewart, Daniel Quincy
Annoh, Kristian Bruun, Vondie Curtis Hall, Byron Mann, Angel Parker, Kaylah Zander
Plot
A fledgling lawyer at the CIA becomes enmeshed in dangerous international power politics when a former asset threatens to expose the nature of her long-term relationship with the agency unless they exonerate her of a serious crime.
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