CIA is still finding its footing and its footing is quite complicated. As we journey into season one, episode three, the title is fitting. We’re dealing with spies here and a bridge of lies seems to be what the CIA is. It’s part of the job. CIA is a journey – one where we know that we’re dealing with a lot of liars, secrets, and of course espionage.
Nikki has returned to a place where she was once stationed as a former colleague has been detained by the government. She’s able to get her colleague out, but ends up being captured. The government of Hong Kong knows that she is a member of the CIA.
It was the bag man – the man that washed money and got it to her in Hong Kong. She needed to pay off a judge to get the paperwork to get him out. Unfortunately, Nikki isn’t able to get out and they are holding her – some say in part for her being CIA and in part because China wants a bargaining chip. They want leverage.
Now. if we think for a second that this is going to be easy to solve, it definitely won’t be. They are trying to break Nikki and she’s not having it. The man in Hong Kong wants to break her down and get her whole network. He tells her that she should be afraid, but one thing that you have to admire about Nikki is that she is not going to break.
There is a sadness that comes over me watching this episode. A sadness because Nikki looks miserable and her eyes are filled with tears. But you have got Bill and Colin, as well as Gina are visibly upset because they are afraid for their co-worker. They are willing to move heaven and earth to get Nikki and I have to love the fact that they are willing to move heaven and earth to get her free.
Colin and Bill are able to secure an asset that China will want. Setting up a prisoner exchange that will get Nikki back. However, on the way to get the safe house, the spy is shot.
It’s crazy how watching this show, I have a tendency to start looking at everyone and wonder what they do or don’t know about anything and everything. I had no clue that even weather patterns could be worth so much money that they are willing to commit espionage for. Living in New York, I am already fearful enough and now I have extra craziness put in my head.
Bill was told to make himself a part of the team and he’s able to do that in this episode. As you may remember he was told that there is a mole in the CIA and it’s his job to weed them out. To do that though, he needs to be a part of the team and have them not doubt him and his loyalty. The thing is though, with spies, or government agents, can you really trust anyone?
To be a part of that team, he asks for the FBI to let the CIA take over so that they can find a spy and trade them for a high valued target. He goes out of his way to make it happen so that he can be there for his new team and I also think that Bill has a liking for Nikki so that’s why he makes things happen.
Though I do think that this episode was good because it sets the team up for really bonding and being able to rely on each other, I really do wish we would have gotten more of the backstory of Nikki in Hong Kong. I think that it really would have helped the viewer understand her more and add a degree of likability to the character. Regardless though, the strongest part of the episode was Necar Zadegan.
Necar Zadegan is a presence on the screen. She knows the scenes that she’s in and how to play to the strength of the character in the scene, as well as to any vulnerability. She makes you see Nikki’s strength and understand why she’s risen through the ranks and is moving through the ranks of the CIA.
Necar Zadegan has proven time and time again that she can command any show that she is in. She brings her characters dimension, adapting to whatever scene and situation that she is presented with.
The rest of the cast is also excellent – and though I may harp on Nick Gehlfuss character of Bill’s really pronounced side part – I do enjoy watching the entire team learn to trust each other. I think that over time it will make for bigger and better cases.
I hope that the show continues to work towards making us invest in the characters that they present and want us to believe in. Viewers have to have an emotional investment for a show to maintain.
CIA stars Tom Ellis (CIA Agent Colin Glass), Nick Gehlfuss (Special Agent Bill Goodman), Necar Zadegan (Deputy Chief of Station Nikki Reynard), and Natalee Linez (CIA Analyst Gina Gosian).
CIA airs Mondays on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+ the next day.
