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One of the worst things a TV show can be now is predictable, especially when it comes to the spy genre. It’s why CIA Season 2 is going to need to pick up the storytelling and take some risks if it wants to succeed.
From the very beginning, CIA went for some stereotypical cliches to tell the story. We had the mole in the Fusion Cell, and then there was the obvious look at Colin and Nikki as Bill got to the bottom of it. The disappointing element to this was that we didn’t really get to see Bill do much snooping in the Fusion Cell.
Suddenly, the focus was on finding the mole. Then it was figuring out what really happened to Toni a year earlier, as it was clear that she wasn’t dead after all.
Nothing about the entire plot was surprising or groundbreaking, and it led to a rather lackluster season. It was also inconsistent in quality. I can let a lot of it off due to all the issues behind the scenes in just getting the show off the ground, but I want to see more.
CIA Season 2 Has a Chance to Break Ground
A TV show needs to take risks. Sometimes, those risks won’t pay off, but it’s better than disappearing into the genre.
Other shows within the spy genre, such as The Americans, took those risks, and they became memorable series. CIA has the opportunity for that as long as the writers are in the mindframe to do so.
This means stepping away from some of the bog-standard plots for cases of the week.
While we need to see the usual terrorist attack attempts, the episodes need to go deeper. One episode that could have broken ground was the one where the American teen was brainwashed into terrorist ideologies.
There’s a chance to revisit that, as he had to go somewhere to help with the deprogramming. However, there are plenty more teens out there who are brainwashed, and they need help. It’s an angle so few shows delve into in depth, but it’s an important conversation to have.
There is even the chance to look into what it means to be a spy. CIA scratched the surface, as Bill realized what it meant for his personal life, as he struggled to lie to his fiancée. He made it clear that he didn’t want a relationship like that, but how will he continue working with the CIA if he doesn’t want to lie?
It opens the door for some interesting conversations and debates. Can he tell the truth? How long until his fiancée doesn’t recognize him anymore?
If CIA Season 2 doesn’t take these risks, then the series is going to disappear into the minefield of many others in the genre. It isn’t going to stand the test of time.
We need to be surprised, and we need to be intrigued. There’s a whole summer to work things out!
CIA is available to stream on Paramount+*.
