‘State of Affairs’: The Overlooked Spy Drama That Deserves Your Attention

by

In contrast to Season 1 of “The Recruit,” which received a Tomatometer score of 68%, the second season has significantly improved, boasting an impressive 91% rating. This places it among the top-rated spy series in terms of critical acclaim. Given the escalated stakes, this positive reception is hardly unexpected. In this new installment, CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks, portrayed by Noah Centineo, finds himself in Seoul, collaborating with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent, Jang Kyun, played by Teo Yoo, to tackle a Yakuza issue. This storyline is intertwined with a cryptocurrency project jointly developed by the CIA and NIS.

The show titled “The Recruit” was the creation of Alexi Hawley, a name not unfamiliar with the TV industry. He is widely recognized for his works such as The Rookie and its spin-off The Rookie: Fed, which are now regarded among the greatest police procedurals ever produced. Originally conceived as an eight-part, one-hour television series for a secret agent thriller, Netflix recognized more potential in Hawley’s work and renewed it for a second season. Interestingly, The Recruit isn’t his only venture into the world of spies. Prior to this, he presented an engrossing depiction of a woman willing to risk everything to shield America from disgraceful attacks through the series State of Affairs. Despite its short run for just one season, it’s worth revisiting.

A CIA Agent and a President Are Best Buddies in ‘State of Affairs’

Following a prosperous six-year tenure playing Dr. Izzie Stevens on Grey’s Anatomy, Katherine Heigl moved on to do several films before joining the cast of State of Affairs. The plot of this espionage thriller centers around Charleston “Charlie” Tucker, a high-ranking CIA analyst who spends her time navigating various cases from the upper echelons of the White House and Langley headquarters. She often deals with an overwhelming array of cases in a way that some might describe as forceful rather than managing them conventionally. Throughout her duties, Charlie displays a mix of self-assuredness and detachment which can occasionally be misconstrued as arrogance by those around her.

Part of her job description includes preparing the President’s Daily Briefing. The document contains the biggest threats to national security, so she must get everything right. The show also has arguably one of the best female versions of POTUS, President Constance Payton (Alfre Woodard). In this particular fictional world, she is America’s first Black female president and has a tight bond with Charlie because the CIA agent was once engaged to her son, Aaron. Unfortunately, Aaron died during a terrorist attack.

Both women are plagued by grief, so they remain focused on preventing all potential terrorist attacks. Quibbling with each other from time to time and reminiscing about happier days, they share their surroundings with equally enthusiastic professionals, but are locked into a routine of sequestered co-dependence.

1) The two individuals often clash over differing viewpoints regarding policy, strategy, and morality, these disagreements taking place in a range of indoor or picturesque locations. Meanwhile, Charlie consistently dedicates a significant portion of her time to probing into the circumstances surrounding Aaron’s demise, harboring suspicions that something untoward transpired. The series often intersperses present-day scenes with flashbacks, which serve to underscore the affectionate bond between Charlie and Aaron.

In a writers’ studio that included Kim Clements (Lost), Ed Bernero (Criminal Minds), Sarah Kucserka (Ugly Betty), and Veronica West (Hart of Dixie), State of Affairs appeared poised for greater success. Sadly, it was terminated due to poor viewership ratings. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the suspenseful series debuted to an impressive 8.6 million viewers but ultimately attracted a total audience of only 4.5 million. While the quality didn’t significantly deteriorate over time, its downfall can be attributed to being too realistic, which isn’t inherently negative.

‘State of Affairs’ Perfectly Captures the Interdependency of the World of Espionage

The Recruit” is excellent, but “State of Affairs” delves deeper into current political issues, making its fast-paced television series even more captivating and satisfying for viewers. Similar to how “The West Wing” stands out among political dramas, “State of Affairs” offers a realistic portrayal within the spy genre.

In most spy series, the significance of the president in thwarting threats is often overlooked, with all the accolades going to the agents. Fortunately, the NBC show acknowledges this correctly. According to INTEL.gov, the President’s Daily Brief is a genuine artifact, delivered to the President every morning (a routine practice since the end of WWII). High-ranking U.S. officials approved by the president also have access to it, and some past briefs have been declassified and can be found on the CIA’s FOIA section of their website.

The series also challenges a typical espionage pattern where the CIA is portrayed as the primary agency, resolving significant issues independently, often without assistance. In contrast to many other spy productions, agents from this particular organization are not always present to handle problems. Surprisingly, even analysts in these shows possess exceptional marksmanship and martial arts skills.

In this setting, it’s common for the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency (NSA), Defense Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Defense, and Homeland Security to work together closely. Unsurprisingly, Charlie often encounters bureaucratic hurdles. She frequently finds herself blocked when trying to obtain information, a challenge faced by many real-life spies.

‘State of Affairs’ Wasn’t a Hit Because Audiences Prefer Over-the-Top Spy Shows

Viewers often prefer watching shows that offer an escape from reality rather than ones mirroring the real world closely. For instance, series such as “The Night Agent” and “Black Doves,” which have been popular recently, tend to be highly fictionalized. They usually feature stock villains who meet their demise due to a lack of brainpower and heroic protagonists who remain dedicated to their mission while keeping secret agendas hidden behind enigmatic facades. This trend can be traced back to earlier shows like “24,” “Nikita,” and “Chuck,” which were also largely unrealistic.

In contrast, shows such as “The Good Shepherd,” “Berlin Station,” and “A Spy Among Friends” are often praised for their authenticity, but they seldom generate much conversation. The exception is “The Americans,” which garnered a few Emmy nominations, but its viewership was relatively low during its broadcast. Even though it was critically acclaimed, this Cold War drama series typically attracted less than a million viewers per season. FX executives showed remarkable patience with the show’s modest audience numbers.

NBC takes great pride in its television ratings, and with hit shows like The Office, Law & Order, and the Chicago franchise under its belt, it’s no surprise that the network is accustomed to large viewership numbers. Therefore, a show not pulling in viewers would never be tolerated by the higher-ups at NBC. If State of Affairs had been airing on a smaller network or if it had debuted more recently on any streaming service other than Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, it might have had a better chance at success.

It seems that Alexi Hawley has taken note and adjusted his approach post-State, crafting shows with a more universal appeal by adopting a standardized format. The Recruit exhibits a touch of intelligence, falling in the same category as The Night Agent and Covert Affairs, both of which capitalize on a successful formula while maintaining an elegant aesthetic.

Despite our current affection for the latest series, let’s not overlook Hawley’s previous masterpiece. It delves wittily into the struggle between professional autonomy and bureaucracy, also exploring the ethical dilemmas confronting analysts and field operatives. Essentially, State of Affairs offers a sharp, perceptive glance at the hectic lives of those dedicated to safeguarding their nations. Why not give it a try, even though NBC didn’t?

Read More

2025-02-13 05:03