mlbsa Review of The Recruit

The Recruit (2022– )

Thrown into the deep end at the CIA cesspool without having swum before.

[7/10 · 17 December 2022]

I had this rated as high as a 9 through 4 to 5 episodes but it took a dive down to 7 by the end. In the beginning the main character (Owen) admirably and adeptly navigates the cesspool of backstabbing and politics. As the episodes progress his immaturity and ignorance escalate to the point of being annoying. His confiding in his friends and his use of them in his work puts them in danger more than once. I believe the writers were trying to show his vulnerabilities but by the end of the season he's just incredibly naive to the point of being an idiot. As one example in episode 7 he facilities an international bank deal from the US to Geneva, Switzerland but doesn't factor in the time difference, a 12 year old would know to do that but a lawyer working for the CIA doesn't? Another example he tells one of his roommates that he is going to Geneva, then while he is there he tries to call the other one. They wind up getting personally involved in the operation. At this point it felt as if the 3 roommates where in junior high or were characters in Scooby Doo. The acting of the supporting cast was excellent aside from the main character and his roommates. This had so much potential it's sad how they (writers, director) seemed to have lost control of this show.