The Spy (miniseries)

The Spy

Company type	Miniseries
Industry	Television
Founded	September 6, 2019 (2019-09-06)
Founder	Gideon Raff
Products	Television series
Parent	Légende Entreprises
Website	www.netflix.com/title/81012499

The Spy is a French-produced English-language espionage miniseries created and directed by Gideon Raff. It dramatizes the true story of Israel's foremost Mossad operative, Eli Cohen, who is portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen. The series was developed by the French production company Légende Entreprises for Canal+ and Netflix, with broadcasts on France’s OCS channel and worldwide streaming available via Netflix. Consisting of six episodes, the miniseries premiered on September 6, 2019, drawing inspiration from actual events and adapting the book L'espion qui venait d'Israël authored by Uri Dan and Yeshayahu Ben Porat.

Critics generally responded positively to the show, with particular commendation directed at Baron Cohen’s portrayal. Nonetheless, some historical inaccuracies were noted, especially concerning Cohen’s purported relationships with Syrian officials during his undercover assignments in Buenos Aires and Damascus. At the 77th Golden Globe Awards, Baron Cohen received a nomination for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film.

Principal filming was conducted primarily in Casablanca.

Plot

The narrative follows the professional journey of Eli Cohen, an undercover agent for the Mossad, during the tense period preceding the 1967 Six-Day War between Israel and Syria. It depicts Cohen’s evolution from being rejected by the military in Egypt to his successful infiltration of Syria’s Ministry of Defense. Assuming the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet, he embeds himself within Syrian elite circles and establishes connections with individuals who would later become prominent Syrian leaders. Eventually, Cohen attains the position of Deputy Defense Minister and serves as a trusted advisor to future president Amin al-Hafiz.

Cast

• Sacha Baron Cohen as Eli Cohen / Kamel Amin Thaabet
• Hadar Ratzon-Rotem as Nadia Cohen, Eli's spouse
• Yael Eitan as Maya
• Noah Emmerich as Dan Peleg
• Nassim Lyes as Ma'azi Zaher al-Din
• Moni Moshonov as Jacob Shimoni
• Alona Tal as Julia Schneider
• Mourad Zaoui as Benny
• Alexander Siddig as Ahmed Suidani
• Marc Maurille as an IDF sergeant
• Waleed Zuaiter as General Amin al-Hafiz
• Stanley Townsend as General Ad-Din
• Arié Elmaleh as Michel Aflaq
• Hassam Ghancy as Colonel Salim Hatum
• Uri Gavriel as Sheikh Majid al-Ard
• Tim Seyfi as Mohammed bin Laden
• Souad Faress as Sophie Cohen, Eli's mother

Production

Due to the ongoing Syrian Civil War rendering filming in Syria unfeasible, production took place across Morocco, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Spy holds an approval rating of 86% based on 43 reviews, with an average score of 6.97/10. The critical consensus reads: "While occasionally slow-paced, The Spy remains compelling through Sacha Baron Cohen’s heartfelt performance." Metacritic reports a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 from 16 critics, signifying "generally favorable reviews."

Nick Allen from rogerebert.com rated the series three out of four stars, highlighting its thrilling nature and innovative approach to espionage storytelling. He observed that by the conclusion of the first episode, the show "weaves a captivating spell, featuring a versatile actor embodying a multifaceted character."

Baron Cohen’s acting garnered widespread praise. Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone commented, "Baron Cohen found an ideal role that perfectly suits his talents. The Spy is a straightforward thriller that simultaneously channels Baron Cohen’s persona but with significantly higher stakes."

Historical accuracy

Certain aspects of the historical events portrayed have been called into question by some experts. Amin al-Hafiz, the former President of Syria, refuted claims that he met or developed a friendship with Cohen in Argentina. Additionally, there was no official position titled "Deputy Defense Minister" in Syria during that period. Nonetheless, the position of Chief Advisor to the defense minister did exist, which Cohen asserted he occupied.