Treason (Netflix, series 2022)
If you’re looking for a limited series that’s a great watch while recovering from a holiday hangover, you won’t feel let down by Treason.
It is the new series from Oscar-nominated screenwriter Matt Charman, who wrote Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies together with the Coen Brothers.
It is variation on the well worn theme of Russian Spy & I, but it is told well enough to keep you entertained.
Directed by Louise Hooper and Sarah O’Gorman, this five-part series tells the story of Adam Lawrence (Charlie Cox) who was trained by MI6 and is at present its assistent director.
When an attempt is made on the life of his boss Sir Martin Angelis (Ciaran Hinds) Adam has to step up and take the top job. From now he will be known as Control, or C for his workmates.
But then Russian spy Kara (former Bond-girl Olga Kurylenko) shows up and it soon becomes clear that these ex-lovers share a complicated past that goes back to Adam’s first posting in Baku.
Kara has been feeding him intel, without his proper knowledge, which immediately compromises Adam’s position as Control of MI6.
There’s also Adam’s wife Maddy (Oona Chaplin), who as a former soldier understands that a man in Adam’s position has secrets to keep, but can she still trust him? Or will his career be over just as it reaches its peak?
This triangular relationship adds extra dimension to this story of spy vs spy, which makes it unpredictable enough to keep our interest.
Having said that, the plot stretches credibility, but there are some interesting sub-themes, including the Russian influence in the United Kingdom and the way that men unravel in crises, while women just get their shit together.
Sure, you can still argue that it’s all been done before, but the writing is good, the actors are pretty great and the whole production has this British feel that I’m a sucker for.
Especially Kurylenko once again shows us what an underestimated actress she is.
Treason won’t change the world, but it won’t leave you with an empty post-Christmas stomach either.
File under: easy to binge.