Summary
The Spy Season 1, Episode 1, “The Immigrant” feels thin in parts with the world Eli resides in, but it has promise as a Netflix Limited Series.
The opening scenes in The Spy presents a dishevelled looking Eli Cohen (Sacha Baron Cohen). He is speaking to a rabbi, presumably in a prison cell. His wife hears that a spy named Eli has been arrested. The ends of his fingers are noticeably tortured — no nails — and stained in blood.
Then Episode 1, “The Immigrant” flits to 6 years earlier, giving us a perspective whiplash. Eli is happily doing admin work in a store, looking at a lovely note from his wife, Nadia Cohen (Hadar Ratzon Rotem). The news confirms there are more attacks on the Israeli/Syrian borders.
We learn of Eli’s paranoia. At a party that he and his wife attend, he snarkily explains that the hosts only invited them because they are “brown” and that they only see him as an Arab.
After a brief glimpse into Eli’s development as a faithful, adored husband, Episode 1 switches its focus to the Israeli government requiring a spy in Syrian lands. Syria are building something in Golan.
Eli applies for a role for the government, and they half-heartedly peruse his application before accepting it. They put Eli through a series of tests and training exercises; knowledge about aircraft, applying attentiveness, learning morse code, building strength and stamina, but most importantly, knowing his surroundings and the people. Episode 1 reeks of patriotism, with the minimum requirement that he will do anything for his country — even lie to his wife.
As he heads to Zurich for a debrief, and his wife believing he is now a flashy international buyer, Eli becomes Kamel Amin Thaabeth — a man born in Beirut in 1915, but his parents moved to Buenos Aires. He expresses his love for Damascus.
The Spy Season 1, Episode 1, “The Immigrant” was a fairly impressive start, but at times felt a little flaky with the character building.
Historic Observations
- Eli used to smuggle drugs from Egypt to Israel.
- Eli was given a choice on the high-risk mission. He could have backed out.
You can read the recap of the second episode by clicking these words.
