Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Espionage drama best for Baron Cohen fans, has violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Spy
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The Israeli government recruits a clerk named Eli Cohen (Sacha Baron Cohen) to infiltrate the Syrian government as THE SPY. Cohen must learn on the job, putting himself, his country, and his marriage at risk.
Is It Any Good?
Clearly a passion project for Sacha Baron Cohen, who has serious acting chops despite being mostly known for broad comedy, this feels stretched incredibly thin as a miniseries. Though there's an eye for detail, the slow pace and focus on minutiae undercut the The Spy's suspense and drama.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the historical context of The Spy. What is the conflict between Israel and Syria? Who was Eli Cohen?
What drives Cohen to become a spy? What makes him successful?
Do you think that the good Cohen does for his country outweighs the damage he does to his personal life? Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 6, 2019
- Cast : Sacha Baron Cohen , Noah Emmerich , Hadar Ratzon Rotem
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate