‘The Copenhagen Test’ twists itself into knots answering a question: Who can you trust?

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Like most things, the sci-fi spy thriller “The Copenhagen Test” has both strengths and weaknesses. The show, created by Thomas Brandon and debuting Saturday on Peacock, centers around a man whose brain is unknowingly hacked – essentially turning him into a live, walking pair of smart glasses, streaming everything he experiences to an unknown source. It’s a dramatically interesting, though admittedly far-fetched, premise. The central question it poses is compelling: how would you behave if you knew you were being constantly observed?

The film opens with Andrew Hale (Simu Liu, known from “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), a Chinese American Green Beret, on a rescue mission in Belarus. He’s told only one person can fit on the escaping helicopter and to save an American citizen first. However, Andrew chooses to rescue a child from another country, a decision that will later be revealed as problematic.

Three years have passed, and Hale now works for the Orphanage, a secretive American intelligence group with a unique mission: they monitor other intelligence agencies – essentially, watching those who do the watching. They’re incredibly proud of their unblemished record, having remained secure since their creation during the George H.W. Bush administration. That is, until someone started gathering information through Hale. The Orphanage’s massive headquarters has a hidden entrance: you access it by making eye contact with a statue in a library – a fitting touch, and a little bit reminiscent of the classic TV show Get Smart – which is meant as a positive thing.

The analysts work on the lower level, while the important decisions happen upstairs – access to which requires a complicated, old-fashioned key, reminiscent of those used for executive restrooms in the late 19th century. The upper floor is also more elegantly decorated, with a similar vintage feel. Hale, who monitors and interprets Korean and Chinese communications, hopes to be promoted upstairs, a move that will come with a disturbing realization about his own identity.

He’s been struggling with migraines, seizures, and panic attacks, and his ex-fiancée, Rachel (Hannah Cruz), who is a doctor, has been secretly giving him medication. Other important characters include Michelle (Melissa Barrera), a bartender who will pretend to be Hale’s girlfriend to keep an eye on him; Parker (Sinclair Daniel), a new “predictive analyst” who’s good at understanding people and situations; Victor (Saul Rubinek), a former intelligence officer who owns a fancy restaurant and is a long-time friend of Hale’s; Cobb (Mark O’Brien), a competitive coworker who contrasts with Hale’s background; and Cobb’s uncle, Schiff (Adam Godley), who also has experience in espionage. Peter Moira (Brian d’Arcy James) manages the shop, while St. George (Kathleen Chalfant) seems to oversee him.

Someone is secretly observing Hale, and the Orphanage – which has access to global security cameras – is watching him too. (It’s funny how easily our private conversations seem to become targeted ads, so maybe this kind of surveillance isn’t so far-fetched after all.) But “The Copenhagen Test” isn’t really about a surveillance state; it’s a story about trust, constantly shifting alliances, and keeping the plot going even when it’s probably time to end it.

Like many lengthy dramas, this show feels a bit too drawn out – thankfully, shows like “Slow Horses” keep things tighter with six episodes. As the story unfolds, it gets bogged down in unnecessary plot devices and side stories. It’s easy to follow along at first, but it becomes difficult to keep track of who’s on which side, or even how many sides there are. Everyone seems willing to kill the main character, which doesn’t help! Without giving away too much, even if you accept the unbelievable technology, a lot of the plot – including the central test – doesn’t really make sense. (The test is called “The Copenhagen Test,” but the reason why is a mystery – it’s Danish for “I don’t know.”) I spent so much time trying to make sense of the complicated plot that I stopped really caring about what happened to the Orphanage or the rest of the world, though I still wanted the main character to succeed.

The actors are perfectly suited for their roles. Although the characters themselves feel familiar, each performer brings enough individuality to make them feel like real people—and they’re all visually appealing. When he’s not injured or fighting, Liu plays the lead as a calm, reserved hero, reminiscent of Keanu Reeves. As a Chinese Canadian actor in an American action series, he’s a welcome and relatively new face. He and Barrera have a good connection on screen—Barrera clearly has charisma—but the story doesn’t always allow their chemistry to fully develop.

The conclusion feels a little too tidy, even with a surprising harmonic shift, and is surprisingly upbeat considering all the drama that came before. Most storylines are neatly resolved, though one seems intentionally left open, suggesting a possible second season – which, despite the late-year release, I think is likely to happen.

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2025-12-26 20:01