# The Spy (2019)

> An Israeli agent goes undercover in 1960s Damascus and rises to the heart of Syria's power structure, at ever-growing personal cost.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/77696

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 6
- Episode runtime: 54 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, history, thriller
- Created by: Gideon Raff
- Network: Netflix
- Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Noah Emmerich, Hadar Ratzon Rotem, Alexander Siddig, Waleed Zuaiter, Nassim Lyes, Moni Moshonov, Yael Eitan
- TMDB rating: 7.9/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5952634/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: tense, somber, reflective

## What critics say

Critics broadly praise the miniseries for its lead performance and its tense, carefully detailed account of a real-life Israeli espionage operation in 1960s Syria.

## Synopsis

The Spy is a tense, measured miniseries dramatizing the true story of Eli Cohen, an Israeli intelligence agent who went undercover in 1960s Damascus, rising to the heart of Syria's political and military elite while maintaining a fragile double life. The series builds suspense through quiet paranoia, close calls at dinner tables and in offices, and the constant pressure of surveillance, where a single misstep could mean exposure and torture. Its tone is somber and reflective rather than flashy, foregrounding the psychological toll on Cohen, who grows isolated from his family and handlers while cultivating friendships with men he knows he will betray. Performances carry much of the weight, particularly the lead's controlled intensity and the gradual erosion of his sense of self. Period detail, muted palettes, and documentary-leaning realism give the story a grounded feel. Viewers drawn to restrained espionage dramas, morally complicated protagonists, and based-on-fact storytelling will find a sober, emotionally heavy portrait of loyalty, deception, and the cost of belonging to a cause larger than oneself. The miniseries is complete in a single season and ends on a tragic note that lingers long after the final scene.

## Shows like The Spy

- [Mossad 101 (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/59510)
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- [Treason (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/119265)
- [The Night Manager (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/55098)
- [Deutschland (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/55703)
- [Spy City (2020)](https://ember.film/tv/94860)
- [The Legend (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/176992)
- [Yosi, the Regretful Spy (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/118064)
- [Spy/Master (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/139325)
- [A Spy Among Friends (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/114520)

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