Allegiance

Alex O'Connor, a young idealistic CIA analyst specializing in Russian affairs, learns a shocking secret and his close-knit, affluent family is about to be split apart when it's revealed that his parents, Mark and Katya, are covert Russian spies deactivated decades ago. But today the Kremlin has re-enlisted them into service as they plan a terrorist operation inside the U.S. border that will bring America to its knees.

Allegiance (2015) is an American espionage drama series created by George Nolfi for NBC. Gavin Stenhouse plays idealistic CIA analyst Alex O'Connor, a Russian affairs specialist whose close-knit, affluent family is torn apart when he learns that his parents, Mark (Scott Cohen) and Katya (Hope Davis), are covert Russian sleeper spies who were deactivated decades ago. Margarita Levieva plays his sister Natalie, and Morgan Spector plays Victor Dobrynin, a figure drawn into the shadow war. The engine of the show is the strain between loyalty to country and loyalty to blood: the parents are re-enlisted by the Kremlin to plan a terrorist operation inside the United States, and Alex must decide what he owes the agency and what he owes his family. Each of the thirteen episodes of this single season builds suspense through tense surveillance, double dealing, and domestic scenes that feel increasingly unsafe. The tone is taut and claustrophobic, with a paranoid, morally fraught register. Set in present day America and the Russian intelligence world, it sits in the lineage of cold war style spy stories. Fans of The Americans and Homeland will find resonance in its blend of domestic drama and espionage thriller. The series was canceled after one season, leaving its central storyline unfinished.

• The Americansshared spy thriller premise of deep cover agents inside a family, cold war style tension
• Homelandshared espionage thriller tones and CIA versus Russian intelligence conflict
• Burn Noticeshared family secrets under espionage pressure and domestic double life

Created by

George Nolfi

Release Date

2015-02-05

Episode runtime

45 min

Rating

7.1 / 10 (48)

What is Allegiance about?

A young CIA analyst discovers his affluent family are covert Russian sleeper spies who have been re-enlisted for a terrorist operation on American soil.

What is Allegiance like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Allegiance as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Allegiance violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Allegiance as moderate.

Which shows are like Allegiance?

Shows with a similar feel include The Americans, Homeland, and Burn Notice.

How long is Allegiance?

Allegiance: 1 season, 13 episodes.

Is Allegiance still running?

No, Allegiance was canceled.