Michael Fassbender leads an American remake that misses the mark

In an effort to adapt a successful series, the American television show The Agency, streaming on Paramount+, seeks to capture the essence of the original French series, The Bureau, which aired from 2015 to 2020. The show features Michael Fassbender as Martian, a CIA operative returning to London after an undercover mission in Ethiopia. Although the American version follows the initial scripts of the French original and includes some direct dialogue translations, it fails to replicate the nuanced storytelling of The Bureau. While The Bureau focused on the subtleties of French intelligence operations with a unique cultural backdrop, The Agency introduces high-octane sequences that resonate more with American action tropes. This alteration may lessen the original’s appeal, as it strays from the distinctive markers that defined the French series. While the adaptation includes notable performances and renowned filmmakers, such as Joe Wright and the Butterworth brothers, it ultimately seems to lack the depth and restrained character interactions that engaged audiences in the original show. The differences in cultural perspectives—ranging from the portrayal of intelligence operations to interpersonal dynamics—likely hinder the show's ability to attract the same audience that appreciated the complexity of The Bureau.