Dick Wolf has spent decades ruling TV with procedural crime dramas that blend weekly investigations with compelling character dynamics. The veteran producer takes his formula beyond local law enforcement and into the world of intelligence operations with the CIA, creating a series that blends espionage, terrorism investigations and interagency conflict.
The result is a first season that’s at once familiar and refreshingly different. While the show occasionally succumbs to the same pitfalls that afflict many procedural dramas, it delivers enough intrigue, action and chemistry to be one of CBS’ most promising new series.
A Partnership Founded on Conflict
At the very core of CIA is the uneasy alliance between CIA operative Colin Glass and FBI agent Bill Goodman. Neither man is happy to be assigned to a new fusion unit created to address national security threats.
Almost at once their differences become apparent.
Colin is an intelligence officer, who lives in the shadows, and is at home in the moral grey areas. Rules rarely govern his decision-making and he often uses instinct and deception to get results. Meanwhile Bill takes a very legalistic approach to every investigation. It is difficult for Colin to accept his methods because procedure, accountability and transparency are important.
The contrast is the show’s strongest dynamic. The movie CIA doesn’t rely on action sequences or conspiracy plots, but the friction between its two leads makes it work. The tension between them leads to tension , humor and character growth throughout the season .
Tom Ellis, Nick Gehlfuss Steal the Show
And the chemistry between Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss easily ranks as one of the biggest strengths of the season.
Ellis is charming as Colin, showing a very different side to the role that made him famous. His character is unpredictable, intelligent and often frustrating, but always entertaining.
Gehlfuss is the perfect counterweight. Bill is a disciplined person, and his dogged adherence to the rules is a perfect foil to Colin’s reckless tendencies. Together they forge a partnership that feels genuine, even when they clash.
Their interactions often lift scenes that might otherwise seem like standard procedural exposition, giving the series a personality that distinguishes it from many of its competitors.
Espionage: A New Dimension
The CIA is about intelligence work, not law enforcement, unlike many other Dick Wolf shows.
The series looks at the complex relationship between agencies that work under very different philosophies. The CIA tends to rely on secrecy, manipulation and other covert means. The FBI tends to focus on legal process and evidence.
That tension makes for some great storytelling throughout the season. This show always asks how far one should go in the name of protecting the country, and if protecting the country sometimes means crossing ethical lines.
These themes help set CIA apart from your run-of-the-mill crime dramas, giving it a stronger sense of identity.
Season-Long Mystery Keeps Viewers Glued
The first season has an overarching storyline of a suspected mole working within the system, along with the weekly cases.
The writers slowly build up this mystery throughout several episodes, sprinkling in clues and suspicious behavior throughout the season. The serialized nature gives viewers a reason to keep watching beyond the procedural format, and also adds suspense to the story.
The mystery plays out pretty well for most of the season, building up the anticipation for the eventual reveal.
A Finale That Fails to Deliver
Unfortunately, the show’s greatest weakness is at the finish line.
After carefully building tension for much of the season, the final episodes struggle to deliver a satisfying payoff. The resolution feels rushed and shockingly conventional after the ambitious storytelling that precedes it.
Instead of taking any risks, the series opts for familiar procedural storytelling choices. The result is an ending that lacks the emotional and dramatic punch that many viewers may have been expecting.
It’s a disappointing finish to an otherwise consistently engaging season.
There was space to explore the supporting cast more.
And the CIA fails in one more area, the treatment of the supporting cast.
Even with some talented performers, many of the secondary characters don’t get enough development to be fully realized individuals. Often their own stories are lost amidst the main partnership between Colin and Bill.
This is particularly true of Nikki, who demonstrates a lot of potential during the season but is seldom given the depth she needs for her story to feel like it really matters. It is a missed opportunity that the character development is so limited especially with the strength of the actress’s performance.
Supporting players should be given more to do in future seasons and should be able to relate better with audiences.
Fun Connections with Faces You Know
Fans of Dick Wolf’s TV universe will get a kick out of several crossover appearances throughout the season.
The guest appearances are fun and do not take away from the main storyline. But in light of the international aspect of the series, it’s a little surprising to see so little connection to the global side of Wolf’s franchise.
There’s a sense of lost opportunity in the lack of more international collaborations, particularly given the show’s focus on global intelligence operations.
Final Verdict
Even with a disappointing finale and a not fully developed supporting cast, CIA delivers on the most important points. The central partnership is compelling, the espionage angle feels fresh, and the series has enough intrigue to keep audiences invested.
The first season proves that Dick Wolf’s procedural formula can still grow when combined with new ideas and a different environment. If future seasons add some muscle to the supporting characters and give us a more satisfying long-term story resolution, CIA could turn into one of CBS’s stand-out dramas.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
CIA delivers an entertaining blend of espionage, investigation, and character-based drama. It doesn’t land the punch, but its great lead performances and fresh premise make it a promising addition to the procedural TV landscape.