Michael Fassbender’s New Spy Series The Agency Launches to Disappointing Rotten Tomatoes Score

Michael Fassbender’s much-anticipated spy series, The Agency, has made its debut—but unfortunately, it’s off to a rocky start with a poor score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Irish actor, widely recognized for his role as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto in the X-Men franchise (First Class, Days of Future Past, Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix), has also made a name for himself in Ridley Scott’s Alien prequels as the enigmatic androids David⁸ and Walter One in Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017).

Beyond his work in major franchises, Fassbender has been celebrated for his performances in critically acclaimed dramas. His portrayal of plantation owner Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave (2013) earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Similarly, his riveting performance as Steve Jobs in the 2015 biopic earned him a second Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actor. Although predominantly known for his film career, Fassbender’s TV appearances have been limited, with early credits including HBO’s Band of Brothers and Sky One’s fantasy drama Hex.

The Agency Struggles to Impress Critics

Fassbender’s foray into television takes centre stage with The Agency, a Showtime espionage thriller created by the Butterworth brothers and inspired by the acclaimed French series The Bureau. The story revolves around a covert agency specializing in training deep-cover operatives who live under false identities for extended periods. Fassbender stars alongside an impressive ensemble cast, including Jodie Turner-Smith, Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, Katherine Waterston, John Magaro, Hugh Bonneville, and Harriet Sansom Harris.

Despite the strong cast and intriguing premise, The Agency has debuted with a disappointing 29% on Rotten Tomatoes based on seven initial reviews. While this score may change as more critiques roll in, the early reception is not encouraging.

What The Agency’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Reveals

Critics have cited several issues with the series, including its slow pacing, lack of emotional resonance, and failure to deliver compelling action or suspense. Reviews suggest that while the show has potential, it struggles to carve out a unique identity in the crowded spy-thriller genre.

Not all feedback has been negative, though. Screen Rant’s Felipe Rangel awarded the series 7 out of 10 stars, praising Fassbender’s performance and noting that the show offers “a few intriguing mysteries to unravel,” even if it doesn’t break new ground. Ultimately, The Agency’s audience response and viewership numbers will determine whether the show can recover from its rough critical start. However, its initial Rotten Tomatoes score undoubtedly casts a shadow over Fassbender’s latest project.

As the series approaches its full release, fans will be watching to see whether it can overcome the early skepticism and find its footing with viewers.

Source: Screen Rant