PILOT REVIEW: Allegiance

ALLEGIANCE

Starring: Hope Davis, Scott Cohen, Margarita Levieva, Morgan Spector, Annie Ilonzeh, Alex Peters, Kenneth Choi, and Gavin Stenhouse

Based on the Israeli Drama series "The Gordin Cell"
Created for American Television by George Nolfi
Teleplay by George Nolfi, Directed by George Nolfi

THE PREMISE: Allegiance is a new spy drama centering on a Russian family. Katya O'Connor (Hope Davis) is a Russian spy living in the United States and she has recruited her American husband, Mark (Scott Cohen), to join her. Their son, Alex (Gavin Stenhouse), is initially unaware of their secret life and is himself a young CIA analyst working on a case that may implicate his parents. Rounding out the main cast are Katya and Mark's other children, Natalie (Margarita Levieva) and Sarah (Alex Peters) as well as Katya and Mark's handler, Victor (Morgan Spector), CIA Station Chief Sam Luttrell (Kenneth Choi).

THE GOOD: I've never watched the show that everyone is comparing this to (FX's The Americans) and I was pleasantly surprised by how much it interested me. After a slow start, I got sucked in by the plot and solid performances. While there isn't one character who stands out for me as a real star, there also isn't anyone who seems glaringly bad. The plot is an interesting play on the Russian spy concept for two reasons. One is the family element to the show and the conflict between Katya and Mark and their son, Alex. The other is the fact that it's set in the present day yet it has a distinctly 1980s-Soviet Union feel to it. In light of Russia's recent aggression on the world's stage, it still seems relevant.

THE BAD: I just worry that this show is going to quickly go one of two directions that could be problematic. It could become too convoluted too quickly. I thought going in that it might be like Red Widow and just be more confusing than entertaining. But that was not the case. It was actually pretty clear storytelling in the pilot. However, I worry it could still head in that direction. On the other hand, it could also run out of stories to tell or keep rehashing the same problems. So this critique is more about where the show might go than about the pilot, which was pretty solid.

BOTTOM LINE: Despite the horrible ratings that made this a dead show walking, I will probably be back for the second episode. I'd put it squarely in the middle of the pack among pilots. It didn't instantly hook me, but it did enough to make me want to watch another episode or two. If it makes it that far.