Spy (2011–2012) User Reviews

Just pure hilarity

[comicsagogo · 8/10 · 20 April 2012]

Spy is insanely funny. Whereas another fantastic spy farce, Archer, is prototypically American (what with the over-the-top gadgetry, lewdness and macho stuff), Spy is equally British (compact, driven by small inflections and absurdities, and politely biting). Spy is rife with the comedic mechanism of interruptive dialogue where characters finish each others sentences or over-speak creating confusion and misdirection -- some intended, some not. It takes careful listening to stay with the dialogue and it's in the subtlety of the delivery that the funniest lines are spoken.

Jude Wright is brilliant as the über-intelligent and resentful son of the main character, Tim. Tim, portrayed with superb comedic timing by Darren Boyd, is an affably charming man of small wit and large misfortune. And for us, the scenes with Robert Lindsay's zany character, MI-5's examiner, are the gems of the show.

For comedic value, Spy is a 10 to us. Flaws abound in any program, but a rare show like Spy makes one not care. As far as we know Spy is not running for any particular comedic championship. It's just an easy going ride through hilarity.

more, please.......

[kikkapi20 · 9/10 · 25 January 2015]

If you love Quirky, British, Family Dramadey..... You will LOVE this UK show SPY. Get through the Pilot and you will be wanting more. Just like typical British flare at first glance it comes off as pompous and insincere, stick with it and by Episode 2 you care about about the family and it's wacky friends. Also they play off a lot of American current events and sayings so the writers "cross the pond" so to speak. I was sad when I ran through all of the episode, it defiantly left me wanting more. The only child Marcus Elliot played by Jude Wright is for lack of a better word BRILLIANT. The funniest show I have seen so far.....

Absurdum ad Hysterical

[pensman · 9/10 · 27 October 2013]

The show has what would seem a simple premise: a divorced father wants custody of his extremely precocious son. And then everything gets bent. Darren Boyd, who plays Tim, signs up for what he believes is a civil service position but he actually gets hired to be a spy for MI-5. While his character mostly plays it straight, everyone else is crazy. Robert Lindsay as the head spymaster is so far over the top, his characterization becomes absurdly ridiculous but at the same time even more real. And that is true for the rest of the cast as well. And it is that craziness that makes the show hold together incredibly well. Rebekah Stanton provides some sex appeal as Caitlin, female agent; Dolly Wells as Boyd's ex-wife is perfect as the wife who wants a different life but whose choices make you wonder; Tom Goodman Hill (Philip 20110 and Mark Heap )Philip 2012) are excellent as Wells' potential future husband. Terence Maynard plays a CIA agent who fits in perfectly as a temp assigned to MI-5 and is Stanton's previous love interest and Boyd's rival. And Jude Wright, Marcus, will make you wonder about childhood and impress you with his acting. Every episode does flow from the previous one and each just keeps on stretching the envelope providing continued laughs. Catch this on Hulu. You want to see the original as there is some noise about exporting this an American reboot which would be a shame. No way can anyone catch the believable absurdity of the original cast.

The sort of thing that Johnny English ought to be...

[the23rdjoker · 10/10 · 23 October 2011]

The basic premise for this rather enjoyable, silly and enjoyably silly spy spoof series is as follows: Tim (played by the ever-excellent Darren Boyd) is a single father with a wickedly smart (but mostly wicked) young son, who is always looking up at his father as if he were looking down on him - an attitude helped created in no small part by his mother (Tim's ex-wife). No matter how much Tim may try to impress his son, he is always a loser to his ex-wife...and Phil, who always happens to be there. And so, with a little extra "help" from his nigh-on sociopathic (and only) friend and work colleague at the computer store where they work, Tim decides to quit his job and move on to greener pastures, and try to improve his life. Which then leads to a job interview for what Tim believes is a job that has something to do with civil servants. Unfortunately, Tim is the only one who thinks this, as his interviewers - particularly The Examiner (played by a somewhat grizzled Robert Lindsay) - think that Tim knows he has come to be interviewed for a job at MI5... And from then on, hilarity ensues as it is sure to do.

The pleasure that comes from this show is finding out that the presumptions you might make about the characters and the story of the show are mostly proved to be wrong. The main character who is nice but dim, and constantly finds himself in ridiculous situations, mostly not of his fault? Almost. He IS nice, and he may not be terribly smart, but what becomes clear quite early on is that although everyone else around him may be - or may act - smarter than him, they are all actually the stupid ones, who are blinded by their own smartness and think that everything is happening exactly as they think it is. (The Examiner is the biggest culprit in doing this.) Whereas Tim - with his awkward, meek, bemused, but always amiable persona - seems to be the only one who is making any sense and acting perfectly normal. And what about the son, who is older than his years, precocious, smart and all that jazz? Yes, this SHOULD be annoying, but the young actor (who, incidentally, looks remarkably like Kevin Bishop) who plays the son is quite adept at handling all the big words and biting insults he throws out at such a rapid and sharply enunciated pace. And what becomes annoying about this character isn't the fact that he's the tried-and-tested trope of being "older than his years," but that his character has clearly been manipulated by his mother's spite towards the son's father into acting almost exactly like her, and that he treats everyone but his mother and...*sigh*...Phil with utter contempt. He is - as Tim's friend says early on - a bit of a dick. And as for Robert Lindsay's portrayal of The Examiner - he is simply a buffoon. How he got to become the boss of everyone that we see in MI5 herein is completely baffling. Harry Pearce he is NOT. Here, The Examiner is a man enamoured with spy novels and movies - preferring fiction over fact, and fantasy over reality - who has seemingly no grasp of what MI5 actually does and is mostly concerned with the gadgets and the guns and flinging his throwing stars around with major aplomb. He always has a demented twinkle in his eyes, and is disturbingly rather taken with his new recruit, Tim. Henceforth, he is a brilliant comic creation, meaning Robert Lindsay is at his absolute best. Forget "My Family"...he's back to "Citizen Smith" standards once again. Overall, the pace of the show is quick and sweet, and the humour is rapid-fire and highly witty, with a side of delicious awkwardness. (If you've seen Darren Boyd's appearance as Dave Wellbeck in "Twenty Twelve," you'll know that he is superbly gifted at creating cringe-worthy awkwardness that rivals anything from "Curb Your Enthusiasm".) So, if you're looking for a spy spoof comedy that's actually really really funny, and can be appreciated by adults as well as children, then forget the dross that was and is Johnny English. "Spy" is what J.E. should have always been, and more so...

Hilarious!

[Pickwick12 · 10/10 · 22 January 2013]

Spy is so insanely underrated as a show that it's not even funny (at least in the United States). Thankfully, that's the only thing that isn't funny because the show itself is absolutely hilarious. The first series introduces the hapless but well-meaning Tim, his scheming best friend, his idiosyncratic MI5 coworkers, his ex and her besotted boyfriend, and his precocious son Marcus. The second series deepens and broadens the characters and turns some early misconceptions on their heads.

One of the most entertaining things about Spy is that it manages to be both an excellent spy spoof, in the manner of the also-underrated "Chuck," and an unexpectedly touching domestic sitcom. As with other British shows in a similar vein, it's obvious that Spy's stars are not phoning in their performances at all. In particular, Darren Boyd gives a performance absolutely deserving of his Bafta win, and Jude Wright strikes exactly the right tone as his genius son.

Spy is witty, intelligent, funny, and consistently engaging. No show is perfect, but there's so much to love that it might as well be.

Best Spy Comedy

[pagbwi · 10/10 · 13 July 2020]

Pros: Great acting, great writing = great show. Currently free on Tubi app.

Cons: Episodes are short. Show only lasted two seasons

Truly Excellent

[TriggerPullerUSMC · 10/10 · 18 July 2013]

I really enjoy this show on so many levels. I think the best thing I can say is this- it entertains me, never bores me, it brings me happiness and joy. The actors are all excellent truly gifted.

Sometimes I just want a show that helps to take away an awful day and this show is an excellent escape.

Timing, content, characters all come together to ensure a great time. The shows writing staff must be terribly talented. They never go over the top the "joke" is never overdone or lacking.

The timing is perfect and delivered by actors that seem to just naturally pull it off and get it right every time. No great problems solved, no preaching, no motive except to just do it all perfectly and to the enjoyment of the viewer.

Spy is a gem

[caitlinmmccutcheon · 10/10 · 12 March 2019]

I love this show. The characters are great and it makes me laugh out loud. I only wish they'd made more of it.

Pure Enjoyment

[andy1310021 · 10/10 · 5 April 2014]

I just viewed the first episode of this series on WLIW-21/Channel 21 in New York City. I decided to record it on my DVR based on the synopsis provided by Time Warner Cable and also because it followed another program that I love, The Cafe.

I tend to love British TV but did not know what to expect from Spy, and was truly amazed at the solid character development, brilliant acting and the witty storyline. I literally had just finished viewing a limited HBO series, Doll & Em, which starred Dolly Wells and Emily Mortimer, and decided to look at Spy. I did not know Ms. Wells was a part of the Spy cast.

I am so glad that I recorded this episode of Spy. I laughed repeatedly and was riveted to all of the characters. Darren Boyd and Jude Wright are excellent as father and son, and their supporting cast is superb as well.

This program will be on my list of must-see shows to watch on PBS and I look forward to recommending it to my other friends who enjoy smart, fantastic and entertaining television from the United Kingdom.

Robert Lindsay shines in a weak sitcom

[studioAT · 3/10 · 23 October 2017]

Robert Lindsay shines in an otherwise routine Sky comedy, that goes down a well trodden path of making a normal guy become a spy.

The best scenes are those featuring Lindsay, with all the other characters feeling like they've been lifted from a book of sitcom stereotypes.

It lasted two series, but never set the world alight.

Love British Comedies

[greyhavens-68-523680 · 10/10 · 31 July 2014]

As the summary declares, I love British comedies! It is my current understanding that SPY was not renewed for another season. I am not quite certain, but I hope that I am incorrect. Once I discovered this program, I watched all episodes of Season I and II via the internet. I wasn't sure that I would like it, but by episode 2 of Season I, I fell in love with it! I believe that the writers actually were able to bring the characters along with each episode. By the end of Season II, I wanted (want!) more. I would like to see where the characters and relationships would (will!) go. I saw growth in the relationship between Tim and Marcus and hoped that things would only get better between them. Some of the situations I can live without. The crazy behavior of the first therapist (name?) and then the second therapist - Owen is it? That whole situation featuring the custody battle for Marcus and what a mother would do to gain said custody. Overlooking this part of the series, I still love British comedies and hope they bring this back with the same cast! Loved the Examiner and all the characters within MI5!

Excellent British Humor

[rburgin-80353 · 10/10 · 14 November 2019]

There are so many good characters in this sitcom but I must say Robert Lindsay as the Examiner is excellent. Also Rosie Cavaliero and Tom Goodman both give top notch performances. As does Dolly Wella and Rebekah Staton. Jude Wright, all though young in this series, does an excellent job as the son. Of course Darren Boyd and Matthew Bayton (one of my favorite British comedians) are superb. If you like sitcoms, especially British sitcoms, you will not be disappointed. It's funny and entertaining.

Hilarious and Witty

[lauravalerietaylor · 10/10 · 30 December 2015]

I think Hulu originally recommended this show for me because I'd watched The Wrong Mans (Matthew Baynton is the common denominator in both series), and I wasn't disappointed with the recommendation. The show is hilarious and witty, but also has the right amount of those serious moments that keep it from being too cheesy. I love how each of the characters goes through their own bit of character development throughout the show, but especially so with Tim and Marcus and their relationship with one another. One of those shows that I'd definitely recommend if you're looking for something light and funny; it also helps that the episodes are short, so you can breeze through them pretty quickly.

A fun show

[pokerjinx · 9/10 · 25 December 2023]

If you are a person who thinks all TV shows should be taken seriously, then don't watch this one. Otherwise, ignore the pretentious negative reviews. This is a lighthearted show that is meant to not be taken seriously. To put it simply, it is a fun show that I very much enjoyable. I am sad that it didn't continue beyond what it did. I easily watched the entire series in one day, and was ready to keep going. I recommend watching several episodes before making a decision. Basing your decision on just one episode could deprive yourself of some enjoyment. For the record, I almost never give 10 stars.

If you think Home Alone combined with pie-in-the-face humour is great then this is for you

[Pizzaowner · 1/10 · 7 January 2015]

I too love British comedies....too bad this isn't one of them. What an absolute piece of shite.....wasted actors like Robert Lindsey propel this completely ridiculous spy-farce to new lows in entertainment. Whipped by his unlovely ex-wife and his unbelievably obnoxious son, our hero stumbles into a job as a spy working for MI5. The premise was fine and many a great comedy has been built on less potential but it all falls apart in comedy the likes I have not witnessed since a pie in the face was the height of great laughs. By episode 2 the annoying son and a homeless bum he accidentally hurt and then saved is living with them and together with the son, rule his life. It never gets any better than this and the thin humour spins itself into a well of forced dumb situations. How Mr Lindsey was talked into this garbage is well beyond me but be assured, I have consigned the 2 seasons to the bin where, hopefully, they will never see the light of day. Don't waste your time or money on this wannabee comedy.

Not funny

[heypresto1 · 2/10 · 4 April 2021]

Managed to get half way through the second episode, its just not funny. The characters are totally unlikeable, a smart arse kid, a father who's stupid, am MI5 director who is just as thick, the fathers ex wife's lover who wants to be his best mate and a counsellor who falls for him.

I had low expectations to start with and they weren't met, these 10 star reviews are obviously by people associated with the show. Don't waste your time.

Deeply unfunny

[louiseculmer-85734 · 1/10 · 6 January 2022]

Tim is a gormless computer expert who accidentally gets a job as a spy. Meanwhile he is in a custody battle with his ex wife over their son Marcus. Marcus is so obnoxious that it is simply impossible to believe that anyone would want custody of him, not even an idiot like Tim. I endured the first season of this series in the hope that it might improve, but it doesn't. The only bright spot is Robert Lindsay as Tim's eccentric boss, but unfortunately there isn't enough of him. I will not watch the second season unless someon bribes me with a vast sum of money to watch it, which seems unlikely.