CIA Premiere Review: CBS Launches High-Stakes Spy Drama with Explosive Pilot
- Je-Ree
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
After months of buzz and more than a little curiosity, CBS’ new drama CIA has officially entered the chat. You’re in the right place. Season 1, Episode 1, titled “Directed Energy,” wastes zero time throwing viewers into a national security nightmare, introducing a mismatched duo that’s poised to anchor CBS’ next big procedural obsession.
The pilot opens with the theft of a top-secret directed energy weapon from a U.S. defense contractor. Casual. The kind of weapon that can shift global power dynamics vanishes and suddenly the alphabet agencies are scrambling. Because the crime blurs the line between domestic law enforcement and international espionage, the CIA and FBI are forced into an uneasy partnership. And that’s where things get interesting.
Enter CIA case officer Colin Glass, played by Tom Ellis, who swaggers in with rogue-agent energy and zero interest in following the FBI’s procedural handbook. Opposite him is FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman, portrayed by Nick Gehlfuss, a by-the-book investigator who looks at Glass like he’s a walking HR complaint. Their chemistry is immediate, sharp, tense and occasionally hilarious.
As the investigation unfolds, the trail leads to a former CIA asset with ties to weapons trafficking and cartel money laundering. What starts as a missing-tech case quickly spirals into a high-stakes race to prevent the weapon from landing in the hands of a foreign buyer. A climactic confrontation delivers the action expected from a network spy drama, but the real hook is the dynamic between Glass and Goodman. They clash. They argue. They reluctantly work well together. It’s classic procedural tension but polished with espionage flair.
The premiere also establishes the broader CIA team operating out of New York, including Deputy Chief Nikki Reynard and analyst Gina Rojas, setting up what promises to be a layered ensemble. There’s even connective tissue to the larger FBI universe, with Jubal making quick appearances. The bigger season mystery? Who is the mole on the CIA team Goodman is assigned to catch?
As a series launch, CIA understands its assignment. The pilot balances slick spy drama with the dependable structure of a case-of-the-week format. It’s procedural comfort food with an international twist. The action lands, the stakes feel real and the Glass-Goodman partnership has enough friction to power an entire season.
If the premiere is any indication, CBS may have found its next durable franchise player. The question now isn’t whether this duo can solve crimes, it’s whether they can tolerate each other long enough to keep the country safe.
What did you think of the CIA premiere? Is this your next must-watch procedural? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
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