“Undercovers” seems like a typical show about espionage. It boasts a beautiful cast, high-octane action, globe-trotting locales, hints of romance and touches of danger. NBC’s Wednesday night offering is a television pleasure that might as well be making history.
Like “Mr. and Mrs Smith,” “Undercovers” follows a seemingly normal, married suburban couple: they bicker a lot, but try to love each other a lot more. But most importantly they are bored with the existence they live until they are called back into espionage action after a fellow agent goes missing in Spain.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw and “Soul Food” actor Boris Kodjoe play the globe trotting spies, Samantha and Steven Bloom, agents who find that espionage puts the spice back into their marriage. What makes the show more interesting is that the main characters are African American, something not done before for a primetime show in this genre.
What the show does that is so revolutionary is that it is devoid of stereotypes of African Americans. There is no shucking and jiving, in fact if you didn’t know any better and have never seen the show, you would think the characters were written as a non-descript race.
While Kodjoe is the more established star of the leads, Mbatha-Raw, an English actress is the breakout star of the show, is the archetypal strong willed and driven women character that “Undercovers” producer J.J. Abrams is known for.
This program is clearly for entertainment value. It’s a popcorn television viewing experience for those who need a break from the “Mad Men” and “Dexter” high-concept programs. “Undercovers” is a must watch this season