Though we are almost to Wednesday, don't expect to see J.J. Abrams's Undercovers. Pulled from the schedule in mid-November, it did air three of the five Wednesdays in December, including the last two weeks. But even though there are two episodes left, no air dates have been set for them. The final two episodes, "Dark Cover" and "The Reason", are said to be more heavy in mythology and wider arcs of the series, which may be why NBC is no hurry to air them, since no more episodes will be made to continue the stories they set up. What is most disappointing is, if those episodes don't see the light of day, we won't know why Steven (Boris Kodjoe) and Samantha (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Bloom were brought back to the CIA in the first place. Though, given that the final episode is a cliffhanger, perhaps it's better to be left in the dark.
Sadly, this show was not as good as some of J.J.'s previous efforts. It most closely resembled Alias, which got only five seasons, but Undercovers may only have been half as good as its forefather. However, half as good as Alias is still better than much of what is airing on TV currently. Looking at why exactly the show failed is difficult, given that I don't have a clear idea why. But then again, why does any show fail?
The leads were wonderful. Mbatha-Raw and Kodjoe have great chemistry. They were very believable as a devoted couple whose life had grown boring after their departure from the CIA. Reactivated in the pilot, the two came alive again, and their romance rekindled. Though they promised to keep their past missions a secret from each other, a few details had leaked out, and surely, over time, more would have followed. Their characters were trying mightily to balance normal careers as caterers and their less-normal careers in espionage. As they spent more and more time away from catering, I knew their staff would grow suspicious, and the whole thing was bound to fall apart.
I wish the series had lived to see that. If there was a failure with Undercovers, it was not from these two, in either writing or acting.
Article comments
1 - Laura
I feel exactly like you. When I watched Pilot I was rather disappointed, as I am an avid Abrams and Co. fan! --However I chose to stick it out, and could tell each episode was getting better and better and started to resemble those things that I love about Bad Robot Productions. I think it was @ episode 6 when an interview came out stating that the format was going to change...that NBC and Reims essentually were holding Abrams and other writers back on the mythology, back stories, and mystery, but no longer. 2 days later NBC announced their cancellation.
That final aired episode "The Key to It All" was so good and yet most fans have fallen away! I do really hope that maybe another network can pick it up, because I totally think it is at a place that could really take off and become a GREAT show.
2 - Sauny
I really liked this program. It was exciting, as well entertaining. The fact that they traveled to many different countries was also great to view. I'm all for a second season.