CIA

CIA

Watch in the UK

Watch in the US

Data provided by

6 / 10

1 Review

Rate this show:

6 Based on 1 Votes

10

0
9

0
8

0
7

0
6

1
5

0
4

0
3

0
2

0
1

0

Overview

When by-the-book FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman is loaned out to a clandestine CIA/FBI task force, he finds himself teamed up with secretive and roguish CIA case officer Colin Glass. Together they work covert operations in New York, uncovering international plots, terrorist cells, and geopolitical secrets.

Media

CIA | First Look | CBS

Cast

Genres:

Keywords:

central intelligence agency (cia) cia officer criminal investigation fbi fbi agent inspirational joyful new york city odd couple police procedural powerful

More Show Details

Vote Average: 8.6/10

Vote Count: 124 Votes

Show Popularity: 23.3948

Show Status: Returning Series

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

Review

View all reviews

Insomniacs Reviews
- 01 May 2026 at 8:50 pm

6 Based on 1 Votes
10

0
9

0
8

0
7

0
6

1
5

0
4

0
3

0
2

0
1

0
⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 6/10 THE SUMMARY If you thought the FBI had enough spinoffs, think again. CIA (2026–Present) is the latest expansion of the Dick Wolf universe, moving the action to New York where a "loose cannon" CIA officer, Colin Glass, has to team up with a by-the-book FBI agent, Bill Goodman. Since the CIA isn't technically supposed to operate on U.S. soil, they’ve formed a joint task force to hunt down domestic terrorists and global threats. It’s a standard buddy-cop setup wrapped in a high-stakes spy skin, trying to bring a bit of 007 energy to the usual procedural grind. THE PROS The best thing about this show is Tom Ellis. He brings that same "dashing but annoying" charm he had in Lucifer, making Colin Glass the only reason to really stay tuned. His back-and-forth with Nick Gehlfuss (the FBI guy) provides some decent banter that saves the show from being too dry. The action scenes are punchy and clearly have a big budget behind them, with plenty of drone shots of NYC and high-tech gadgets to keep things looking slick. It’s easy, "brain-off" television that fits perfectly into a Monday night slot if you just want to see some bad guys get caught. THE CONS It’s a 6/10 because we’ve seen this all before about a hundred times. Despite the "CIA" title, it feels exactly like every other FBI show—same sound effects, same dramatic zooms, and the same predictable plots where the mole is always the person you suspected five minutes in. It misses the mark because it plays it way too safe; for a show about spies, there’s very little actual mystery. It’s also a bit of a stretch to believe these "covert" agents are walking around New York in designer suits and flag lapel pins without anyone noticing them. THE VERDICT A 6/10. It’s a polished, well-acted procedural that will satisfy fans of the Dick Wolf formula, but it’s not breaking any new ground. It isn't a 7 or an 8 because it feels like a "copy-paste" of its sister shows with a slightly different badge. If you’re a fan of Tom Ellis or just need a new crime show to fall asleep to, it does the job, but don't expect it to stay in your head for long after the credits roll. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Loophole Logic: The show’s premise is built on the real-life legal "grey area" where CIA officers can technically work domestically if they are seconded to a law enforcement agency like the FBI. The writers worked with actual intelligence consultants to make the paperwork side of the spy-work look somewhat real.• Familiar Faces: Since it’s part of the same "universe," the show features constant crossovers with the main FBI series. You’ll see Jubal Valentine and Maggie Bell popping up in the background of the New York station to remind you that everyone is working for the same boss.• Sauna Safety: In a funny nod to Tom Ellis’s "beefcake" reputation from his previous shows, there’s a scene where he meets a source in a sauna. However, the producers made him wear a robe the whole time, which led to a minor meltdown from fans on social media who were expecting a bit more skin. THE VIBE Like a brand-new suit that’s a bit too stiff, the sound of a ticking clock in a sterile office, and the feeling of knowing exactly how a story is going to end. It’s glossy, loud, and very predictable. It makes you want to wear an earpiece, look intensely at a computer screen, and realize that "top secret" mostly just involves a lot of meetings.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

12 Episodes

Air Date: 2026-02-23

Season 2

1 Episodes

Air Date: 2026-10-05

Videos

CIA | First Look | CBS

Tom Ellis New Show CIA | Series Announcement | Coming CBS Fall 2025

Cast

Related Shows To

CIA

Reviews for

CIA

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 1 May 2026 at 9:50 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 6/10
THE SUMMARY
If you thought the FBI had enough spinoffs, think again. CIA (2026–Present) is the latest expansion of the Dick Wolf universe, moving the action to New York where a “loose cannon” CIA officer, Colin Glass, has to team up with a by-the-book FBI agent, Bill Goodman. Since the CIA isn’t technically supposed to operate on U.S. soil, they’ve formed a joint task force to hunt down domestic terrorists and global threats. It’s a standard buddy-cop setup wrapped in a high-stakes spy skin, trying to bring a bit of 007 energy to the usual procedural grind.
THE PROS
The best thing about this show is Tom Ellis. He brings that same “dashing but annoying” charm he had in Lucifer, making Colin Glass the only reason to really stay tuned. His back-and-forth with Nick Gehlfuss (the FBI guy) provides some decent banter that saves the show from being too dry. The action scenes are punchy and clearly have a big budget behind them, with plenty of drone shots of NYC and high-tech gadgets to keep things looking slick. It’s easy, “brain-off” television that fits perfectly into a Monday night slot if you just want to see some bad guys get caught.
THE CONS
It’s a 6/10 because we’ve seen this all before about a hundred times. Despite the “CIA” title, it feels exactly like every other FBI show—same sound effects, same dramatic zooms, and the same predictable plots where the mole is always the person you suspected five minutes in. It misses the mark because it plays it way too safe; for a show about spies, there’s very little actual mystery. It’s also a bit of a stretch to believe these “covert” agents are walking around New York in designer suits and flag lapel pins without anyone noticing them.
THE VERDICT
A 6/10. It’s a polished, well-acted procedural that will satisfy fans of the Dick Wolf formula, but it’s not breaking any new ground. It isn’t a 7 or an 8 because it feels like a “copy-paste” of its sister shows with a slightly different badge. If you’re a fan of Tom Ellis or just need a new crime show to fall asleep to, it does the job, but don’t expect it to stay in your head for long after the credits roll.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Loophole Logic: The show’s premise is built on the real-life legal “grey area” where CIA officers can technically work domestically if they are seconded to a law enforcement agency like the FBI. The writers worked with actual intelligence consultants to make the paperwork side of the spy-work look somewhat real.
• Familiar Faces: Since it’s part of the same “universe,” the show features constant crossovers with the main FBI series. You’ll see Jubal Valentine and Maggie Bell popping up in the background of the New York station to remind you that everyone is working for the same boss.
• Sauna Safety: In a funny nod to Tom Ellis’s “beefcake” reputation from his previous shows, there’s a scene where he meets a source in a sauna. However, the producers made him wear a robe the whole time, which led to a minor meltdown from fans on social media who were expecting a bit more skin.
THE VIBE
Like a brand-new suit that’s a bit too stiff, the sound of a ticking clock in a sterile office, and the feeling of knowing exactly how a story is going to end. It’s glossy, loud, and very predictable. It makes you want to wear an earpiece, look intensely at a computer screen, and realize that “top secret” mostly just involves a lot of meetings.

Leave a Review Cancel reply