Watch The Assets

The Assets is a thrilling espionage drama based on the real-life exploits of the CIA's counterintelligence unit during the Cold War. The show, which aired on ABC in 2014, stars Paul Rhys as the enigmatic spy Aldrich Ames, whose betrayal of American secrets to the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s shook the agency to its core.

The story is told from the perspective of the agency's most skilled case officer, Sandy Grimes (Jodie Whittaker), who leads a team of agents in a desperate race to uncover the mole within their ranks before he can do irreparable damage to national security. As Sandy and her team follow a series of tantalizing leads across multiple continents, they must also grapple with the personal toll that working in the shadowy world of espionage exacts on their relationships and psyches.

One of the most striking aspects of The Assets is its meticulous attention to historical detail. The show draws heavily on real-life incidents and figures, from the Iran-Contra scandal to the infamous "Year of the Spy," which saw a wave of high-profile espionage cases rock the CIA. The performances are uniformly excellent, with Rhys bringing a chilling intensity to the role of Ames and Whittaker infusing Sandy with a fierce intelligence and steely determination.

The supporting cast is no less impressive, with Harriet Walter turning in a masterful performance as Jeanne Vertefeuille, a veteran CIA officer whose dogged pursuit of the traitor within their midst forms the backbone of the show. Julian Ovenden, Ralph Brown, and Christina Cole also shine in their respective roles, injecting their characters with a sense of urgency and desperation that propels the plot forward.

At its core, The Assets is a show about the personal and professional costs of espionage. It grapples with weighty themes like loyalty, betrayal, and the insidious lure of ideological extremism, all while delivering heart-pounding action and edge-of-your-seat suspense. While it may not have been a ratings juggernaut during its initial run, fans of spy thrillers and historical dramas alike are sure to find much to enjoy in this gripping series.

The Assets is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (9 episodes). The series first aired on January 2, 2014.