Counterpart: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 126 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 126 Ratings

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Counterpart

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Season Details & Credits

Starz | Season Premiere Date: December 10, 2017

Starring: J.K. Simmons, Harry Lloyd, Jamie Bamber

Summary: Howard Silk (J.K. Simmons) works as a low-level employee at a Berlin-based spy agency when he discovers his employers are protecting an opening to a parallel dimension. In the other dimension, he meets his counterpart named Prime (J.K. Simmons) in this sci-fi thriller created by Justin Marks.

Creator: Justin Marks

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Suspense, Science Fiction

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. No Man's Land, Part Two
Air Date: April 1, 2018
tbd
S1:E9. No Man's Land, Part One
Air Date: March 18, 2018
tbd
S1:E8. Love the Lie
Air Date: March 11, 2018

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Jan 25, 2018

Counterpart blooms and grows as an absorbing sci-fi/spy thriller with elemental questions about how identities can be forged and changed by environments and circumstances. Read full review

IndieWire Ben Travers

Jan 18, 2018

There are more than enough carefully planned connections and well-calculated twists to inspire security in this tantalizing tale. Instinctively, two J.K. Simmons has always sounded better than one, just like one million Oprahs is one million times better than one. But “Counterpart” is more than a trending topic. It feels like a series that’s here to stay. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Jan 11, 2018

Counterpart, the compelling new Starz drama that's mostly an old-school espionage thriller with a little bit of sci-fi tossed in and, we shall see, maybe an existential exploration of identity, is a hodgepodge of interesting ideas that drag you forward into the confusing narrative, with one central and undeniable hook: J.K. Simmons. Read full review

Mike Hale

Jan 19, 2018

Through six episodes, Mr. Marks doesn’t do anything especially interesting with that premise, but luckily for him and us, Mr. Simmons, an Oscar winner in 2015 for “Whiplash,” does. ... In Counterpart, Mr. Simmons works so subtly, and seemingly effortlessly, that you always know which Howard you’re watching, but you’re never aware of how you know. Read full review

Emily VanDerWerff

Jan 30, 2018

It’s a slower burn than you might expect, but it also grows a little more rewarding with every episode. It’s one to keep an eye on. Read full review

David Wiegand

Jan 16, 2018

Counterpart moves at a deliberate pace in the early episodes, punctuated with moments of violence and surprise. It takes time for us to acclimate ourselves to the show’s concept, but once it sinks in, we’re hooked. The performances are superb, especially Simmons, who is so good as both Howard and Other Howard, he should be nominated for two best actor Emmys. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

Jan 17, 2018

Counterpart is built on a rather unwieldy premise that will either support seasons of absorbing brain-teasing or tumble over and scatter like a colossal Jenga tower. ... Throughout all the setup of this riven world, imagined by show creator Justin Marks, Simmons shines. His performance as both Howards is endlessly entertaining, and it kept me engaged in the story even when I wasn’t certain exactly what was happening. Read full review

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User Score

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7.4

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User Reviews

horridblood12

Jan 21, 2018

This show is an amazing addition to the Spy and Sci-fi genre. It stars J.K.Simmons who is fantastic as the two lead roles. With his character having his counterpart. From the first episode, the plot is very intriguing and it later becomes a philosophical question on nature and nurture, howThis show is an amazing addition to the Spy and Sci-fi genre. It stars J.K.Simmons who is fantastic as the two lead roles. With his character having his counterpart. From the first episode, the plot is very intriguing and it later becomes a philosophical question on nature and nurture, how one moment can change everything. This is what makes Counterpart a joy to watch, and as you go further down the plot, subtle hints from earlier episodes foreshadow whats to come in the end. it's a must watch and it is a show that can rival the greats.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

astrix1983

Jun 17, 2018

This is truly an awesome show. Something different, well thought through. One of the best Series I watched in a while and cannot wait for the second season. Lead actor staring J.K Simmons who plays his two roles brilliantly. Do your self a favor and check it out.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Sitheguy78

Feb 14, 2018

An amazing show that leaves you with more questions each week. The pacing is quite slow, however, I would advise anyone with a fondness for Sci-FI or Cold War era Spy films.

We follow Howard, an average man who finds job has implications he could never have imagined. We discover moreAn amazing show that leaves you with more questions each week. The pacing is quite slow, however, I would advise anyone with a fondness for Sci-FI or Cold War era Spy films.

We follow Howard, an average man who finds job has implications he could never have imagined. We discover more and more at his pace. Introduced to a Cold War between two worlds similar but not the same.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

CoKronakan

Mar 20, 2019

This fresh IP felt like a "try hard" attempt to get in to the big league TV series (of Game of Thrones, Mr. Robot etc.) to fast and this made it a little dull.
But the series it's rather good, entertaining and interesting to watch. The plot was intriguing, but it picked up to late in to theThis fresh IP felt like a "try hard" attempt to get in to the big league TV series (of Game of Thrones, Mr. Robot etc.) to fast and this made it a little dull.
But the series it's rather good, entertaining and interesting to watch. The plot was intriguing, but it picked up to late in to the season due to it's mysterious nature and the sheer seriousness of the events. The actors where amazing, and J.K. Simmons is the perfect actor to play this two sided role that is the different in so many ways yet similar. The directing was great with all the amazingly shot scenes and the editing choices. The script was short worded but still managed to give the audience enough to think about and to keep it very complex and keep the viewer's tension up and going, in order to figure out more about this interesting double world and about the characters. It was truly executed in a really good way with all it's details and elements. The characters had enough screen time to develop their core connection with the plot and the audience at the same time. The visuals where really good and practically shot most of it. The sound effects where realistic, and the music helped but very little because the background song not always matched the mood of the scene, and when it would have been great that it just wasn't there. Sadly this TV series has real artistic value and entertainment value, but due to it's huge pacing issue and immersion breaking nonsense conversations it faults.
So overall this original concept of this fractured worlds is amazing and interesting, but the season could have been more polished, because of this I would say this is a very good TV series so far but it can be better. So I am curious what they have in store for the viewers the next season and if they actually pull it of and make it better than this one, so it can live up to it's fullest potential.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

section20mi6

Feb 12, 2018

J.K Simmons is at its best in the series with his impeccable performance as Howard Silk from both worlds. The story line keeps audience intrigued and the overall grim atmosphere exhibits authenticity in a seemingly fictional setting.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

frannorthstar

Jan 15, 2019

Sounded interesting then remembered a TV Twilight Zone similarity, and in researching found indeed session 1 episode 21, which aired 26 February 1960 titled ‘Mirror Image’ the same situation as ‘Counterpart’, in fact the lead actress Vera Miles in the TZ 1960 episode clearly mentionsSounded interesting then remembered a TV Twilight Zone similarity, and in researching found indeed session 1 episode 21, which aired 26 February 1960 titled ‘Mirror Image’ the same situation as ‘Counterpart’, in fact the lead actress Vera Miles in the TZ 1960 episode clearly mentions several times the ‘counterpart’ world seeing her ‘other self’ and that ‘they’ were trying to take over. Originality died with the invention of fire.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

paulricha

Apr 3, 2018

If you missed the first episode you'll never know what's going on. I must have missed the 1st episode. Something about good guys versus bad guys but never quite sure who is who or why. Still not sure who and why they are trying to kill howard's wife!

0 of 15 users found this helpful015

SEE ALL 26 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

76

Series Overview
Season 2

75
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: December 9, 2018
Season 1

76
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: December 10, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E10. No Man's Land, Part Two
  Air Date: April 1, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E9. No Man's Land, Part One
  Air Date: March 18, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E8. Love the Lie
  Air Date: March 11, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Sincerest Form of Flattery
  Air Date: March 4, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E6. Act Like You've Been Here Before
  Air Date: February 25, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E5. Shaking the Tree
  Air Date: February 18, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E4. Both Sides Now
  Air Date: February 11, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E3. The Lost Art of Diplomacy
  Air Date: February 4, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E2. Birds of a Feather
  Air Date: January 28, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E1. The Crossing
  Air Date: December 10, 2017