The Assets: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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5.9

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Season Details & Credits

ABC | Season Premiere Date: January 2, 2014

Starring: Stuart Milligan, Ralph Brown, Julian Ovenden

Summary: CIA-counterintelligence-analyst-turned-soviet-spy Aldrich Ames (Paul Rhys) tries to stay one step ahead of CIA agents Sandy Grimes (Jodie Whittaker) and Jeanne Vertefuille (Harriet Walter), who want to stop the person responsible for the leaks before they endanger more people in this eight-episode miniseries based on the book "Circle ofCIA-counterintelligence-analyst-turned-soviet-spy Aldrich Ames (Paul Rhys) tries to stay one step ahead of CIA agents Sandy Grimes (Jodie Whittaker) and Jeanne Vertefuille (Harriet Walter), who want to stop the person responsible for the leaks before they endanger more people in this eight-episode miniseries based on the book "Circle of Treason: A CIA Account of Traitor Aldrich Ames and the Men He Betrayed."… Expand

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series, Action & Adventure, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. Avenger
Air Date: August 3, 2014
tbd
S1:E8. Avenger
Air Date: August 3, 2014
tbd
S1:E7. The Straw Poll
Air Date: August 3, 2014

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Diane Werts

Dec 31, 2013

The Assets isn't flashy, but boy, is it effective. It just grinds away, laying down intriguing details of "asset" care and feeding, made vivid through determined performances and intense crescendos. Read full review

David Wiegand

Dec 30, 2013

Rhys and Whittaker are terrific and the two big reasons to watch the series.... Speaking of assets, credibility of the story is nicely enhanced by muted cinematography and art direction, emphasizing that catching spies is done by nondescript men and women who lead seemingly normal lives and work in under-decorated offices deciphering codes and other information. Read full review

Sonia Saraiya

Jan 2, 2014

It’s got some of the same appeal [as Scandal], but at its core, it’s a strong spy thriller with a few fascinating characters, not a splashy nighttime soap. And that’s okay. Read full review

Jeff Korbelik

Mar 27, 2014

In Assets, I wanted more about Ames and his motives--and maybe that will come later--but this is Grimes’ story, right down to how her job affected her home life. Read full review

Dorothy Rabinowitz

Jan 9, 2014

The series, unevenly written, frequently given to strange tonal lapses, is nevertheless lively, its dramatization of events abetted by its setting. Read full review

Alessandra Stanley

Jan 2, 2014

The Assets is uneven, with some excellent scenes and quite a few bad ones. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Dec 31, 2013

The Assets just can’t get untracked, lumbering through its first two hours without any sense of purpose, style or urgency. Read full review

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5.9

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User Reviews

Mydogsamjack

Aug 3, 2014

This was an incredible telling of a story I remembered from the headlines. It was exciting and enthralling. Every bit as thrilling as Netflix's House of Cards. Best series I've seen in a long time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

netrc

Jul 8, 2014

Great acting and solid story. Underpromoted by network suits, it didn't get a big audience. A shame, as the true story is well told and convincingly portrayed with good period details (80s). Best bet is to wait for it to show up on Netflix or Hulu and watch the whole thing through.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hfmadison

Jun 4, 2014

I was extremely disappointed to find that The Assets had been cancelled so abruptly after only two episodes. In my opinion, it had the potential to be a great series. I do wonder what the real reason is for it being cancelled so abruptly.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Ariadne

Jan 29, 2014

The night I taped this pilot we had a power outage, so I had to search up the episode on the network website. It was okay. The story is interesting, but the actors are boring. It did remind me, however, that I'm glad the 80s, with their shoulder pads, punk rock styles and perms are over,The night I taped this pilot we had a power outage, so I had to search up the episode on the network website. It was okay. The story is interesting, but the actors are boring. It did remind me, however, that I'm glad the 80s, with their shoulder pads, punk rock styles and perms are over, so A+ for costuming.

So much of the show seemed to be in dark light. It was almost as if they had found an old copy of a film from the 80s, but forgot to restore it for HD TV.

I will say this, though. I will be buying the book. This is about an important part of American history and having a chance to understand it from the viewpoint of the people who were there is worth the price of a book.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jeremyp

Jan 11, 2014

An interesting tale made dull and stolid by poor writing, listless direction, and a largely Brit cast. Le Carre or Deighton it ain't. I'm hoping with all the different directors and writers it'll get some life.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

carold

Oct 2, 2014

Good and potentially compelling concept made into soap opera quality by wooden acting mixed with overly-emotional, huskily-whispered or loudly argued exchanges between CIA personnel. In what world is it that every CEO or head doctor or chief of staff is a very young, perfectly made-up, blondGood and potentially compelling concept made into soap opera quality by wooden acting mixed with overly-emotional, huskily-whispered or loudly argued exchanges between CIA personnel. In what world is it that every CEO or head doctor or chief of staff is a very young, perfectly made-up, blond woman? Jodie Whittaker may be a good actress, but in this series, she comes off as quite unbelievable as a major player in the CIA. It may be the directing, it may be the producers, or everyone involved, but making a potentially tense, political drama into another witless, poorly acted series was not a brilliant idea.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BogKid

Jan 10, 2014

Fascinating story which I remember from its actual occurrence years ago. The problems I have with this show stem from its incredibly uneven and confusing writing and a level of acting that barely exceeds afternoon soap opera standards. The Americans all seem a bit stupid (except for ourFascinating story which I remember from its actual occurrence years ago. The problems I have with this show stem from its incredibly uneven and confusing writing and a level of acting that barely exceeds afternoon soap opera standards. The Americans all seem a bit stupid (except for our heroine) but considering how obvious Aldrich Ames's unexplained new wealth was maybe that is true. The Russians are all gruff and insulting and, well, "comic Russian".

I will continue to watch the series only because the actual events fascinated me but I feel that this production belongs more on a high school stage than on a major TV network.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Seasons & Episodes

58

Series Overview
Season 1

58
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 2, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E8. Avenger
  Air Date: August 3, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E8. Avenger
  Air Date: August 3, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Straw Poll
  Air Date: August 3, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Straw Poll
  Air Date: August 3, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E6. Small Useless Truth
  Air Date: July 27, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E5. Check Mate
  Air Date: July 27, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E4. What's Done is Done
  Air Date: June 28, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E3. Trip to Vienna
  Air Date: June 21, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E2. Jewel in the Crown
  Air Date: January 9, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E1. My Name Is Aldrich Ames
  Air Date: January 2, 2014