Everything We Know About The Agency Season 2

Love a good spy thriller? One of the more underrated shows to release in recent years is The Agency, a CIA drama starring Michael Fassbender made by Paramount+. It told the story of an agent (played by Fassbender) who tries to balance his duty to his country and his reconnection with an ex-lover (played by Jodie Turner-Smith). So we were glad to see it got renewed for season 2, arriving on screens this month.

What is The Agency season 2 about?

Season 2 picks up soon after the dramatic events that concluded the first season, which saw CIA operative Martian (Fassbender) forced to make impossible choices between his professional duties and his personal life. Having spent years living undercover, Martian found himself pulled back into a dangerous relationship with former lover, anthropology professor Samia (Turner-Smith). This comes to a head when he decides to make a desperate (and very risky) bargain with an MI6 agent named James Richardson to make him a double agent for the UK intelligence agency, which in turn would guarantee the safety of Samia. But Richardson had no qualms about putting Martian’s life in serious danger, and Martian now has to return to the CIA while secretly spying for MI6.

The new season explores the considerable fallout from those fateful decisions, as Martian attempts to navigate an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. Samia has now been made a political prisoner in Sudan, and Martian is still intent on keeping her safe- despite the potential costs. While many plot details remain under wraps before the new season’s premiere, Paramount+’s press releases so far promise ever-escalating stakes, as Martian discovers that in order to get out, he needs to get deeper into the world of espionage.

We’re definitely hoping for more of what Season 1 did well, which was balancing the usual exciting spy stuff that you’d expect from a show about the CIA and more emotional, character-focused drama and writing. One of the show’s biggest strengths has been its focus on the sometimes underdiscussed psychological toll of undercover work, examining how years of living under false identities can affect relationships, trust and your own sense of self.

Who else stars?

Alongside Fassbender, returning cast members include Jeffrey Wright as Henry, Jodie Turner-Smith as Samia, Richard Gere as Bosko and Katherine Waterston as Naomi.

Paramount+ has released a first-look trailer for season 2, showcasing the ever darker nature of the show’s plot. “If they tell you I’m a traitor”, says Martian at the beginning, “it’s the truth.” There’s also the indication that the agency is “cleaning house” and trying to find moles, meaning Martian has to keep his head down to survive.