‘The Copenhagen Test’ Review: Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera Are Charming Spies in This Tense Espionage Drama

In a world where we're already questioning so much, from the news we see online to the everyday things we trust, Peacock's new espionage thriller The Copenhagen Test, created by Thomas Brandon and executive produced by James Wan, will push that paranoia even further.

Simu Liu leads as Alexander Hale, a first-generation Chinese American intelligence analyst working for a secretive subagency called "The Orphanage." When he discovers that an enemy has hacked his brain with advanced nanotechnology, which grants them access to everything he sees and hears, his bosses decide to leave the implant in place. Their goal: use him as bait to lure out the hacker, putting his life in greater danger.

At its heart, the eight-episode series explore Alexander's immigrant background. His parents fled China's Tiananmen Square events while his mother was pregnant, pinning their American dreams on him. Yet as he grows up, his ethnicity raises doubts about his loyalty, which is a tension hinted at through the titular "Copenhagen Test," a past Special Forces evaluation forcing him to choose between saving an American adult or a foreign child.

Melissa Barrera plays Michelle, a skilled spy assigned to keep an eye on Alexander by posing as his girlfriend. She's the clear standout: witty, fierce in action scenes, and increasingly layered as her own story unfolds, while often stealing the spotlight from the main plot. Barrera shares strong chemistry with Liu and with Sinclair Daniel, who plays Parker, a young recruit and Michelle's complete opposite.

Other highlights include Sinclair Daniel's charming performance as Parker (though her fun backstory arrives via clunky dialogue from Brian d’Arcy James' character) and Kathleen Chalfant as "St. George," the calm and enigmatic head of The Orphanage, whose subtle expressions carry hidden depths.

Liu brings solid leading-man presence, showcasing both emotional depth and impressive martial arts skills, especially in standout fight scenes in Episode 7.

The characters feel nuanced, with varying shades of morality: some wrestle with conscience, others justify their actions, and a few remain unaware of their flaws.

Tension builds effectively once Alexander and Michelle's fake romance begins, keeping viewers guessing about her true feelings. While the show occasionally overlooks its own plot threads, it packs plenty of thrilling moments and thought-provoking ideas about trust and surveillance that should appeal to fans of Black Mirror.

All eight episodes of The Copenhagen Test premiere on Saturday, December 27, on Peacock.