What 'Spy' Does Better Than Other Shows
If you haven't seen Simeon Goulden's Brit-com "Spy," that's because up until now, it was only available online on Hulu and in the U.K. on Sky1.
"Spy" is just one of a handful of shows that pioneered the movement from television to online-only international distribution. Originally broadcast on Sky1 in 2011, "Spy" has finally made its rounds from TV to tablet to TV again. The sitcom will make its U.S. television premiere on KCET on September 30 at 8:30 p.m.
"Spy" is your run-of-the-mill family sitcom about a single dad, Tim Elliot (Darren Boyd), who accidentally becomes an MI5 agent (that ol' chestnut) in an attempt to impress his demanding son, Marcus. This show manages to take standard sitcom storylines and infuse some originality in them.
The Unapologetically Harsh Ex
Tim's ex-wife, Judith, is the most unredeeming, cold, manipulative character ever seen in a comedy. Often, when dealing with divorced parents on television, even the parent the audience is supposed to dislike shows us something that appeals to our humanity. You think, "Sure, that person's a deadbeat, but they really do love their child." "Spy" doesn't paint that portrait. We don't have to like Judith, and her rigid insistence on treating Tim poorly makes his lack of confidence all the more believable.
The Boneheaded Dad
Let's open a can of worms for a minute and talk about the way dads are often portrayed on modern sitcoms and commercials. Dads. Total dopes, aren't they? Why is that? They're lovable, sure, but does every dad we see have to be unintelligent in order for us to find him endearing? At first, Tim seems like every other dumb TV dad. But we rapidly find that he's rather brilliant and talented. While he never quite sees it in himself, he's an easily lovable character, despite his basic blunders.
The Unattainable Love Interest(s)
Nearly everyone on this show seems to be in love with the wrong person. Tim's in love with another agent. The completely insane social worker is in love with Tim. Marcus' headmaster is in love with Judith, who doesn't seem capable of caring about anyone. And Tim's boss at MI5, "The Examiner," played by the always-brilliant Robert Lindsay, is infatuated with Tim. In the typical sitcom, there is only one long, drawn-out plotline of yearning that keeps you coming back week after week to see if they're finally going to get together. With "Spy," there is constant relationship mayhem and the results are delightful.
The Secret Double Life
Without leaking too many plot-spoiling secrets, let's just say that trying to get a better job than working at an electronics store, then landing the coolest job on earth is fun enough as a storyline. Add to it the fact that Tim only wanted a new job to win his son's respect, but can't tell him about his amazing career, and you find yourself pulling for the guy whose underdog status in the eyes of the world doesn't reflect reality.
The Precocious Child
Unlike Judith, Marcus does have redeeming qualities, mostly stemming from the plain and simple fact that he's a child. While it's clear that he's an intelligent kid, it's also evident that he thinks he's smarter than he actually is. It's easy to forgive him once you factor in the fact that he doesn't really see the whole picture, and his craftiness with schemes shows that he'll become a mastermind one day.