Peacock’s latest original series, The Copenhagen Test, aims to push the espionage genre into unnerving new territory. Starring Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera, the high-tech thriller explores what happens when intelligence work, personal identity, and total surveillance collide. The series centers on Alexander Hale, played by Liu, a low-level intelligence analyst whose entire perception of reality is compromised after his brain is hacked. Suddenly, everything he sees and hears can be monitored by unknown forces. The twist is not just technological—it’s deeply personal, especially given Hale’s background as a former Special Forces operative and a first-generation Chinese-American navigating a world of rising suspicion.
A Hero Built on Competence and Frustration
Liu, who also serves as an executive producer, describes Alexander as a man defined by capability but held back by circumstance. Despite his proven military background and intelligence skills, Hale finds himself overlooked for advancement while others move ahead. That sense of professional stagnation becomes central to the character’s emotional arc. According to Liu, Alexander’s frustration mirrors a universal feeling many viewers can relate to: doing everything right and still being passed over. It is this grounded humanity that anchors the show’s larger conspiracy-driven narrative.
A Spy Story With Cultural Undercurrents
Created by Thomas Brandon and co-showrun by Jennifer Yale, The Copenhagen Test leans heavily into themes of trust, loyalty, and identity. Brandon notes that Alexander’s family background is not incidental. His parents were Chinese immigrants, and the show deliberately explores the added pressure of having to constantly “prove” one’s loyalty in a national security setting. That tension becomes even more pronounced when Hale discovers that the suspected mole inside his covert department—known as The Orphanage—may actually be him. Instead of removing him from duty, his superiors choose to weaponize the situation, building a controlled reality around him to identify the real threat.
Melissa Barrera’s Mystery Role
Barrera plays Michelle, a character initially introduced as a seemingly carefree bartender. That surface-level impression quickly begins to crack. As the series unfolds, Michelle’s true role within the fabricated world around Alexander becomes increasingly ambiguous. Barrera describes Michelle as a character defined by uncertainty, even to the actor herself while reading scripts. Each episode reframes what viewers think they know about her, revealing fragments of a complicated past tied to espionage and regret. Michelle’s connection to Alexander adds emotional stakes to a story already thick with deception.
Action With Purpose
While The Copenhagen Test features explosive action sequences, the creators emphasize restraint. The series favors tension and psychological buildup over constant combat. When action does arrive, it is deliberate and character-driven. Liu worked closely with military consultants to ensure his fight style differed from his superhero work in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, grounding Alexander’s movements in realism rather than spectacle.
A Stylish, Thought-Provoking Thriller
With layered performances, sleek direction, and a story that prioritizes intellect over brute force, The Copenhagen Test positions itself as a modern espionage series for a surveillance-era audience. The series premiere of The Copenhagen Test is now streaming on Peacock, offering viewers a tense, character-driven entry into the spy genre.
