Covert Affairs: Season One

A stylish, small-scale spy series created for the USA Network by Chris Ord and Matt Corman (backed by executive producer Doug Liman, director of The Bourne Identity), Covert Affairs is a lively, if lightweight, show that offers a terrific showcase for Piper Perabo, a charismatic young actress whose talents far exceed the big-screen opportunities she's had to date. Perabo plays Annie Walker, a talented CIA recruit who is pulled out of training for an assignment that requires her linguistic skills. Proving her ability to improvise under pressure, Walker lands a position as resident junior agent for a special field team. Thrown prematurely into the fray, she welcomes the support of colleague Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham), a blind tech-ops specialist who becomes her confidant and mentor. Covert Affairs is essentially a scaled-down cable version of Alias or Nikita, minus the spectacle or high-concept gimmickry. Instead, the series follows the general USA formula, with character front and center, ultimately offering something its big network brethren lack: an action heroine who's genuinely endearing, self-effacing, and fun to be around. Added to the mix are Kari Matchett as Annie's immediate supervisor, Peter Gallagher as section chief, and Sendhil Ramamurthy as a co-worker. Compiling all 11 episodes from the 2010 debut season, DVD extras include episode audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)