The Bureau: Season 2

The second season of the French TV spy drama about a clandestine branch of the DGSE (the French answer to the CIA) that handles deep cover agents begins with legendary agent Malotru (Mathieu Kassovitz)—now Deputy Director of the division—betraying the DGSE to the CIA in order to save his Syrian lover (Zineb Triki). While he puts the mission of Phénomène (Sara Giraudeau), a newly-trained undercover agent in Iran, in danger to satisfy the CIA, another team focuses on a French ISIS jihadist who has been executing prisoners and posting the killings on the web. This series, which continues the gripping storytelling and unexpected twists of the first season while delving deeper into the characters, is built on practical technology and real world situations (with none of the fantasy of action-heavy American spy thrillers), focusing on the long, drawn-out process of intelligence gathering and communication. Details matter here and can mean the difference between life and death. Even with numerous stories playing out, Malotru remains the hub of the show, tackling moral quandaries with an impassive face that betrays no emotion (Kassovitz's performance is superb and at times heartbreaking) while he also pours out his sins in a secret journal. One of the most acclaimed shows on French TV, The Bureau airs in the U.S. on the Sundance Now streaming service. Fans of John le Carré's spy stories who appreciate smart, challenging storytelling will be drawn to this. Presenting all 10 episodes from the 2016 second season, this is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)