Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Jen Maravegias | TV | February 25, 2026
Dustin and I Rochambeau’d for who would cover the new season of The Night Agent. I lost under very suspicious circumstances. To my credit, I logged into Netflix and watched about as much of the first episode as I could. But for a show marketed as “relentless,” it was a real snooze. Life is too short to be bored by Netflix. In the interest of self-care, I noped out of that assignment (not even sorry about it) and decided to watch the first episode of CIA on CBS instead.
I’ve been actively trying to reduce the amount of “copaganda” that I consume. I’m proud to say I’ve never watched a single episode of FBI, which CIA is a spin-off of. But, with apologies to the cast of FBI, CIA has something it will never have (until there’s a crossover episode.) And that something is the sexiest Satan of all time, Tom Ellis.
Ellis (recently of Washington Black) stars as CIA Agent Colin Glass. He’s a loose cannon! A rule breaker! He’s paired with FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman (Chicago Med’s Nick Gehlfuss) in an FBI/CIA “fusion cell” to address crimes that require “a lighter touch.” Domestic terrorism and diplomatic kerfuffles are given as examples of when that “lighter touch” may be necessary and REALLY, writers’ room? That sounded right to you? OK, I see how this is going to go.
FBI Special Agent Goodman is described as “a boy scout with a briefcase” by Ellis’ character. Because everyone knows these type of cop shows only work when the partners are diametrically opposed and forced to work together despite their differences.
That’s exactly what happens here. Colin needs an FBI liaison to grease the wheels of his domestic ops and the FBI wants eyes on the CIA’s New York office, because there may be a mole.
Is the plot important here? No. It is secondary to Tom Ellis being back on our televisions while wearing nice sweaters and being witty. It’s a procedural. And setting up the “trust no one, find the mole” subplot means that we’re in for a season of well-worn procedural troupes.
Aside from Tom Ellis in sweaters being witty, it looks and acts like episodes of FBI so I don’t expect much. And I will probably let a bunch of episodes build up on my DVR before I remember to watch it again. But I definitely will be watching it again. Tom Ellis, sweaters, and that little sparkle he gets in his eye when he knows he nailed the line reading. That’s enough for me.
CIA airs Monday nights at 10pm EST on CBS and streams on Paramount+
