‘The Copenhagen Test’ Review
The Premise: "The Human Bug"
Set in the near future, the story follows Alexander Hale (Simu Liu), a first-generation Chinese-American intelligence analyst at a hyper-secret agency known as The Orphanage. After a mission in the field—where he was forced to choose between saving an operative or a child (the titular "Copenhagen Test")—Hale begins experiencing migraines and panic attacks.
The horrifying truth? His brain has been hacked via nanites. A mysterious entity now has a live feed of everything he sees and hears. When his superiors discover the breach, they don’t extract him—they decide to use him as a "walking bug" to draw out the hackers, forcing Hale into a dangerous double-game where he can't trust his own senses or the people around him.
Critical Reception: A Sharp Divide
As of late December 2025, The Copenhagen Test holds a respectable 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, though critics are split on whether the execution matches the ambition of its high-concept plot.
The Hits
Simu Liu’s Performance: Critics have praised Liu for shedding his "Marvel charisma" for a more grounded, blue-collar intensity. His portrayal of Hale is restrained and vulnerable, effectively conveying the trauma of having one's privacy physically violated.
The "Immigrant Story" Stakes: Several reviews highlighted how the show uses Hale’s Chinese-American heritage to add depth. His desperation to prove his loyalty to a country that views him with suspicion adds an emotional layer often missing from the genre.
Stellar Supporting Cast: Sinclair Daniel (as the empathetic analyst Parker) and Melissa Barrera (as the mysterious Michelle) are standouts. Barrera and Liu's chemistry is widely cited as the show's beating heart, even when the plot gets convoluted.
The Misses
Pacing & Coherence: The AV Club and Variety were less kind, noting that the series often prioritizes "shock value" and twists over narrative logic. By the middle episodes, some felt the constant "trust no one" reveals became exhausting.
Bloated Finale: A common complaint is that the finale wraps up the primary mystery too quickly, spending the remaining time on an overlong epilogue to set up Season 2.
Key Cast & Performance Metrics
| Actor | Role | Standout Quality |
| Simu Liu | Alexander Hale | Gritty, tactical, and emotionally raw. |
| Melissa Barrera | Michelle | Enigmatic; master of the "gray area" of spy work. |
| Sinclair Daniel | Parker | The emotional anchor; a psychological strategist. |
| Brian d’Arcy James | John Moira | "Emmy-worthy" portrayal of cold agency bureaucracy. |
| Saul Rubinek | Victor Simonek | The veteran mentor with a hidden agenda. |
Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Binge?
The Copenhagen Test succeeds as a slick, visually polished thriller that taps into very real modern anxieties about AI and surveillance. While it occasionally trips over its own "Matryoshka doll" of subplots, it is anchored by a career-best performance from Simu Liu and a genuinely unsettling central conceit.
Final Score: 3.5 / 5 Stars
"A sleek, paranoid thrill-ride that asks: what happens to a spy when they can no longer close their eyes to the truth?"
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