The Recruit
Series Details:
| Also known as | Graymail |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Season | 1 |
| Episodes | 8 |
| Release date | December 16, 2022 |
| Running time | 50–58 minutes |
| Age rating | TV-MA |
| Starring | Noah Centineo, Laura Haddock, Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Fivel Stewart, Daniel Quincy Annoh, Kristian Bruun, Vondie Curtis-Hall |
| Created by | Alexi Hawley |
| Directed by | Julian Holmes, Alex Kalymnios, Doug Liman, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour |
| Written by | George V. Ghanem, Alexi Hawley, Amelia Roper, Hadi Nicholas Deeb, Maya Goldsmith, Niceole R. Levy |
| Produced by | Agatha Warren, Marc David Alpert, Hadi Nicholas Deeb |
| Executive producers | Gene Klein, Adam Ciralsky, Noah Centineo, Alexi Hawley, David Bartis, Charlie Ebersol, Doug Liman |
| Cinematography by | Bernard Couture, Pierre Jodoin, Simon Chapman |
| Edited by | Damien Smith, Adrienne McNally, Sang Han |
| Music by | Jordan Gagne |
| Casting by | Melissa Lukacevic, Joseph Middleton |
| Production Design by | David Sandefur, Giao-Chau Ly |
| Art Direction by | Ksenia Markova, Florian Reichmann |
| Costume Design by | Véronique Marchessault |
| Production Company | Entertainment One Hypnotic |
| Original Network | Netflix |
Cast & Character:
Main
- Noah Centineo as Owen Hendricks, a newly hired CIA lawyer
- Laura Haddock as Max Meladze, a former CIA asset who is in prison for beating a shady trucker to death
- Aarti Mann as Violet, Owen’s co-worker who messes with him
- Colton Dunn as Lester, another co-worker of Owen’s, and Violet’s partner in crime
- Fivel Stewart as Hannah, Owen’s roommate and ex-girlfriend
- Daniel Quincy Annoh as Terence, Owen’s other roommate and friend
- Kristian Bruun as Janus Ferber, Owen’s overstressed colleague who reluctantly helps him out
- Vondie Curtis-Hall as Walter Nyland, Owen’s boss and the CIA’s general counsel
- Teo Yoo as Jang Kyu (season 2)
Recurring
- Angel Parker as Dawn, CIA operative doing a black op in Yemen
- Victor Andrés Trelles Turgeon as Talco
- Byron Mann as Xander Goi, a senior case officer
- Kaylah Zander as Amelia Salazar, another colleague of Owen’s, who also dates him
- James Purefoy as Olive Bonner-Jones (season 2)
- Brooke Smith as Marcy Potter (season 2)
- Devika Bhise as Juno Marsh (season 2)
- Felix Solis as Tom Wallace (season 2)
- Young-Ah Kim as Grace (season 2)
- Do Hyun Shin as Yoo Jin Lee (season 2)
- Sanghee Lee as Nan Hee (season 2)
- Omar Maskati as Jae King (season 2)
- Alana Hawley Purvis as Amanda Fern (season 2)
Storyline:
Owen Hendricks, a young CIA lawyer whose first week on the job turns upside down when he discovers a threatening letter by former asset Max Meladze, who plans to expose the agency unless they exonerate her of a serious crime. Owen quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous and often absurd world of power politics and mischievous players, as he travels the world in hopes of completing his assignment and making a mark at the CIA.
About Series:
Netflix acquired an unnamed espionage drama on April 28, 2021, produced by Entertainment One. Created by Alexi Hawley, known for Castle and The Rookie, the series was titled Graymail, with Hawley as showrunner and executive producer. Other executive producers included Noah Centineo, Doug Liman, Gene Klein, Dave Bartis, Adam Ciralsky, and Charlie Ebersol.
Planned as an eight-part, one-hour series, it was announced on September 28, 2022, that Hawley, George Ghanem, Amelia Roper, Hadi Deeb, Niceole Levy, and Maya Goldsmith would write the episodes, while Doug Liman, Alex Kalymnios, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr., and Julian Holmes directed.
Noah Centineo was confirmed as the lead on April 28, 2021.
Principal photography for Season 1 began in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, and Los Angeles on October 25, 2021, and wrapped on March 28, 2022. Season 2 filming began on January 4, 2024, in Vancouver, Canada, and Seoul, South Korea.
Titled The Recruit, the series premiered on Netflix on December 16, 2022, and was renewed for a second season on January 26, 2023.
Episodes:
| Episode | Title | Duration | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1.E1 | I.N.A.S.I.A.L. | 51m | Rookie lawyer Owen Hendricks faces overwhelming challenges in his first week at the CIA, uncovering a threat. |
| S1.E2 | N.L.T.S.Y.P. | 58m | Owen scrambles to navigate international espionage while searching for classified info on Max. |
| S1.E3 | Y.D.E.K.W.Y.D. | 54m | Owen negotiates with Max and deals with a hostile agency employee while going on a date. |
| S1.E4 | I.Y.D.I.A.A.C. | 57m | A major issue threatens Max’s case, prompting Owen to find a legal loophole while advising her to stay calm. |
| S1.E5 | T.S.L.A.Y.P. | 51m | Owen’s plans hit a snag when he’s ordered back to Phoenix, complicating both work and home life. |
| S1.E6 | I.C.I.N.C. | 54m | Owen’s risky negotiations for Max raise uncomfortable questions among colleagues and friends. |
| S1.E7 | I.M.F.T.B.S. | 58m | A chaotic mission in Geneva to retrieve assets spirals out of control for Owen and Max. |
| S1.E8 | W.T.F.I.O.H. | 56m | Owen’s mission with Max takes a dangerous turn as personal and professional lives collide. |