‘Undercovers’ delivers pretty cover but no story

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J.J. Abrams newest series “Undercovers,” debuted its pilot episode on NBC Wednesday.

The show stars Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Steven and Samantha Bloom, two CIA spies who leave the agency after getting married. They open up a catering company and five years after retiring their marriage becomes stale. Then someone from the CIA pays them a visit and next thing you know they are back on duty for a special case. Within minutes of starting the assignment the Blooms remember how exciting the CIA was and the adrenaline makes them feel sexy again. It’s kind of like TV’s version of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Except I never really got into that movie and this show wasn’t any different.

There’s a point in the show where Mbatha-Raw must seduce a target. Before going in she makes up a nifty new spy term. “Sex-pionage always works,” she says. …No it doesn’t Gugu, no it doesn’t. Just because you’re both attractive does not mean the show is automatically interesting. There didn’t seem to be a real plot to the show, beyond good looking people kick some ass.

I don’t know what it is about action shows this season, but casting hot people does not mean the rest of the job is over. It was especially upsetting to see that the show was produced by someone who usually does a great job with television. Abrams was responsible for popular shows like Felicity, Alias, and Lost.

I’ll admit that some of the comic relief was pretty witty, but not enough to keep me watching. My guess is, if you like action and don’t feel like thinking much (if at all), you might like this show.

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