Spy thrillers have long thrived on suave agents and high-stakes drama, but Netflix’s The Recruit Season 2 flips the script with a refreshing dose of chaos. This international comedy-thriller, which stars Noah Centineo as the hilariously incompetent CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks, embraces its ridiculousness while providing action-packed, popcorn-worthy scenes. This series aims to show that saving the planet can be a hilarious experience, so forget about Slow Horses’ gloomy nihilism.

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The Plot: Blunders, Conspiracies, and Weaponized Crutches

Picking up after Season 1’s Belarusian asset debacle, The Recruit Season 2 catapults Owen Hendricks from Langley’s cubicles to Seoul’s shadowy underworld. Owen and his constantly stressed-out partner Janus (Kristian Bruun) are drawn into a Russian-Korean conspiracy after a missing Korean agent and a mysterious distress signal. Car chases, airport fights (including one involving a hitman with a lethal crutch), and Teo Yoo’s mysterious transformation into a “harmless” spy are all part of the story.

While Slow Horses wallows in MI5’s bureaucratic sludge, The Recruit gleefully skips across continents, trading grit for gags. The stakes are kept just high enough to excite, but never so high that they ruin the enjoyment, thanks to Owen’s antics, which are reminiscent of Get Smart meets James Bond on a caffeine high.

The Recruit Season 2: Episodes & Runtime

“Langley to Lazarus” (48 mins)
Owen returns to CIA HQ but is quickly dispatched to Seoul after a cryptic SOS about a missing operative. Janus panics; Owen packs snacks.
“Seoul Survivor” (52 mins)
Owen and Janus bumble through Seoul’s spy underworld, dodging a hitman with a crutch and meeting enigmatic Jang Kyun (Teo Yoo).
“Crutch Combat” (49 mins)
Airport chaos! Owen battles the crutch-wielding assassin in a slapstick showdown. Meanwhile, Oliver Bonner-Jones (James Purefoy) enters the game.
“The Art of Blundering” (47 mins)
A botched stakeout leads Owen to a Russian-Korean conspiracy. Janus accidentally adopts a stray dog mid-mission.
“Double Crosswalk” (51 mins)
Jang Kyun’s true allegiance is questioned. Owen infiltrates a gala but forgets his cover story. Purefoy’s charm hides dark secrets.
“Firewall & Faux Pas” (50 mins)
Cyberwarfare meets clownery as Owen hacks a server… with Google Translate. Janus bonds with the dog over stress snacks.
“Extraction Vacation” (53 mins)
Owen’s rescue op in Sakhalin Island goes haywire. Snowstorms, vodka, and a cameo by Belarus’s Season 1 villain amp up the chaos.
“Licensed to Chill” (55 mins)
Finale! Owen faces off against Bonner-Jones in a yacht showdown. Expect dad jokes, explosions, and a post-credits tease for Season 3.

The Recruit vs. Slow Horses

If Apple TV+’s Slow Horses is a stiff whiskey, The Recruit is a fizzy cocktail—bright, bubbly, and unapologetically fun. While Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb scowls through paperwork, Noah Centineo’s Owen stumbles into danger with dad-joke charm. The series doesn’t aspire to John le Carré’s depth; instead, it doubles down on rapid-fire banter and absurd set pieces (yes, that crutch fight deserves an Emmy).

This is spycraft for viewers seeking escape, not espionage for sulky thinkers. In a TV world full of gloomy antiheroes, The Recruit’s playful swagger feels rebellious.

Noah Centineo Shines as the CIA’s Most Unlikely Hero

Centineo, shedding his romantic persona, leans into Owen’s endearing incompetence. The actor strikes the perfect balance between humor and earnestness, whether he’s swapping jabs with James Purefoy’s curiously happy villain or botching a stakeout. The ideal counterpoint, on the other hand, is Janus by Kristian Bruun, a human panic attack with security clearance.

A Guilty Pleasure That Doesn’t Pretend to Be More

The Recruit Season 2 won’t dethrone prestige spy dramas, nor does it try to. Instead, it delivers exactly what’s promised: a rollicking, globe-hopping romp where the good guys win by accident. If you’re tired of shows that take themselves too seriously (cough, Squid Game Season 2 cough), this series is your antidote.

Rating: 4/5 stars
Perfect for fans of Get Smart, Archer, and Spy (2015).