The Copenhagen Test: Should you watch or skip the Peacock thriller? A viewer's guide 

Snapshot from The Copenhagen Test official trailer - via @Peacock
Snapshot from The Copenhagen Test official trailer - via @Peacock's YouTube channel

Peacock's new thriller, The Copenhagen Test, has been getting a lot of attention since it arrived on the platform. Many viewers are curious about it because the show mixes action, mystery, and science fiction, and it also stars Simu Liu, who many people know from Shang-Chi and other popular projects. The first episode raises a lot of questions very quickly, and because of that, people have been asking if the show is worth watching or if it might be too confusing to follow.

In The Copenhagen Test, we start with an ominous tone and setting - a military helicopter flying over a dark, unfamiliar land. We immediately sense that there is a mysterious danger and confusion in this world. We also learn that Alexander Hale, our protagonist, is a soldier who is rescuing hostages in Belarus, and that on this day, the mission will completely change the course of Alexander's life for the next three years.

Fast-forward to the present, and after being away from the front line for three years, Alexander is now an analyst for a covert organization within the US government known only as The Orphanage. Alexander wants desperately to return to the battlefield and is actively searching for every opportunity he can find to do so.

It becomes more evident each day that Alexander has severe migraines and sudden memories from his previous mission. He wants to make sure no one knows about these medical issues, so he keeps them a secret from the authorities. He also receives medication from his former fiancée, a psychiatrist, in secret. As the plot of The Copenhagen Test progresses, medical issues play a significant role in Alexander's journey and connect to a much greater mystery occurring in his mind as well.


What The Copenhagen Test is about, and how it begins?

The main idea behind The Copenhagen Test is built around the mystery of who has been inside Alexander's mind. In the show, someone hacks into his brain during or after the Belarus mission. The government somehow discovers this, and The Orphanage has access to what Alexander sees and hears. This makes him extremely valuable but also puts him in danger.

As Alexander tries to understand what is happening, he meets Ellie, another member of The Orphanage. She is part of the team that monitors his brain activity through hidden screens. When he experiences more confusing flashbacks, he starts to look for answers on his own. He eventually comes across information about something called The Copenhagen Test, a loyalty test that may explain what happened to him.

Currently, The Copenhagen Test focuses more on finding the truth than on showing action. Clues from the script come in very gradually, so lots of the details remain uncertain by the time the viewer finishes watching episode one; therefore, it is up to the viewers if they appreciate this slow revelation or if the unknowns create a sense of annoyance within them.

Another element of the show that poses uncertainty about who is trustworthy is the interaction between Alexander and Michelle, a bartender. After their conversation, she reveals that she knew much more about him than what she presented at first. The Copenhagen Test acknowledges that there is a greater conspiracy concerning Alexander. There is also Victor Simonek, a chef and a former Orphanage agent. Even though he acts as a friend to Alexander, there could be information that Victor is keeping from Alexander.


Is The Copenhagen Test worth watching, or should you skip it?

The decision to view The Copenhagen Test largely relates to the type of shows you prefer. If you appreciate a slow-burning thriller where suspense builds as the viewer tries to decipher what is happening, then this is something you might enjoy. It adopts the cinematic tone of Jack Ryan and 24; however, it contains greater levels of unexplained mystery and light science fiction elements. In fact, it appears to have been inspired by these popular series.

For viewers who wish to know what a series would be centring around from the outset, this may be difficult to keep track of due to its use of multiple themes. Examples of these include government surveillance, brain hacking, secret tests, and the possibility of an ulterior motive. Others may feel that the pilot does not provide sufficient information to keep them interested. The creators of the series perhaps intend to create confusion for their audience; for some, it may simply be frustrating.

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Still, The Copenhagen Test has enough interesting pieces to keep many viewers watching. It introduces a big mystery early on and then continues to build on that mystery with new details. The series also leaves clues that future episodes will answer many of the questions raised in the beginning.

Edited by Sohini Biswas