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The Copenhagen Test has sparked intense conversations about privacy and watching in ways few spy shows have tried before. The Peacock show follows a spy named Alexander Hale, portrayed by Simu Liu, whose mind gets hacked by a mysterious enemy.
This attack compels him into a life where privacy no longer exists. Creator Thomas Brandon shared details about making the show. He discussed how the team addressed challenging storytelling issues.
Bradon stated that writing The Copenhagen Test brought up a peculiar issue. The team faced tough questions about consent and being constantly monitored. How do you
The show stars Simu Liu as Alexander Hale. He works for a secret government group called The Orphange. When his mind gets hacked, both his enemies and bosses can see everything in his life. He must work undercover with another agent named Michelle (portrayed by Melissa Barrera). Everyone watches their every move together.
The shower scene that got cut in The Copenhagen Test
Brandon talked about a deleted sequence from the first episode. The part displayed Alexander getting ready to accept his mission by preparing for a shower. Brandon explained.
"We had a shower scene. It was at the end of the pilot, and it was kind of indicative of him accepting the mission. He's getting undressed to go in the shower and then he just looks down,"
He added that the moment was meaningful, but it did not fit the tone they had wished for. Brandon said:
"It was kind of a little too funny for the end of the pilot, but it what it spoke to was this larger thematic element of your question, which is, here's a guy who is now in his effort to prove to his country, 'I can be trusted,'"
The scene illustrates a key concept of the Copenhagen Test. Alexander must prove he can be trusted by giving up all. His body, his friends, and his private space all became open to others.
Talking about being watched and consent in The Copenhagen Test
The writing team spent a significant amount of time discussing the pros and cons of their story. Brandon was honest about the struggles they encountered. Brandon admitted.
"Those were some of the longest conversations we had in the writing room. It brings up some weird consent issues,"
The Copenhagen Test does not avoid these serious concerns. One scene has Michelle asking Alexander if he is sure before she turns off the lights. Co-showrunner Jennifer Yale pointed out the significance of the moment. She explained.
"That's why she says, 'Are you sure?' And she turns off the light,"
How the show looks and feels terrifying in The Copenhagen Test
The team made confident choices about developing fear in the series. Brandon said that standard spy angles utilize dark places and shadows. The Copenhagen Test does the opposite. Brandon explained:
"What we decided in our show is what would be creepy is the things you see but you don't understand,"
He added more information about their visual approach. Brandon said:
"What we did is we made sure the camera really stayed with Alexander on him over his shoulder from his point of view, so you could see the workings of this Truman Show office and not know who's in on it and who's not,"
The terror stems from not understanding what is happening, not from not witnessing it. Brandon compared this to The Truman Show, in which the main character lives in a world he can see but fails to completely understand.
Mixing lies and romance in The Copenhagen Test
The Copenhagen Test adds a romantic angle to its spy story. Alexander starts developing feelings for Michelle without knowing she is tricking him. Yale talked about building their connection gradually. Yale said:
"We took a lot of time to make sure that we built up their chemistry before you find out that she's manipulating him, because you want to want them to get together and to have that love affair,"
Simu Liu plays this journey with a lot of depth. His character feels genuine emotions even as he learns the fabricated nature of this situation. Brandon explained how they utilize familiar story formats. He additionally noted:
"That's really fun in the second episode to unravel a lot of the intentional tropes we leaned into the first episode,"
Wan stated that the way they did this reminded him of classic movies. He shared:
"The romantic comedic aspect also reminded me of things like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, just the interplay between the two of them,"
What lies ahead in The Copenhagen Test for intense characters
The show builds compelling past narratives for its viewers. Brandon interestingly described Michelle. Brandon said:
"Part of the kind of Russian nesting doll of Michelle is the fact that you never know if you're getting the real her,"
He asked more compelling questions about her character. Brandon wondered:
"The most interesting aspect is, is there someone who's played so many roles that she's forgotten what the truth actually is?"
He additionally confirmed that the Copenhagen Test was made to be an ongoing show. Brandon said:
"There's been a thought there, but it's just thoughts. But yeah, it was always designed as an ongoing series, so there's plans and ideas and hopes for what a second season could be,"
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The Copenhagen Test compels viewers to think about privacy in today's entertainment landscape through Simu Liu's acting and impactful storytelling.
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