Who Is Martian In The Agency? CIA Background & Multiple Covert Identities Explained

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Agency episodes 1 & 2.

The first two episodes of the new Paramount+ political thriller series The Agency introduces Michael Fassbender’s “Martian”, a storied and hardened CIA operative who gets called in for a crucial assignment. Created for American television by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth (Edge of Tomorrow, Ford v Ferrari), The Agency is an adaptation of the 2015 critically acclaimed French thriller series The Bureau created by Eric Rochant. Fassbender leads the cast of The Agency alongside Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, Katherine Waterson, John Magaro, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, and Jodie Turner-Smith.

Despite its promising source material and ensemble cast, The Agency has received mixed reviews, resulting in a negative Rotten Tomatoes score of 45% after its two-episode premiere on November 29, 2024. During The Agency episode 1 “The Bends” and episode 2 “Wooden Duck,” Fassbender’s “Paul Lewis” gets pulled out of a six-year undercover mission to help locate a missing CIA operative named Coyote who has the potential to reveal several long-term undercover missions in as many as nine countries. Due to the extreme circumstances, Paul, who’s known around the London CIA offices as the celebrated “Martian”, is brought in by his superiors Henry (Wright) and Bosko (Gere).

Michael Fassbender’s “Martian” Was Undercover As Paul Lewis In Ethiopia For 6 Years

His “Paul Lewis” identity was supposed to terminate once he got to London

As portrayed in the first two episodes of The Agency, Michael Fassbender’s character isn’t actually named “Paul Lewis” even though he was initially introduced to the audience as such. Paul Lewis was the undercover alias he used while he was on an undercover mission in Ethiopia, which was cut abruptly short after Coyote was potentially compromised. Fassbender’s protagonist is known as “Martian” around the CIA and has an exceptional track record as being one of the agency’s most reliable operatives. He is forced to abort the mission and is pulled out of Ethiopia so suddenly because Coyote’s disappearance becomes a top priority.

It’s unclear what exactly Martian was doing in Wthipia for six years when he gets pulled out suddenly. All that’s established is that he developed a relationship with an Ethiopian woman named Sami Zahir, who is having an extramarital affair with Martian, or “Paul Lewis” as she knows him to be. It appears that the affair had gone on for quite some time as “Paul” certainly has feelings for Samir but must leave her behind and bury her with his former “Paul Lewis” identity. As portrayed in The Agency episode 2, Martian has a soft spot and weakness for Samir, who interestingly finds her way to London to reconnect with “Paul.”

Martian Was Pulled Out Of Ethiopia To Help Locate A Missing Field Agent Named Coyote In Belarus

Coyote was arrested after driving drunk and disappeared soon after

The CIA needed all hands on deck following the potentially disastrous arrest and disappearance of a CIA operative in Belarus code-named Coyote. Coyote was arrested after driving drunk and causing various damage while undercover in the eastern-Euspoean country Belarus. After he was arrested and jailed, Coyote soon disappeared, which sparked panic among the CIA as he was aware of valuable intel that could greatly compromise the entire organization. Coyote, who quit drinking, previously said if he was ever drunk, it would likely be because his cover had been blown, which could very well be the case.

Based on Martian’s quick thinking and strong decision-making skills shown at the end of The Agency episode 2, it became clear why Henry and Bosko needed him back in London to help with the Coyote situation. Martian orchestrates the line of questioning for a CIA operative in Russia named Alexei who tries to escape to America. Martian eventually loses his patience, grabbing a ski mask and interrogating Alexei face to face and breaking him by naming off a list of “Russian intelligence officers” who are actually characters in Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel War and Peace. Because Alexei “confirmed” these fictional characters as Russian operatives, Martian discovered that he was actually not a Russian double agent.

Martian Has A Daughter In London & Is In A Compromising Relationship With Sami Zahir

These are the only two people Martian loves in The Agency

Outside of his work obligations with the CIA, Martian lives an isolated life but is able to have contact with his daughter when he returns from Ethiopia, who visits him in London. Based on their dialogue in a few short scenes, it appears that Martian and the mother of his daughter are separated. Martian has been unable to be much of a father considering he has spent the majority of a half-decade in Ethiopia undercover. He could also be putting his family at risk if his true identity were ever compromised. The greatest risk to Martian, however, is Sami Zahir. Martian discovers that she lied about the real reason why she was in London in the final scenes of The Agency episode 2.

The Agency is a 2024 espionage thriller following covert CIA agent Martian, who is recalled to London Station, disrupting his undercover life. As a former romance rekindles, Martian’s career and true identity are jeopardized, leading him into a high-stakes world of international intrigue and deception.

Cast

Jeffrey Wright , Michael Fassbender , Jodie Turner-Smith , Saura Lightfoot Leon , Katherine Waterston , John Magaro , Alex Reznik , Harriet Sansom Harris , India Fowler , Reza Brojerdi , Richard Gere

Character(s)

Henry , Martian , Samia Zahir , Danny , Naomi , Owen , Coyote , Dr Blake , Poppy , Reza , Bosko

Release Date

November 29, 2024

Seasons

1

Network

Paramount+ with Showtime

Directors

Joe Wright

Producers

Bob Yari , David Glasser , David Hutkin , George Clooney , Grant Heslov , Jez Butterworth , Michael Fassbender , Ron Burkle , Pascal Breton , John-Henry Butterworth , Nina L. Diaz , Grant Heslov

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