Online Series Review: ‘Spy/Master’: Ruthless yet Fascinating Romanian Spycraft

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Not Rated | 6 episodes | Thriller, Spy Drama | May 19, 2023

Romania’s Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu refused to participate in the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. That should probably count for something but, in general, he was just standoffish enough to annoy Moscow, but not sufficiently independent to prompt any action. He was basically the paranoid psychopathic equivalent of Yugoslavia’s Marshal Tito.

Nevertheless, it would make sense that the KGB would want to keep close eyes on Ceausescu (Claudiu Bleont) and his Lady Macbeth-like wife, Elena (Elvira Deatcu). That was the job of Victor Godeanu (Alec Secareunu), the fictional head of Romanian counter-intelligence and a KGB mole. As the dangers of exposure grow, Godeanu requests asylum from the United States rather than his Soviet masters, in writer-creators Adina Sadeanu and Kirsten Peters’ six-episode “Spy/Master.”

Joe Bendel
Joe Bendel
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Joe Bendel writes about independent film and lives in New York City. To read his most recent articles, visit JBSpins.blogspot.com
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