'The Agency' Adds More to "Central Intelligence"

It's challenging to stay positive in today's entertainment climate. Between the industry's streaming war hangover, budget cuts stemming from being on the backside of Peak TV, and all the other current unpleasantness, it's easy to blame those being decimated by the industry's migration to online streaming for their own demise. However, no company has made it harder to be sympathetic than Paramount Global, which has made some ugly choices to ensure the merger with Skydance is completed by the end of 2025. While most observers are currently wringing their hands over the tarnish to the CBS brand, they should perhaps also consider how it will affect Paramount+.

Paramount+ is unlikely to remain a viable concern in its current iteration for much longer; the new ownership will likely take action, although whether that involves shutting it down, selling it, or merging with a partner remains to be seen. However, it does have several hit shows which come via the broadcast network CBS, including Watson. Moreover, it has now managed to launch two ratings magnets, MobLand and The Agency; despite critical panning, both have done very well for the streaming service.

MobLand has not yet announced if it will return, but The Agency will, now appended with Central Intelligence to help it fit in with CBS's CSIs, FBIs, and NCISes. It's also adding six new faces to the cast who deserve for this show to continue to be a hit, something that will be difficult if its parent company continues to risk its existence to placate the unappeasable.