The Agency is a CBS television drama that followed the inner-workings of the CIA. The series was created by Michael Frost Beckner and was executive produced by Michael Frost Beckner, Shaun Cassidy Productions and Radiant Productions in association with Universal Network Television and CBS Productions. It aired from September 27, 2001 until May 17, 2003, lasting two seasons. It featured unprecedented filming from the actual CIA headquarters. The show was controversial regarding its exploration of current international affairs and its treatment of the ethical conflicts inherent in intelligence work. Beckner's pilot script, written in March 2001, posited a re-invented CIA tasked with a "War on Terror" after Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist organization plots a lethal attack on the west. The pilot was to premiere at CIA Headquarters on September 18, 2001 and set to air on CBS September 21, 2001, however, the actual 9/11 attacks convinced the network to hold the pilot and instead air a later episode. That first episode was aired later as the third episode of the first season. The September 11, 2001 terrorist events changed the way Americans viewed topical entertainment and "The Agency", at the time, was one of the most topical offering on network television. The producers of the series quickly responded to this new American perspective on world affairs, but CBS chose to cancel the show shortly after the second season's final episode.
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In many ways _The Agency_ is pretty typical of its time. But it got then overtaken by events in real life. The show was supposed to air in late September 2011 but the 9/11 events changed not only the running order but the actual content itself. They re-wrote it on the fly which let to Ronny Cox's charcacter been taken out and everything focussing more on terrorism. Watching this now it may feel a bit dated and even tiring because many shows since then have used this story lines. But I guess this can be considered the first show doing it, being so close to the attacks. Of course, this being a US show, comes with the expected phrases and patriotism. But, again, I must say they managed this rather well and even had characters questioning what was been done and asking for the morals. Yes, in the end they all followed suit. The characters were well crafted and played equally well by there respective actors. They all had some background to give them depth and I think had this show gone on there could have been a lot of interesting angles. I like the first season more because in the second they changed some cast and it got a different dynamic. Plus they added a thing that writers seem to be drawn to like a bee to honey and that was absolutely unnessessary: [spoiler] a romance/love story [/spoiler]. All together not a waste of time to watch this but notice it ends on a cliffhanger and there is no closure. I am sure they wanted to continue but CBS thought different.