9.542 minSeason 1 • Episode 8
LatestDespite the task force being fully convinced of Ames' guilt, Sandy seeks more definitive proof to convince the Justice Department to proceed with their own investigation. As the hunt closes in on Ames, Sandy's commitment to the job pushes her husband's patience and commitment to the brink. After Ames is finally caught and brought to justice, he mulls over a major decision--to go down defiantly or to confess and protect his wife and child.
1985 serves as the backdrop to the final showdown of the Cold War when Sandy and her partner Jeanne Vertefeuille vowed to find the mole that would turn out to be the most notorious traitor in US history, Aldrich Ames. Sandy is in a race against time to save the Soviet intelligence officers from being caught and killed. Living her own double life at home, this beautiful wife and mother vowed to stop at nothing until she uncovered the truth.
Acting
Paul Rhys makes Ames terrifyingly ordinary — the monster next door.
Writing
No car chases, just devastating scenes of colleagues realizing they're doomed.
Production
Period-perfect beige offices that somehow feel claustrophobic.
Jodie Whittaker
Sandy Grimes
Paul Rhys
Aldrich Ames
Harriet Walter
Jeanne Vertefeuille
Ralph Brown
Wallace Austin
Christina Cole
Louisa Tilton
Stuart Milligan
Arthur O'Neill
Lex Shrapnel
Mitch Weaver
Catalina Denis
Rosario Ames
John Lynch
Vitaly Yurchenko
Akie Kotabe
Eric D'Amaro
Amelia Clarkson
Kelly Grimes
Julian Ovenden
Gary Grimes
Goran Kostić
Victor Cherkashin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real Sandy Grimes co-wrote the book this is based on and consulted on set — she had final say on which earrings Jodie Whittaker wore.
This aired on ABC in 2014 and was promptly buried; allegedly network execs wanted more 'James Bond energy' and less filing cabinets.
US
