In a world where truth and falsehood intertwine, spies exist like ghosts. No one knows who they are, yet they might determine the outcome of a war.
And the The Spy recommended today is just that explosive. Adapted from a true story, it tells the legendary infiltration tale of agent Eli Cohen...
He came this close to actually becoming Syria's Deputy Minister of Defense...
Produced by Netflix, the series has 6 episodes and currently holds an 8.4 rating on Douban.
The story hits you like a slap in the face from the start: in a dimly lit cell, a man is writing a letter. The camera pans over his blood-stained fingers, marks left by torture.
He lifts the pen, wanting to write his name, but suddenly pauses—having been undercover for so long, he's almost forgotten his own name...
Then, a heart-pounding flashback begins.
Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, the son of Jewish immigrants. From a young age, he was exceptionally intelligent with an extraordinary memory and remarkable language skills. He spoke not only Hebrew but also fluent Arabic, French, and English, even mastering dialects effortlessly.
He was both smart and emotionally intelligent, with incredibly strong social skills.
After World War II, Cohen's family moved to Israel.
Initially, he worked as a translator for the Ministry of Defense, then transferred to a labor union company as an accountant, living an ordinary life—marrying, having children, everything seeming calm and uneventful.
But in reality, he had long been targeted by Mossad...
After failing a trial training, Cohen wasn't abandoned.
Instead, due to his exceptional language abilities, social skills, and psychological resilience, he was secretly recalled, received agent training, and was then given a new identity: Kamal Tahat, an Argentinean wealthy businessman, orphaned, loyal to Arab nationalism, and full of revolutionary passion.
From then on, he was no longer Eli Cohen, but Kamal, moving through Arab social circles.
His first stop was Argentina.
He infiltrated the local Syrian expatriate community, using money, alcohol, and enthusiasm to break into the inner circle, and even befriended General Hafiz, the Syrian ambassador to Argentina.
With a letter of recommendation, Cohen successfully entered Syria, becoming a popular patriotic businessman.
In Syria, he proceeded step by step—from befriending military officers to infiltrating the highest levels of government.
He not only became a trusted confidant of the president but also swore brotherhood with the commander-in-chief's nephew. He even entered military restricted areas, witnessed Syria's latest weapons deployments firsthand, and transmitted all this intelligence back to Israel.
One scene is particularly spine-chilling: under the pretext of hosting a party for Hafiz, he invited the entire top echelon of Syria's political circle to his rooftop, which just so happened to overlook the entire military defense zone...
What's even more astonishing is that after Hafiz became president, he actually proposed appointing Cohen as Deputy Minister of Defense.
When Mossad heard this, they almost wept with joy—who would believe a spy could reach such heights?
But even myths come to an end.
The Syrian military suddenly intensified radio surveillance, and during one intelligence transmission, Cohen was precisely located.
He was arrested on the spot, not even having time to swallow the poison capsule he had hidden on him...
After being captured, Cohen refused to reveal any information about Mossad, and none of the other undercover agents were implicated.
He admitted to being a spy but remained calm throughout.
Israel pulled out almost all diplomatic stops to rescue him: pleading with various countries, offering prisoner exchanges, pressuring the United Nations. But Syria insisted on sentencing him to death.
He was ultimately publicly hanged at dawn, his body displayed for six hours.
The Spy has no unnecessary fluff. The plot moves at a rapid pace, with no exaggerated filters: the streets of Syria, Mossad headquarters, the flickering radio in the dark... every detail is so realistic it feels like a documentary—brutal yet restrained.
The most remarkable thing is:
This is not fiction, but real history.
A Jewish spy who nearly became Syria's Deputy Minister of Defense, yet ended up hanging in a square at dawn....
This 6-episode series is far more shocking than many spy dramas with dozens of episodes.
After watching, there's only one thought:
Infiltration is never a synonym for romance. It's a sacrifice so real it makes your blood run cold.
