The Copenhagen Test Showrunners Explain How the Show Deconstructs Typical Linear Storytelling

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I was chatting with the creators of the new Peacock series, The Copenhagen Test, at New York Comic Con, and they were really hinting at what sets it apart from other spy shows. They explained that, starring Simu Liu – you probably know him as Shang-Chi and are hoping for more from him – this series isn’t going to be your typical thriller. They were careful not to give too much away, but they definitely made it sound like it’s going to be something fresh and different.

Thomas Brandon, the creator, co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer of the show, explained that while many spy stories focus on who to trust, The Copenhagen Test takes that a step further by asking how you can actually know who is trustworthy.

Most spy shows focus on who you can trust, which often leads to a dark and pessimistic tone. We wanted to take a different approach with our show. Instead of simply asking ‘who do you trust?’, we’re asking ‘how do you know?’ – really digging into the process of verifying information and building trust.

Peacock’s new spy series explores a fascinating premise: a spy named Alexander Hale has his mind hacked, allowing others complete access to his senses and experiences.

After discovering the hack, Alexander felt like he was living in a manufactured reality, similar to the movie The Truman Show. He carefully controlled what information he allowed his opponents to access, only revealing what he and his organization wanted them to know.

Brandon said the idea came to him after his wife’s laptop was hacked. He started thinking about what could be even worse than having your technology compromised, and who would be most affected by it.

Simply having someone who’s been hacked isn’t the key – what’s fascinating is their ability to prove it’s them. Then, everyone around them creates a false reality, almost like ‘The Truman Show,’ and the real challenge becomes observing what they notice, what they’re reacting to, and understanding why.

The trailer for The Copenhagen Test, a new series coming to Peacock on December 27th, was revealed at New York Comic Con. The show features Liu, along with Melissa Barrera, Sinclair Daniel, Brian D’Arcy James, Mark O’Brien, and Kathleen Chalfant.

How The Copenhagen Test Keeps Viewers In Suspense

To build suspense, the show’s creators deliberately moved away from the traditional, straightforward way stories are usually told on TV—even mystery shows. Brandon pointed out that while “our brains are naturally inclined to understand things as narratives,” in reality, “life doesn’t follow a neat story structure.”

Our brains naturally understand information better when it’s presented as a story, but real life isn’t actually a narrative. This leads us to create our own stories to make sense of things, and that’s exactly what the show is about – Alexander uses his concepts to craft stories for the audience.

Jennifer Yale, a co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer, explained that their goal was to take the audience on Alexander’s journey as he moved between reality and illusion. This focus allowed them to tell the story in a unique and immersive way.

She added that “at the heart” of their goals was “making sure that it was very human:”

Our main goal was to connect the audience with Alexander’s journey. We wanted them to experience the story alongside him, sometimes understanding things he didn’t, and other times being one step ahead. Mostly, though, we aimed for them to be with him, constantly wondering what was truly happening and if they could even trust their own perceptions. Ultimately, we focused on making the story feel deeply human, avoiding simple right-versus-wrong scenarios.

You can start watching The Copenhagen Test on Peacock beginning December 27th. For more from New York Comic Con, visit TopMob’s interviews about the new horror movie Black Phone 2.

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2025-10-23 04:35