Counterpart

Howard Silk is a modest, bookish employee at a mysterious United Nations division who has long swallowed regret and routine. His humdrum life shifts when he learns the agency guards a doorway to a parallel world, and that the crossing creates dangerous political stakes. As Howard meets an alternate version of himself and others who exist in doubled roles, loyalties blur and secrets come to light. The show unfolds as a slow-burning spy drama with science fiction at its core, focused on how identity, allegiance, and past choices shape people when two realities collide, without giving away the fates that follow.

Premiered in 2017 on Starz, Counterpart was created by Justin Marks and stars J.K. Simmons, Nazanin Boniadi, Harry Lloyd, Olivia Williams, and Sara Serraiocco. The production leaned into precise period and spy-thriller aesthetics, and the pilot had cinematic ambitions that set the series tone.

The series attracted awards attention, earning nominations from critics groups and craft organizations, with particular notice for J.K. Simmons' attempt at playing distinct versions of his character, and for its production and writing. It wasn't a sweep at major televised awards, but it often appeared in critics' year-end lists and genre ballots.

Counterpart left a noticeable mark on genre TV, remembered for its restrained, almost clinical atmosphere and for showcasing an actor in two intertwined roles. Conversations among fans and reviewers highlighted the show's fusion of espionage procedural elements with speculative fiction, and it prompted comparisons to other works that mix identity puzzles with political intrigue.

Critics generally responded well, praising strong performances, meticulous plotting, and the moral complexity threaded through episodes. Viewers gave it a solid average score around 7.44 out of 10, reflecting appreciation for its thoughtful pacing, thematic focus on identity and regret, and its willingness to keep stakes psychological as much as physical.