by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
The Veil follows MI6 agent Imogen (Elisabeth Moss) as she is sent on a mission at a refugee camp. There, she encounters Adilah (Yumna Marwan), a potentially high-ranking member of ISIS who may be the key to preventing an attack. In partnership with French and U.S. authorities, Imogen tries to turn Adilah into an asset so she can save countless lives, while also potentially saving her own humanity in the process.
This miniseries hinges on Moss, and boy, does she deliver. I’ve never seen her in a role that is so action-heavy before. She’s already one of Hollywood’s most talented performers, so I like the range she shows in this. It’s another trick that she has up her sleeve for future roles. In addition, she acts circle around everyone. The Veil wouldn’t work without Moss, who commits and is the lynchpin that keeps the story together. Imogen as a character is also fascinating because she’s constantly changing. As an MI6 agent, she assumes a different identity for each mission she goes on. This type of spy always intrigues me, because someone who constantly changes their identity will eventually lose their sense of self. As the story progresses, we learn more about Imogen, which makes her character more murky.
In addition to Imogen, Adilah is just as compelling a character to follow. The two of them together are the centerpiece of this series, because the dynamic they have with one another yields some hard conversations and truths about life for two very different types of people. From a performance side, Marwan is outstanding. Individually, she makes the most of her chance to leave her mark on The Veil. Her scenes, and story arc as a whole, cause viewers to have several different emotions. Your heart breaks when you learn about her backstory, but she keeps you guessing with her chess-like moves with Imogen.
Where The Veil loses steam is with the story. There are eight episodes and it doesn’t feel like enough. Choices regarding the show’s focus detract from the initial story. The A story is solid, as it provides a great mystery along with stakes, but the B story just isn’t for me. The focus shifts from Adilah and Imogen’s relationship to Imogen individually, and it’s a mistake. Because of this, the ending turns out a little flat and uneven.
I liked The Veil, but it could have been better had the story been more sharp. Moss and Marwan are amazing, and they both manage to find ways to stand out, both individually and together. The secondary stories, coupled with an odd ending, lower what could have been a great miniseries and another amazing addition to FX’s portfolio of miniseries triumphs. However, the mystery and tension of the primary story and Moss’ commitment salvage this enough to make it worth a watch.
Rating: Low Side of Liked It
The Veil is currently streaming on Hulu
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