The Agency Season 1 Ending Explained: What Richardson’s Shocking Offer Means For Martian & The CIA

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Agency season finale.

The season 1 finale of The Agency leaves Michael Fassbender's Martian in the crosshairs of a supposed ally. Following the botched CIA recruitment of Samia in The Agency episode 8, which leads to Martian's bold endgame plan in The Agency episode 9, Martian shockingly gets turned by the unsuspecting yet cunning James Richardson of MI5. The Agency episode 10, aptly titled "Overtaken by Events", follows the joint storylines of Martian's desperate chase to rescue Samia from a Sudanese black site prison and the CIA's final chance to extract compromised Agent Coyote from Russian-occupied Ukraine en route to Moscow.

The Agency season 1 finale reveals that Robinshaw, who had been questioning Martian in previous episodes, is a subordinate of Richardson at MI5. Meanwhile, Danny finally arrives in Tehran and faces her first real-world test from an Iranian interrogator the second she steps off her flight. A workplace romance develops between Blair and Owen after the latter identifies Coyote in a clutch moment. Both General Volchok and Deputy Defense Minister Chekhov face their demise as the CIA lands a major victory, extracting both Coyote and two of the three Felix operatives in one swift effort. Martian returns to the Fishbowl a hero with a brand-new secret to hide.

Why Richardson Offers To Rescue Samia In Exchange For Martian's Allegiance

Martian trades his integrity and confidence at the CIA to save Samia's life

A shocking development in The Agency episode 10 reveals that MI5 agent and supposed ally James Richardson has been pulling strings behind Martian's back without the knowledge of the CIA. Richardson, who has mostly been a supporting character until this point, initially teases Martian that he can help him get Samia back from the Sudanese prison and black site Kober, where she is being held captive, and likely has days to live. Martian's love for Samia fueled him throughout The Agency season 1 and inspired him to make many rogue decisions. Richardson's offer was the only chance to save Samia, which is why Martian agreed, only to find out Richardson was bluffing.

As Martian races back on his motorcycle to help Owen and the CIA finally bring Agent Coyote home, a car crashes into him at an intersection, nearly killing him. It's revealed that Richardson had orchestrated the crash, which led to Martian meeting Robinshaw, an MI5 agent, who interrogates him about Samia and his "Paul Lewis" identity. While Richardson is technically an ally, he is reminding Martian, and by extension the CIA, that they are on his turf in London. He leverages the one thing he knows will make Martian crack – Samia – to turn him into a loyal MI5 asset, which will require him to leak confidential CIA intel in the future.

The Real Reason Richardson Wants Martian To Become A CIA & MI5 Double Agent

Richardson didn't like that the CIA was keeping secrets on his home turf

Michael Fassbender in a forest, wearing a thin black jacket in The Agency

Earlier in The Agency season 1, Richardson shows up announced at the CIA's headquarters in London, known as "The Fishbowl". He bluntly asks Henry why the CIA didn't disclose the information about the secret meeting between Sudanese and Chinese officials that was taking place in London. Henry cleverly responds that he figured that MI5 was already on top of it. Richardson sees this as an unsettling lack of transparency.

Martian previously asked Bosko and the CIA for help rescuing Samia. Bosko told Martian that Samia "wasn't even a pawn" and was not worth the time or resources. While friendly, Richardson represents the interests of the United Kingdom. Turning Martian into a double agent secures transparency between MI5 and the CIA, which should have happened naturally but instead has to be done covertly.

How Martian Saved Operation Felix & Secured Agent Coyote

Martian's quick thinking ensured his plan would work despite changing circumstances

Owen Taylor (John Magaro) in an elevator with a woman in The Agency

Martian proves his immense value to the CIA by not only devising the plan to extract Coyote with the help of Felix operatives but revising it in real time after a change of circumstances. The initial plan was to establish the kill zone at the actual clinic where Charlie and the two Ukrainian ops (Felix) were undercover. Coyote's extraction was set to take place during his handoff between the politically ambitious General Volchok and Russian Deputy Defense Minister Chekhov. This would have put Coyote on a fast track to Moscow.

Right before his motorcycle crash, Martian tells Owen to move the kill zone up 300 meters after discovering that Volchok had more troops than anticipated. Rather than ambushing the clinic, the U.S. rescue team would engage using guerilla tactics, which is ultimately what ends up happening. Martian's quick thinking and Owen's positive ID on Coyote led to a swift operation, killing Volchok and dozens of Russian troops. The "overtaking circumstances" involved Charlie and another Felix op blowing up Chekhov's helicopter, which led to their rescue along with Coyote. This cemented a major victory for Martian, Owen, Henry (Charlie's brother-in-law), and the CIA.

Why Sasha Shot Russian Defense Minister Chekhov

Operation Felix was personal for Sasha

Richard Gere is in his office in The Agency season 1

Sasha, a Ukrainian operative, could not resist the temptation to take a shot at Minister Chekhov, which was the initial top-secret objective of Operation Felix. He grabs a concealed gun in a bathroom at the clinic and shoots Chekhov, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, in the side, just below his right armpit. Interestingly, Sasha didn't aim for Chekhov's head, which left a chance that he could still have survived. Sasha makes a break for it but he's heavily outnumbered and is killed by Russian soldiers.

Sasha had known people who died in Ukraine by Chekhov's command, which is why Sasha broke protocol and took his shot when he had the chance. Charlie and the other Ukrainian op finished the job by setting off a grenade in the helicopter. Fortunately, their covers weren't blown and they ultimately accomplished Operation Felix's main objective, even though it was much messier than they had planned.

Is Danny Actually Safe With Professor Reza In Tehran?

She was interrogated instantly but was well-prepared

A young student smiling in The Agency season 1

Danny finally enters the field on her first undercover operation by setting foot in Tehran in The Agency season 1 finale. After grinding her way into earning a prestigious scholarship from Professor Reza, which was the integral first step to her mission, Danny is instantly intercepted and interrogated by an Iranian intelligence officer who holds her for hours. Based on her training with Edward in previous episodes, Danny had been well-prepared for this interrogation, which Henry points out was mostly performative, since she was taken in broad daylight by armed soldiers. Danny passes her first test and will start gathering intel on Iranian nuclear operations.

What To Expect In The Agency Season 2

Martian should get Samia back at a great cost

Most of The Agency season 1 cast should return for season 2, which was announced by Paramount and Showtime in December 2024 soon after its premiere. All signs point to Martian accepting Richardson's offer to leak CIA intel to MI5, which means Samia should be in safe hands at the start of season 2. Once Samia is safe, presumably back in London, Osman may come back into play after being absent in the season 1 finale. There's also Samia's husband to consider but with MI5's help, Samia appears to be more protected than ever.

Danny will pursue her mission in Tehran and start sending intel back to the CIA. Owen is likely in line for a promotion, while Henry, Bosko, and Naomi should still be in the rotation of solid supporting characters. Not much is known about Poppy and what direction her story will take besides offering some grounded moments for Martian's character. One character to keep an eye on in The Agency season 2 is Dr. Blake, who already seems suspicious of Martian in the season 1 finale and could be the one who exposes his new MI5 allegiance.