SGAG Logo

SPY GAME

spy_game_tv_sg
 
Full Name: Lorne Cash and Max London
Series Name: Spy Game
Nationality: American
Organization: E.C.H.O.
Occupation Agent

Creator: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, John McNamara
Time Span: 1997 - 1997

ABOUT THE SERIES

Lorne Cash and Maxine 'Max' London are agents of E.C.H.O.

That interesting acronym for an intelligence organization stands for the Emergency Count Hostilities Organization. As soon to be an ECHO agent Cash admits to London when she approaches him to help in an urgent matter, "That's catchy." She does not seem to appreciate or share his amusement with the comment but then again, she will be by far the more serious of the two when they eventually start working together.

When we first meet both of these agents, Cash is happily no longer working in the Intelligence business and is the proud owner of a very nice drinking establishment (okay, he calls it a bar) named Alibi. We learn early that his departure from his previous career as a spy, and apparently it was an eventful one despite his relatively still young age, was not voluntary but rather was the result of the end of the Cold War and thus the end of people like him. He shouldn't be called bitter about his dismissal but neither is he happy to be approached again.

London is already a member of ECHO and has been for some time and clearly enjoys her being out in the field and in the action as much as Cash pretends he is quite pleased to be long out of it. She has considerable experience in numerous activities which make her worthy of being out in the field, including a stint in the military, but she has nowhere nearly as much field training or knowledge as Cash. She is highly skilled with all manner of technologies, she is very deadly when it comes to martial arts, is practically fearless in stressful situations, and has a photographic memory. Her boss at ECHO teases she memorizes all sorts of things, "Encyclopedias, classified files, cookbooks" to which London admits, "It helps me relax."

The headquarters ECHO has in the city has a cool entryway at the end of a long alley. It is a brick wall which will only open when an approaching vehicle exceeds 100 mph. Luckily there is a grappling hook, ala aircraft carrier landings, to stop entering cars, assuming they have the proper attachment.

Meeting the head of ECHO, a man named Micah Simms whom Cash knows well enough to greet with his first name, Cash expressed his curiosity about ECHO with "Didn't we all get downsized? You must have seen it. It was in all the newspapers. The end of the Cold War. All the spies got canned. The budget got balanced. No more East. No more West. [indicating the ECHO headquarters] No more big rooms full of cool stuff."

That is when Simms explains that ECHO was created under Presidential order (and financing) because with the layoffs that Cash mentioned, a lot of now unemployed former agents were putting their talents and experience on the free market. Cash is needed to help because some of those disgruntled ex-operatives have a lot of anger and a lot of skill at expressing it.

Oh, one other interesting fact. While it did not keep Cash from getting canned when the big layoffs happened, he does seem to be quite friendly with the sitting President, good enough to have him on speed dial.

Good Line:

Said to Simms by Cash, "I tell you, Micah. I have a lot of feelings. I just can't think of one that's any of your business."

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:13
First Appearance:1997
Last Appearance:1997
Network:ABC

REGULAR CAST
Lindin AshbyLorne Cash [ 1 ]
Allison SmithMaxine "Max" London [ 1 ]
Keith SzarabajkaShank [ 1 ]
Bruce McCartyMicah Simms [ 1 ]

MY COMMENTS

As seems the case with most spy series on television in the 90's - 10's, this one did not last long. I remember when I watched it I thought that was likely going to be the case. Mind you, I enjoyed it but I did not think it had the legs to hang around. It didn't and I was right but I still felt low when it disappeared.

The chemistry between Cash and London was a good one and having a supporting character like Shank, played by the always entertaining Keith Szarabajka (loved him as a supporting actor in The Equalizer). The leader of ECHO was a pompous poop-head but then again, he was supposed to be so I guess the actor did a good job.

Re-watching these episodes now as I enter this series into the compendium, I can see again why it did not last. And I can again feel low that it didn't.

GRADE

My Grade: B-

YOUR OPINIONS

Be the first to leave your own comments about this series.

Tell us what you think of the series. Give your grade and comments.

Your Grade:
Your Comments:

To give your opinion, you must be logged in.

Sign In

Register
Disclaimer
SpyGuysAndGals is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, and links with the Buy from Amazon button are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.