Sacha Baron Cohen Leads a Double Life in Netflix's The Spy

Sacha Baron Cohen has made a career out of playing outlandish characters with such unflinching, deadpan commitment, that the first time you watch the trailer for Netflix's The Spy you can't help but wait for an off-color comment or arched eyebrow to let you know you've been conned, but the dramatic espionage series from Gideon Raff (Homeland) is playing it completely straight. 

SERIES PREMIERE: Sacha Baron Cohen stars in the six-part series The Spy, which tells the true story of Eli Cohen, a former Israeli clerk who was recruited by the Mossad in the 1960s and trained to act as a spy in the Syrian government. The information he gathered was believed to play an important role in Israel's success in the Six-Day War in 1967. Streaming on Netflix

NEW EPISODE: Netflix quietly dropped the first episode of the newest season of The Great British Baking Show last Friday. In very unNetflix style, the streamer will release fresh installments weekly, just four days after they debut in the UK.  (Not to worry: Netflix assured subscribers this week that it's sticking with its usual binge-friendly release model for other shows.) Streaming on Netflix

SEASON PREMIERE: The Spanish teen thriller Élite returns for a second season of potboiling drama and prolific bed-hopping. Whether you're new to the series or already a fan, here's what you need to know before sitting down to watch the new season. Streaming on Netflix

SEASON FINALE: The first season of Hulu's monthly Horror series Into the Dark, drops its last feature-length episode tonight. In the latest installment, entitled Pure, three teen girls take part in a secret ritual, only to begin seeing a supernatural demon. The show's second season is set to begin in October. Streaming on Hulu

SERIES PREMIERE: While many couples may see Friday night as a good time to Netflix and chill, Showtime is betting some will want to watch the documentary series Couples Therapy, in which real couples going through real rough patches open their therapy sessions up for the world to see. To hits credit, te show does appear to capture some successful breathrough moments. 10:00 PM ET on Showtime

SEASON DEBUT: The third season of Hip-Hop Evolution is debuting on Netflix. The next four episodes will pick up where Season 2 left off, interviewing influential performers, industry moguls, and DJs to chronicle the evolution of the genre. Streaming on Netflix

ALSO TONIGHT

• Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father embarks on a third season of travel adventure, as comedian Jack Whitehall brings his father Michael on a road trip across America. Watch the preview. Streaming on Netflix
• A Black Lady Sketch Show drops the curtain on its first season, but the show's post-apocalyptic charms have us already counting the days until its recently-announced Season 2 return. 11:00 PM ET on HBO
• Good Talk with Anthony Jeslenik gives comedian Anthony Jeselnik a chance to interview guests like Kristen Schael, Tog Notaro, Kumail Nanjiani, and Nick Kroll about life and the craft of comedy. 11:00 PM ET on Comedy Central
• The UnXplained, with host William Shatner, explores some of life's most baffling and bizarre true life phenomenon in its season finale. 10:00 PM ET on History Channel

Mike Attebery is Senior Editor at Primetimer and the author of seven mystery thrillers. Follow him on Twitter at @mikeattebery.