Boring lives heat up

McClatchy Newspapers

There’s a startling revelation at the heart of “Undercovers,” the new espionage drama from NBC: Even very pretty people can lead boring love lives.

In tonight’s frothy opener, we meet Steven and Samantha Bloom (Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw). They run a small catering company, and despite being jaw-droppingly gorgeous, their marriage is on idle.

While attending a wedding, she gazes forlornly upon the newlyweds and says, “I can’t remember the last time we danced.” Later, in bed, he admits they are “so overdue” for sex. But they eschew the carnal gymnastics in order to cop some Z’s.

But have a little faith, help is on the way. As it turns out, the Blooms were two of the best spies the CIA ever had — until they fell in love five years ago and retired. But now, an agency bigwig (Gerald McRaney) wants to reactivate them for a vital overseas mission.

The Blooms reluctantly agree to go back on duty and before you know it, they’re blowing things up, kicking bad-guy butt and engaging in something called “sexpionage.” Of course, it’s a major rush — one that rekindles that old romantic sizzle. Who knew spy work could be a form of Viagra?

The series comes to us from super-producer J.J. Abrams, who has dabbled in this genre before. But “Undercovers” is more “Hart to Hart” than “Alias” and that’s good news for viewers seeking pure wish-fulfillment escapism without all the mind-aching mythology.

The pilot episode isn’t a total knockout, coming off as a tad bland and safe.

Although Abrams does enough to hold our interest, it feels like he’s let up on the gas pedal. The action sequences aren’t gasp-inducing and the romance is undercooked. Kodjoe and Mbatha-Raw are, indeed, very appealing.