Skip to content
MovieCove
The Code

The Code

2014–2016Ended2 seasons12 episodes~54 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

The Code is a drama series which tells tells the story of two brothers who discover some information that those at the highest levels of political power are determined to keep secret.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Code?

The Code earns 2 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Unsettling.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is The Code worth watching?

The Code's Midcredits score is the 69th percentile of all shows, from 4.7K ratings across 2 sources. 81% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

69th percentile

Better received than 69% of shows

66th percentile among Crime68th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)61st
Approval (how many liked it)74th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

73 /100

61st percentile of all shows

63rd percentile among Crime59th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

81% liked it

74th percentile of all shows

66th percentile among Crime73rd percentile among 2010s
81% rated it 7–1019% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

66th percentile

4.6K ratings across platforms

46th percentile among Crime69th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 12% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the series is a political thriller centered on a journalist and his autistic hacker brother uncovering government corruption.

Fans praised

  • Compelling brotherly relationship between journalist Ned and autistic genius Jesse
  • Gripping political thriller with intelligent plot and genuine tension
  • Strong performances from cast, especially Ashley Zukerman and Dan Spielman

Detractors panned

  • Implausible plot and repetitive character mistakes undermine credibility
  • Lazy writing with cardboard villains and illogical conflicts
  • Overrated hacking clichés and frustrating slow pacing

What stands out

Acting78

Praised for strong performances, especially Zukerman and Spielman; some detractors found acting tiresome

Atmosphere72

Bleak outback and shadowy Canberra setting praised for immersion

TensionDivisive65

Competent build-up; detractors found tension undermined by implausibility

CharactersDivisive60

Brotherly bond praised; villains and some side characters called cardboard or clichéd

OriginalityDivisive60

Fresh Australian political thriller vs. derivative of Scandinavian noir and US shows

Emotional impactDivisive60

Brotherly bond and Jesse's condition evoke emotion; detractors found it forced

Plot and storyDivisive55

Intriguing conspiracy start but becomes implausible and drags; detractors cite repetitive mistakes

PacingDivisive50

Fast-paced and gripping initially; detractors and some fans found slow start or later drag

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2016 · 6 episodes

  • S2E1

    Episode 1

    Sep 1, 201660 min
  • S2E2

    Episode 2

    Sep 8, 201660 min
  • S2E3

    Episode 3

    Sep 15, 201660 min
  • S2E4

    Episode 4

    Sep 22, 201660 min
  • S2E5

    Episode 5

    Sep 29, 201660 min
  • S2E6

    Episode 6

    Oct 6, 201660 minFinale

Watch experience

What is The Code like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — a relentless watch that leaves you unsettled.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseDread
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Warm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedNew arc each season
ToneThe series takes its political thriller premise seriously, with a dark, moody atmosphere balanced by genuine warmth in the brotherly bond.
The rideSustained tension and a sense of dread from start to finish, with occasional quieter moments.
StructureThe story is told chronologically across serialized episodes with a conventional beginning, middle, and end.
Episode formatThe cover-up conspiracy is a continuous story across all episodes; each installment is a chapter.
Season formatTwo seasons each follow a self-contained arc within the overarching conspiracy, with the same core cast.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
UnsettlingThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves a lingering unease about institutional secrecy and the cost of truth, provoking reflection on government accountability.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Mystery
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% (this title) · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Investigation: A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).

8% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series is driven by two brothers investigating a government cover-up involving a remote accident and a secret research project, fitting the mystery archetype with an investigative pursuit of the truth.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfTruthIdeas
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5% (this title): Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% (this title) · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Ideas

Truth · 6% of showsJustice · 14% of showsFamily bonds
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series centers on exposing hidden truths and seeking justice, while the brothers' relationship is tested and strengthened.
StanceThe series warns about the dangers of government corruption and the erosion of truth.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanRuralRealistic
Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score
SettingCanberra and a remote outback community in Australia
MusicLikely a tense, atmospheric score to underscore the conspiracy thriller elements.

Content guide

Is The Code okay for kids?

TV-MA

The Code is rated TV-MA. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at intense (61/100), language at severe (92/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (50/100) and frightening material at severe (83/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 9 other countries
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany18
  • France18
  • South Korea19
  • IndiaU/A 16+
  • MY18
  • PortugalNR
  • Spain18
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 65%
Profanity
Severe
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Severe
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (34 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The Code have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Code?

Cast

Dan Spielman
as Ned Banks
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ashley Zukerman
as Jesse Banks
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Adele Perovic
as Hani Parande
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Michael Denkha
as Nasim Parande
Victoria Haralabidou
as Alilah Parande
Adam Garcia
as Perry Benson
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Sigrid Thornton
as Lara Dixon
Chelsie Preston Crayford
as Sophie Walsh
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Robyn Malcolm
as Marina Baxter
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Paul Tassone
as Andy King
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

More like this

What are shows like The Code?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The Code include Sons of Anarchy (2008), L.A.'s Finest (2019) and The Bay (2019).

Like this, but

Explore by

What other shows share a tag with The Code?

20 other shows share the rarest tag below, follows: hacker. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.