From SRP author Tracy Cooper-Posey:
Some stories cling to you.
Years—literal years after I first watched X Company (I found the entry in my journal this morning), I still remember entire episodes, sharp scenes, aching betrayals, and characters so vivid I can still hear their voices. That’s not hyperbole. That’s rare, honest-to-goodness storytelling that deserves more attention than it ever got.
If you haven’t heard of it (and you’re not Canadian), that’s forgivable. It’s a CBC production, after all, and Canadian shows about spies set in World War II aren’t exactly Netflix front page fodder. But X Company? It should be.
What Is X Company?
At first glance, it might look like another war drama. There’s the period setting, the uniforms, the serious faces, and yes, a rosy-cheeked promo poster that lies. Ignore it. Push past it. That pastel packaging hides something dark, clever, and gut-wrenching.
The show centers around Camp X, the real-life top-secret spy training facility on Lake Ontario’s shores, where Canada trained agents for the Allied war effort. The series follows five young recruits as they parachute behind enemy lines into occupied France.
It’s smart. It’s intense. It’s heart-breaking in the way only stories about spies and war can be—filled with moral grey zones, impossible choices, and the constant, relentless tension of “What if we’re caught?”
The Drama Is There—But So Is the Romance
I’m baffled by the idea I’ve heard lately that espionage stories aren’t “romantic.”
Have we watched the same genre? Because espionage is made for romantic tension. High stakes. Secrets. Desperate decisions. The ticking clock. The longing glance that might be the last. It’s rich soil for emotional upheaval and oh-so-human connection.
X Company plays that card beautifully. The central partnership between the two leads practically aches with unspoken affection and unfulfilled longing. Would they have made a great couple? Absolutely. Do they? Well, I won’t spoil that.
But if you’re into romantic thrillers, this show scratches that itch. It does it quietly, subtly—no melodrama, just raw, real chemistry made all the more poignant because it has to simmer in the background while the world explodes around them.
And the Germans? Fascinating.
Credit where it’s due: the German characters aren’t one-dimensional villains. They are layered, complex, even sympathetic in places—just as torn, just as trapped. The show doesn’t flinch from horror or humanity, and it’s better for it.
Season Three’s finale? Hold onto your heart. That’s all I’ll say.
Where to Watch
If you’re Canadian, X Company is available on CBC Gem. If you’re not, a VPN can help you access it, or you can purchase the series on platforms like Apple TV or Google Play. U.S. viewers—Apple TV has you covered.
And truly, it’s worth the effort.
A Genre That Still Thrills
Romantic thrillers—especially ones steeped in history—deserve more space. X Company proves how powerful the genre can be when it’s done well. If you love Dead Again, Hunting the Kobra, or Vistaria Has Fallen, or any of my other romantic thrillers, and that twist of emotion in a high-drama setting, you’ll find echoes of it here.
So don’t let the pastel poster fool you. This is not a soft, safe drama.
This is a brutal, brilliant, beautiful story.
And I still miss those characters.
Tracy Cooper-Posey
SRP Author
