Episode 3 of The Copenhagen Test reveals the true cost of catching a hacker. The intelligence agency known as The Orphanage makes a devastating choice, forcing analyst Alexander Hale to participate in a mission he knows will get innocent people killed. Titled “False Flag,” this episode shows how far his superiors will go to protect their secrets and manipulate their own agents.
The episode, which became available for streaming on December 27, 2025, pushes the psychological thriller to a new level of tension. Characters are forced to bury their humanity to serve a “greater good,” leaving viewers to question who is really in control.
How Alexander Hale Became a Walking Intelligence Leak
Alexander Hale’s life is no longer his own. After discovering his brain has been hacked, everything he sees and hears is broadcast to an unknown enemy. The Orphanage knows about the breach but has decided to use Alexander as bait. They feed him false information, hoping to trace the signal back to the hacker. This turns Alexander into a walking intelligence leak. Every document he reads and every briefing he attends is potentially compromised.
The agency’s leaders, Moira and St. George, decide they must sacrifice a real operation to keep the hacker interested. They choose Operation Poseidon, a mission led by Alexander’s suspicious colleague, Cobb. Alexander is ordered to join Cobb’s team, knowing full well that the intelligence he learns will lead to its failure and the deaths of everyone involved. His job is to betray his own side while pretending to be a loyal agent.
“If the enemy receives no real information, they will become suspicious, kill Hale, and then flee. Sacrifices must be made for the greater good,” Moira explains to a concerned colleague.
The Heartbreaking Human Cost of Operation Poseidon
Operation Poseidon was designed to protect Hugo Klovach, a Slovakian politician running for president. The Orphanage and the CIA were working together to ensure his safe return to his home country. By making Alexander part of the team, the agency knowingly signs Klovach’s death warrant.
Alexander struggles with this moral burden. He knows innocent people will die because of him. To ensure he stays committed, operative Samantha Parker stages an elaborate manipulation. During a military parade, she arranges for Alexander to meet a grieving father who speaks proudly of his son’s meaningful death in service. This conversation, designed to frame sacrifice as noble, is a complete fabrication. The “father” was an actor hired by Parker. The moment works, and Alexander recommits to the mission, but the emotional cost is immense.
The operation ends in tragedy. Klovach arrives at a safe house with his family, who were not supposed to be there. An ambush follows, killing Klovach, his entire family, and his CIA security team. The Orphanage team watches the slaughter live on video feed from their headquarters. The room falls into a stunned, guilty silence.
The Web of Lies and Manipulation Grows Tighter
In the aftermath, the agency covers its tracks. Cobb, distraught and blaming himself, demands an internal review. Moira lies to him smoothly, claiming they suspected a leak within the CIA and that Alexander has a solid alibi. She points out that Alexander and Cobb were briefed in the same secure room and monitored for hours, making it impossible for Alexander to have sent the information. The blame is officially placed on “rogue CIA operatives,” and Cobb is warned to drop his investigation.
Meanwhile, Alexander’s personal relationships are also layers of deception. His former mentor, Victor, meets secretly with Schiff, Cobb’s uncle who works at the National Intelligence Office. Victor expresses worry that Alexander is too naive and may get himself killed. Schiff refuses to help, but the meeting suggests deeper, unseen alliances.
Alexander’s fake relationship with operative Michelle also reaches a turning point. She takes him to the basement of an old church, a place with no signal where they can talk freely. There, she admits she is required to report everything he says but promises to only share what he allows. In a moment of rare honesty, Alexander confesses his guilt. Michelle later reports that, despite his conflict, he remains committed to the mission.
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Enemy and the Personal Toll
The Orphanage’s technical analysis leads to a chilling conclusion. The enemy is not a rival government. They are tracking a lone wolf, a highly connected non-state actor who sells intelligence to the highest bidder, likely operating from somewhere in Southern or Eastern Europe. This makes the threat more unpredictable and dangerous.
The episode begins and ends with a powerful symbol: a weathered notebook. In a flashback, St. George is seen digging one up in her garden. Her wife, who suffers from dementia, becomes agitated at the sight of it. Alone, St. George opens the book, which is filled with names, and writes “Alexander Hale” on a new page. The book appears to be a record of burdens too heavy to carry.
At the end of the episode, St. George gives a similar blank notebook to Parker, who is visibly shaken by the deaths she helped cause.
“Write down the things you canโt carry and bury them,” St. George advises, offering a haunting method for dealing with guilt.
The final scene hints at future danger. Schiff is heard talking to an unseen person about Alexander. They note that he has been cleared of suspicion for now, but they know he will eventually realize the extent of his compromise. When that happens, they will need “leverage.” They plan to target someone Alexander loves to control him.
Also Read: The Copenhagen Test Parents Guide: Why The Peacock Spy Thriller Is Rated TV-MA
