Netflix’sThe Night Agenthas already proven itself a great addition to the spy thriller genre in the past few years, and there are some other good spy action shows to check out while waiting for season 3.The Night Agent’s castis led by Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent assigned to monitor a phone in the White House basement that never rings. When the phone does finally ring one night, Peter is drawn into a high-level conspiracy and meets Rose, creating the show’s best pairing, even if they are on and off.
While the two eventually uncovered the plot at the heart of season 1, they were immediately thrust back into harm’s way in season 2. The K.X. gas threat was even more deadly than season 1’s political conspiracy and attacks, andThe Night Agent’s season 2 endingsaw Peter make the tough decision to become a double agent for Catherine and Monroe.The Night Agentseason 3is already in production, but it could take some time before it hits Netflix. Luckily, there are plenty of similar spy action shows to watch in the meantime.
The Recruitmight be the most similar show toThe Night Agenton Netflix. The series stars Noah Centineo as Owen Hendricks, a recent graduate of Georgetown Law who has just begun working for the CIA when he becomes involved with Max Meladze, a CIA asset threatening the agency. Like Peter in The Night Agent,Owen may not be the most experienced, but he proves to be clever and fast-acting, allowing him to stay alive in dangerous circumstances.
The series overall was well-received by audiences and currently holds a 77% critics' approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Though it did make use of some of the more well-worn tropes of the spy genre,The Recruit’s approach still felt fun and easily watchable thanks to the cast’s performances, particularly Noah Centineo’s.The Recruitwas sadly canceled after season 2, but the series' 14 episodes make for a good binge-watch for fans of spy thrillers.
The Russo brothers' spy seriesCitadelpremiered on Prime Video in 2023 and received both a renewal and several spinoffs before the main series even aired. WhileCitadel’s performance upon release was not as stellar as Prime Video surely would have hoped,it is still worth a watch thanks to its fast pace and fun characters.Citadel’s castis led by Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as agents Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, along with a supporting cast that includes Stanley Tucci and Lesley Manville.
The two agents are pursued across the globe by agents from the rival group, Manticore, but the show has a lot of other twists. The series entertainingly sees the two getting back into espionage and struggling to come to terms with their pasts, and this only gets more complicated as the season progresses.Citadel’s season 1 ending reveals the biggest shock of all, which will leave viewers waiting to learn where season 2 will go.
The Piper Perabo-led seriesCovert Affairsran for five seasons from 2010 to 2014, airing 75 episodes during that time. While this does make the series a bit more of a commitment thanThe Night Agent, it is well worth the watch. The series follows Perabo’s Annie Walker, a CIA trainee who is unexpectedly sent out into the field as part of the Domestic Protection Division thanks to her impressive communication skills.Like Peter, Annie is at first unsure of herself and her place in the CIA, but as the series progresses, she becomes more confident in her work.
While the entirety of The Night Agent seasons 1 and 2 focuses on one mission and a primary conspiracy each,Covert Affairssees Annie tackle a much broader variety of different missions, giving it a nice difference from the Netflix series. Likewise,Covert Affairsdoes spend time getting to know Annie, her handler Auggie, and her older sister Danielle, which allows the series more of a personal drama angle in addition to covering the action of Annie’s job.
Jack Ryan is perhaps one of the best-known spy/action genre characters that exists today. He has made appearances in films for decades, and he has been portrayed by five different actors who have each put their own spin on the character.John Krasinski’s version of Jack Ryanis the most action-oriented yet, so Prime Video’sTom Clancy’s Jack Ryanis the perfect series for fans ofThe Night Agentto check out.
The first season follows Jack Ryan in his role as a CIA financial analyst who uncovers some unusual transfers that he believes could signify growing danger for the United States.The transactions force Ryan to get involved in the agency’s investigation into an extremist, leaving the comfort of his desk job behind. Each season sees Jack Ryan become increasingly confident in his skills in the field and rise in rank at the CIA, perfectly combining political intrigue and action.
The British thriller seriesBodyguardsaw Richard Madden take on the role of David Budd, a bodyguard working for the Home Secretary. The series certainly features its fair share of action, which makes it a good substitute forThe Night Agent, butit also engages more deeply with the very personal side of politics, particularly through how David Budd struggles to find common ground with the politician that he is sworn to protect and how he deals with his own PTSD from the Afghanistan war.
Thanks to its tight, fast-paced plot and great performances,Bodyguardreceived great reviews upon its release. It currently holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising the depth of Madden’s performance and the show’s handling of tense subject matter. ThoughBodyguarddoes feature some really great twists,it stands out from other action shows thanks to its character focus as well.
Despite having ended nearly two decades ago, J. J. Abrams' seriesAliasis still remembered very highly and is a classic spy action series that fans of the genre can return to again and again.Aliasstars Jennifer Garner in the lead role of Sydney Bristow, a double agent for the CIA and an organization called SD-6 that works against the government of the United States. The show sees Sydney carry out various missions to help bring down SD-6 before later joining a new division, APO, to carry out other missions.
While Peter’s time as a double agent seems to be just getting started inThe Night Agent, Sydney’s many missions and adventures inAliasare a great place for audiences to start if they want more intense double crosses and messy family and working relationships.Sydney’s many identities and missions for the CIA are endlessly entertaining, and with five seasons and 105 episodes,Aliasgives fans ofThe Night Agenta lot to sink their teeth into.
Just asThe Night Agentleaves audiences waiting to learn how the show’s mysteries will unfold and who the villain will ultimately be,Homelandlikewise masterfully creates tension that forces audiences to consider their own beliefsabout the characters and what they know to be true. The series follows Carrie Mathison, a CIA agent with bipolar disorder who becomes convinced that another agent is secretly working for a terrorist organization and attempts to figure out his true allegiance before he takes action against the United States.
Carrie herself is not a perfect character and can often make decisions that ultimately turn out not to be correct, butthe series interestingly reflects on Carrie’s own journeywith her mental health and how that influences the actions she takes as an agent and later as a private citizen.Homelandis arguably even more of a political thriller thanThe Night Agent, but it does pair well with season 2’s broadened focus on a more international scale, making the long-running series an interesting comparison.
Paramount+’s recent spy thriller seriesThe Agencyboasts a talented cast and a gripping first-season plot that sees a veteran CIA agent thrust into danger when his love interest is put in harm’s way while he simultaneously attempts to help prepare a new agent for a field assignment.The Agency’s impressive castis led by Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Richard Gere, among other talented actors, and their performances have received attention from audiences and critics alike.
The show’s tone and direction have also been highlighted as strong points, withThe Agencyclearly showing just how dangerous and bleak life as a spy can be. ThoughThe Night Agentarguably has a slightly lighter tone, it too makes clear that espionage and working as a government agent is risky rather than simply fun or adventurous. With just 10 episodes so far,The Agencyis a quick watch for fans ofThe Night Agentto catch up on, but, likeThe Night Agent, another season is already on the way.
