Stream It or Nah: Netflix's 'The Night Agent' Is the Light Beer of Spy Thrillers

By Nate Parker | TV | March 27, 2023 |

By Nate Parker | TV | March 27, 2023 |

Mild Spoilers

Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) is a national hero. He single-handedly stopped a subway bombing by unknown terrorists. So why is he a glorified secretary working the night shift for a White House emergency phone no one ever calls? And when it does finally ring, why is private cybersecurity expert Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) on the other end of the line? These are the first of many questions raised and eventually answered by Netflix’s 10-episode adaptation of Matthew Quirk’s The Night Agent, a spy thriller that offers action, believable chemistry between the leads, and a story that’s surprisingly addictive given how predictable it is.

And boy is it predictable. The story of who killed Rose’s aunt and uncle is quickly subsumed by a national conspiracy. There’s intrigue and murder around every corner. It leans into television tropes so hard that only fingering their handlebar mustaches could make the bad guys more obvious. Side characters might as well growl “I’m 3 days from retirement” before they’re shot. I’m hard-pressed to think of an actor over the age of 50 who survives the season. But despite its predictability The Night Agent is a lot of fun. It’s the light beer version of Reacher; Basso even looks like someone ordered Alan Ritchson off Wish. It’s popcorn fare, easy to marathon, and fun to play along as Peter and Rose try to untangle the most convoluted conspiracy since The Terminal List. The greater good comes up a lot as a justification and it’s as worthy of an eye roll as anything in that trash fire of a show, but the protagonists are a lot less unpleasant. It’s mostly an excuse to watch attractive actors get sweaty and emote at one another as the season progresses.

The great cast helps. Fola Evans-Akingbola and D.B. Woodside are no-nonsense Secret Service agents assigned to the VP’s daughter, Maddie Redfield (Yellowjacket’s Sarah Desjardins, giving her best Zoey Bartlet impression). Professional killer Dale (Phoenix Raei) is a consummate professional trying to teach his girlfriend\apprentice Ellen (Eve Harlow) how to do the job right even though she’s an utter psychopath. Robert Patrick, Hong Chau, Christopher Shyer, and a slew of other vaguely recognizable character actors also perform their jobs admirably. Peter and Rose make charming leads. The romantic subplot is both inevitable and threadbare, but I appreciate that the script gives them time to learn about one another and crack jokes together. It feels more natural than many current television relationships. It’s got a very USA network feel, despite the occasional curse word and graphic violence. Like The Recruit, a recent Netflix release very similar in tone, The Night Agent sets itself up for a second season - a safe bet, if the audience is there.

The Night Agent might not be the most original show out there, but it’s a fun and remarkably addictive time. Series creator Shawn Ryan, best known for S.W.A.T. and FX’s classic cop drama The Shield knows what works and what doesn’t, and put together a solidly entertaining thriller. All 10 episodes are currently available on Netflix.