Shawn Ryan Teases Shocking Twists for Peter and Rose in Night Agent Season 3 Finale!

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[This story contains major spoilers from the second season of The Night Agent.]

As we move forward with the second installment of “The Night Agent” – Netflix’s gripping spy-action series – its creator and lead writer, Shawn Ryan, was determined to delve deeper into the moral ambiguity of our central character, Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), who initially manned an emergency hotline for secret agents dealing with classified matters, but eventually finds himself among these international operatives.

For the second season of “The Night Agent” on Netflix, creator Shawn Ryan planned to make protagonist Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) grapple more with moral complexities as he shifts from a low-level FBI agent handling secret matters to becoming one of these international agents.

In the first season, Peter faced numerous logistical challenges but found it relatively straightforward from a moral perspective. However, for the second season, Ryan plans to maintain the challenging logistics while increasing the moral complexities. As he shares with The Hollywood Reporter in the interview below, Peter initially may have had an unrealistic perception of what being a Night Agent entailed, assuming he could uphold his morals and principles. However, he soon discovers in season two that this is far from simple.

(Spoiler alert!) Having stopped an assassination plot against President Travers from within her administration at the end of season one, I found myself thrust into Night Action and given the task of probing a government intelligence leak. This led me on a global journey from Bangkok to New York City. As my investigation unfolded, I stumbled upon Foxglove – a secretive collaboration between the CIA and military intended to combat potential chemical warfare threats in the future. However, this program was swiftly dismantled due to ethical dilemmas surrounding the production of dangerous chemicals for research purposes.

However, following the U.S. administration’s concealment that they had sold chemical agent KX to a tyrant named Viktor Bala (Dikran Tulaine), who has lately been found guilty of war crimes by The Hague, Bala swore retribution through his wicked nephew Markus Dargan (Michael Malarkey). After Markus and his crew abduct a mobile lab and seize Peter’s tech-adept lover Rose (Luciane Buchanan) together with a chemist and his family, intending to force the chemist to produce containers of KX, Peter endeavors to strike a bargain with influential tycoon Jacob Monroe (Louis Herthum).

As a devoted fan, I find myself in a tricky situation when Monroe proposes sharing crucial details about Rose’s location and Bala’s nefarious scheme to annihilate Manhattan using KX, all while he secretly wants me to sneak into the U.N. building and snatch a vital tape for him. Aware that I’d be taking a risk by trusting Monroe, I reluctantly accept his offer and manage to thwart a potentially devastating chemical attack within the U.N. building.

Despite confessing all the rules he violated while rescuing Rose and New York residents, Peter learns that his superiors have more important matters to attend to. Towards the end of the final episode, Peter’s mysterious superior, Catherine (played by Amanda Warren), assigns him a highly confidential new task: to investigate the true connection between Monroe and Governor Richard Hagan (portrayed by Ward Horton), the presidential candidate who exploited Peter’s stolen file to prove that his primary rival, former CIA director Patrick Knox, was behind the creation of Foxglove and the sale of KX to Bala. Unbeknownst to Peter, he had essentially influenced the election results in Hagan’s favor.

In the aftermath of the destructive wildfires in Los Angeles, “The Night Agent” was among the initial major series to debut. This is something Ryan felt compelled to bring up at the outset of his discussion with THR.

One of our editors on The Night Agent, named Lilly [Urban], lost her home recently. She worked on episodes one, five, and nine. Ryan remembers speaking with her a few days later. He asked, ‘Given that I’m planning to go to New York for a screening and press interviews, is it suitable, and do you have any particular message you’d like me to share as someone personally affected by this fire?’

I’ve been saying, ‘We chose this city – LA – because it was our dream to share tales. We’ve poured our hearts into this season, feeling immense pride for what we’ve created. It’s crucial to step away from the harsh realities of life sometimes. I’m simply proud of our show and hope as many people as possible get a chance to see it.’

In a sense, she granted me the liberty to be here for these interviews, and I want to pay tribute to her dedication. It’s not about celebration, but rather acknowledging the effort that went into every scene, considering all the challenges we face.

In the following passage, Ryan candidly discusses his methods behind crafting the second installment of the highly successful Netflix series, emphasizing how the creative crew ensured authentic representation of the Iranian characters central to the plot, delving into Peter’s choice to end things with Rose, and explaining how this dramatic ending paves the way for the third season currently underway in Istanbul, set to conclude later this year in New York.

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“Since I didn’t have another book by Matthew Quirk to draw from for season 2, I pondered on how to broaden the universe I had established around Peter and Rose. The decision to introduce the Iranian mission and Bala family storylines came about as a means to deepen the narrative, adding layers of complexity and suspense while keeping the essence of our original characters intact.”

In our first season, it was both a boon and a challenge to rely on the book as a source. On one hand, the characters of Peter and Rose were so rich and engaging. However, being faithful to the original work was always a concern, ensuring we didn’t stray too far or betray its essence. But when we exhausted that source material in season two, there came a sense of liberation: “We can create anything we want!” The drawback, though, is realizing all the elements from the book we utilized in season one that we can no longer reuse now. (*Laughs*)

I was originally thinking about placing season two somewhere overseas [focusing] on Peter and wherever the job was. But after some conversations, I decided to keep it in North America. I was like, “If I’m not taking Peter out into the world, how can I bring the world to Peter?” That’s where the other writers and I crafted these stories that in many ways revolve around the United Nations and involve people from other countries congregating in New York.

In our project, we found the concept of crafting a narrative set within a diplomatic mission at the U.N. intriguing. After careful consideration, we chose Iran as our backdrop and developed the character of Noor as our central figure. Our idea involved the Balas, a family from an undisclosed nation, who were facing complications with the U.N. Jacob Monroe, a broker, was seeking crucial documents from the U.N., which served as the plot’s driving force. Essentially, we aimed to transport Peter to various parts of the world right here in New York City during this season. We were particularly excited about filming in the city, as we believed we could capture it in an unusual yet captivating way.

As a gamer, I chatted up Gabriel and Luciane about the transformation of Peter and Rose across seasons. I discovered some intriguing depths in the character development, and the tension between them was more nuanced than ever before. This season, their relationship seemed to dance an even more complex waltz of push and pull.

It’s quite tempting when you pair two charming and attractive characters for a screen performance that viewers might wish to see them develop a romantic relationship. However, we wanted to stay true to reality by depicting how things would truly unfold in similar scenarios. This was the case in season one.

Discussing Rose’s experiences in the show, it raises a question: wouldn’t it be devastating for her to have experienced what she did in season one – witnessing the murder of her aunt and uncle, escaping multiple death threats, narrowly surviving several times, and being attacked on the beach by Dale the assassin in episode six? Given these traumatic events, isn’t it challenging to portray Rose as if she didn’t bear the scars of such experiences? This is where the character of the therapist comes into play, as they discuss, “You’ve known this person for some time. Interactions like these can be intense, but perhaps not long-lasting.

In the first season, Peter and Rose provided us a strong foundation, making us hopeful for their inclusion in the second season. However, we’re grappling with the question of how to remain faithful to the impact of their shared past trauma. Given that they inhabit such distinct roles – him as a covert agent and her as a tech mogul – it seems their feelings for each other might be overshadowed by the challenges and consequences of being together in reality.

As Peter delved deeper into his role as a night agent in “The Unit”, you were informed by David Mamet that compelling drama isn’t about deciding between right and wrong; it’s about grappling with two wrongs. Consequently, Peter found himself confronted with tougher choices: deceiving Noor (Arienne Mandi) regarding her brother’s fate in Iran, releasing Solomon (Berto Colon) from custody, and being coerced into performing the first of numerous favors for Monroe. To illustrate Peter’s gradual slide into morally ambiguous ground, I aimed to portray this transformation effectively.

As a fan, I couldn’t agree more with your insight! The quote I’ve been relying on has been instrumental in my approach when working with the writers. During the early stages of brainstorming for season two, I made it clear that while logistical challenges should persist for our protagonist Peter, I wanted to ramp up the moral complexities he would face. In season one, his moral choices were relatively straightforward, though executing them was tough. However, in season two, I wished for the moral landscape to become more treacherous, making it harder not only to do the right thing but also to discern what that right thing is.

He aspired to become a night operative, perhaps underestimating what that role would entail. He likely believed he could maintain his ethics and moral compass in this position, but soon discovers in season two that it’s not as straightforward. In many aspects, Rose becomes crucial for his emotional well-being during season two. Initially, Peter was the one safeguarding her physically in season one; however, in season two, the roles reverse as Rose shields him emotionally. She is the one who reminds him: “Don’t let go of your identity amidst all this. Not everyone is like [Hong Chau’s] Diane Farr. You don’t have to suspect everyone around you. You can seek help when needed.

What I adore is its authentic expression of love. Despite challenges in their relationship as a pair, their feelings and bond strengthen significantly in season two. She’s deeply determined to safeguard him. In the latter half of season two, when she’s captured along with the chemist and his family, we witness the extremes he’ll go to for her protection, as well as the ethical compromises he’s prepared to make to shield her and others.

How did you plan to present the character of Catherine (played by Amanda Warren) as a mysterious counterpart to Peter, given that Peter finds it difficult to understand her and is unsure if he can completely rely on her? What strategies were used to differentiate Catherine from a character like Farr from season one?

We appreciated the fact that she’s been working at it for some time and is skilled at concealing her intentions. Simultaneously, we could capitalize on the audience’s distrust of authority figures from this program, given the events of season one, to subtly instill a sense of doubt about Catherine.

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We found it advantageous that she’s had experience and is good at keeping secrets. At the same time, we could leverage the audience’s skepticism towards those in power on this show, based on season one, to create a hint of suspicion around Catherine.

In episode seven, Peter begins to suspect that something fishy might have happened, as he recalls they were overheard during their communications the previous night. He ponders whether their encrypting signals could have been intercepted, and this realization leads him to connect the dots back to the failed mission in Bangkok. This is when Peter starts questioning if Catherine may have somehow betrayed them. However, as the story unfolds across the next ten episodes, his trust in her grows.

However, from my past series, _The Shield_, I picked up another valuable insight. Forest Whitaker’s character in the show displayed an unyielding strength over several seasons. During our discussions about the role we had crafted, he shared a thought-provoking idea: while some individuals possess such strong characters that they seem inflexible, the issue arises when these inflexible people encounter too much pressure, as they eventually shatter.

In Peter’s case, his strong moral compass makes it challenging for him to compromise on morally questionable situations. However, there’s a risk that rigid adherence could potentially shatter him. We delved into this aspect of Peter in season two and will further examine it in season three: How can an inherently good, principled individual not only survive but flourish in a world where deceit is often rewarded?

In American television productions, characters from Iran and the Middle East are frequently stereotyped as hostile foreign figures who lack depth. When developing Noor’s character and portraying her cultural background in both Iran and New York City, how did you and your team approach depicting and respecting the intricacies of these cultures?

I appreciate your question as it gives me an opportunity to discuss the intricacies behind the development of that specific storyline. To provide a comprehensive response, I’ll break down my answer into two sections: one focusing on the creative aspects and the other addressing the practical considerations we took to remain faithful to its essence.

As a former soccer coach for my daughter’s team, I had the pleasure of knowing a remarkable young woman named Noor. She was a Muslim girl of Egyptian heritage, and her indomitable spirit truly inspired me. While she wasn’t the most skilled player, her energy and the radiance within this little girl left an everlasting impact on me.

In this digital era, I occasionally encounter suggestions to connect with her on social media platforms like Facebook. As her old coach, it would feel inappropriate to make such a request, so I choose not to. However, I’ve managed to keep up with some aspects of her life from afar. Today, she is pursuing a career in medicine and maintains that beautiful smile on her face, which fills me with joy.

I pondered over creating a character with such circumstances, specifically one who didn’t have the liberty to chase their dreams as freely as they desired. This led me to envision a childhood friend of mine in a future with more limitations compared to the actual Noor’s current life. In essence, I was attempting to extrapolate her story into a scenario that mirrored real-world constraints.

When you determine to portray a multitude of Iranian characters in your narrative as a non-speaking, non-understanding middle-aged white man, you have two options. You could take the easy route and attempt to bypass this challenge, or you could be courageous and pledge, “We’ll immerse ourselves in individuals who are knowledgeable about this world, this culture, who can guide us and ensure we don’t stray from accuracy.

As a passionate gamer, I’m thrilled to share that our team boasts an exceptional writer, Anayat Fakhraie, whose family roots trace back to Iran. If given the chance, I would have recruited him regardless of our narrative. We also had the privilege of working with director Ana Lily Amirpour, who shares Iranian heritage. To ensure authenticity, we enlisted a consultant and translator for the show, whose contributions were invaluable. We were meticulous in our checks and double-checked everything to guarantee precision. I was adamant that we wouldn’t cast actors with less than perfect Farsi, even though it might go unnoticed by 98% of our audience. My aim was for Iranian viewers to find the actors’ dialogue resonating with their own experiences.

Instead of typically involving our actors less, we significantly focus on what matters most to them. In episode nine, I believe, Javad, the guard, menaces Abbas, and instead of what was written, Abbas kisses him on the forehead. My initial thought was, “That’s an unusual gesture; it wasn’t part of the script. Should we keep it?” However, our Persian actors and consultants explained that this gesture is entirely appropriate within their culture and community, so we chose to include it in the final cut.

In an attempt to respect [the culture] fully, we aim to share a personal narrative that transcends political discussions, even though there may be sensitive topics related to the Iranian government. Our focus is primarily on one woman and her community, with the hope that beyond these specifics, viewers can draw their own conclusions. We’re not attempting to make a political statement; instead, we want to convey a personal message – that this woman aspires for the liberty to lead her life according to her desires, and she yearns for her loved ones to experience the same freedom. Apologies for any confusion caused by my lengthy explanation.

No, it’s OK. It’s clear that you have given this a lot of thought.

As a gamer, let me tell you, it’s rare to discuss something as captivating as our incredible collaborative journey on this project. In the climactic final episode, when Noor and her mother are in that government office, I was taken aback by their lack of head scarfs at first. But then I learned about extensive discussions between the writer, directors, and actors, and we left the decision to the two actors who were most familiar with the culture, knowing what felt right for them in that specific moment. As a showrunner, I’m usually the one making calls on decisions like these, but in this case, I had to relinquish control to those who knew this world better than me to avoid any potential mishaps.

In the closing scene, Governor Hagan – who would soon become POTUS – confides in Monroe about how a deceptive news story concerning a pair of his boots inadvertently contributed to a past election victory. Hagan remarks, “Sometimes it’s wiser to let others form their own opinions about you.” Monroe responds with an expressive glance as Hagan departs. The symbolism behind this moment is that Hagan, who has proven he can manipulate public perception for political gain, presents a potential danger to Peter and his team in the future due to their shared cunning and ability to deceive.

In the climactic showdown between Monroe and Hagan, it seems their dealings are more intricate than either might care for. Hagan’s statement suggests a renewed assertion of his influence over the man aiding him to win the presidency. I sense an imminent turmoil in season three, where I may find myself caught in the crossfire.

In a recent development, Catherine has recruited Peter for a fresh assignment aimed at taking down Hagan and Monroe. This mission seems to have marked an ending of sorts for Peter and Rose‘s relationship, as they both understand the personal sacrifices Peter must make to become a night agent. The question remains, how many times can they rehash their discussions about Peter not endangering Rose due to his work? As for the next season, could you provide insights on where it will continue from this point?

I’m hesitant to reveal many details about season three as we’re still in the process of writing it. However, filming is taking place in Istanbul, and let me tell you, the opening episode contains some truly breathtaking scenes. That said, creative decisions are still being made, but what I can assure you is that our aim is always to keep things authentic and relatable.

In a movie, Peter and Rose might have ended up together, but in an ongoing series, we’re exploring the challenges these characters face in their real lives. Their circumstances have changed significantly, and Peter’s decision to become a night agent has introduced new complexities into their relationship. Additionally, we’re delving into the risks and dangers associated with this choice.

His decision to part ways with Rose at the end of season two actually underscores their bond, as he feels it’s best for her to be apart from him due to his deep affection for her. The future of their relationship throughout the series remains uncertain, and we, as writers, are unsure of what will transpire between Peter and Rose. Each season is treated independently, so the outcome of their storyline is a mystery both for us and the viewers. We don’t want to force conflicts upon them just to keep the narrative going; instead, the situations they face should feel genuine and not contrived.

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The first two seasons of The Night Agent are now streaming on Netflix.

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2025-01-25 02:27