I Really Thought The Night Agent Would Keep On Trucking As Netflix’s No. 1 Show But It’s Already Been Beat (Again)

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Among the eagerly awaited Netflix originals set to premiere in 2025, the highly-publicized TV debut that premiered on the streaming service in late January was undoubtedly The Night Agent. However, its second season has not received the same level of positive response from viewers as the first. (Further details can be found below.) Despite my anticipation for it to maintain a top spot in Netflix’s rankings for an extended period, justifying the early commission for Season 3, The Night Agent has already been ousted from the #1 position twice.

O.J. Simpson And The WWE Have Taken The Night Agent Down

A mere week had passed since the beloved character Peter Sutherland from The Night Agent reappeared, with Rose’s presence remaining uncertain; then, the four-part docuseries titled American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson made its way onto the 2025 TV schedule, transporting viewers back to the early ’90s, when the sensational trial of the former NFL star O.J. Simpson was constantly in the news headlines.

Many individuals seem to have happily returned to the whirlwind of media coverage surrounding the tragic event, at least those who were alive during the original murder trial. The limited series claimed the top spot when it debuted over the first weekend of February, pushing Gabriel Basso’s intense drama down to second place.

Here’s a full rundown for the day’s rankings:

Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows – February 2, 2025

  • 1. American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson
  • 2. The Night Agent
  • 3. The Recruit
  • 4. American Primeval
  • 5. Sakamoto Days
  • 6. Younger
  • 7. Squid Game
  • 8. Mo
  • 9. XO, Kitty
  • 10. The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse

I was thrilled to see Shawn Ryan’s adaptation of Matthew Quirk’s novel climbing high on Netflix’s Top 10 list right after its release on January 23. However, it didn’t take long for the latest episode of Monday Night Raw from WWE to dethrone it less than a week later. Considering the massive impact WWE made when they took over the rights for Monday Night Raw, it wasn’t too unexpected that the pre-Royal Rumble installment attracted a large audience.

It might come as a surprise that the O.J. Simpson trial, which we thought had been thoroughly explored, has become Netflix’s most-watched original series, and not just for a single day.

The Night Agent’s Netflix Rankings May Be Tied To Audience Criticisms

It’s worth noting that responses to The Night Agent in its second season were generally similar to those during Season 1, but managed to score higher on Rotten Tomatoes (83% approval for S2 compared to 74% for S1). However, it’s the viewers who offer a more noticeable difference when comparing seasons.

In simpler terms, the second season of the government-themed series on Rotten Tomatoes has a 40% audience rating, which is significantly lower than the 78% score it received in its first season. This drop wasn’t due to a few dissenting opinions having a large impact; instead, it reflects the thoughts of over 500 viewers.

A variety of grievances were recorded regarding the production, encompassing everything from the diminishing appeal of Rose’s role, dissatisfaction with the script and dialogue, performance of the actors, and even more criticisms piling up. The comment by “Amanda B” resonates strongly as it echoes many other viewers’ concerns about the alterations made.

It’s now clear to me why Gabriel Basso might consider leaving acting; it seems that many promising ideas are spoiled by dreadful sequels. One would think that showrunners, scriptwriters, and directors would understand the folly of veering away from what made the initial release successful, but alas, this often isn’t the case. I had hoped for a significantly different feel in this second season, given the unique premise of the first season and the logical progressions of Peter’s story. However, I found myself scrutinizing every moment across these ten episodes, searching for remnants of what made the original so exceptional.

Although there were still many favorable views expressed, and while this small collection of opinions may not be entirely responsible for the show’s inability to keep its top spot, it isn’t too far-fetched to infer a few things based on the available data. Without needing to create a secret government agency, one can easily deduce some reasons.

I’m thrilled that, regardless of its final audience numbers, The Night Agent will return for Season 3, promising even deeper exploration of key characters from Season 1 and undoubtedly more pulse-pounding action sequences to keep us on the edge of our seats!

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2025-02-03 03:37