10 Best TV Shows Like The Night Agent You Need To Watch Next

In March 2023, FBI agent Peter Sutherland (played by Gabriel Basso) made his debut on screen when “The Night Agent” premiered on Netflix. This action-packed thriller quickly became popular, even ranking as the third most-watched series premiere on Netflix, with viewers tuning in for a total of 168.17 million hours within the first four days of its release. The show’s mix of espionage, political intrigue, and conspiracy theories, along with a touch of romance between Peter and Rose Larkin (portrayed by Luciane Buchanan), created an irresistible combination that kept audiences captivated for all 10 episodes.

In January 2025, “The Night Agent” made a grand comeback for its second season, swiftly taking the number one position on Netflix’s worldwide TV rankings. With over 18 months having passed since the first season, viewers were eager to discover where Peter would end up following his departure from D.C., as he ventured into his new role as a Night Agent. Key themes from Season 1 resurface in the second season, accompanied by several ethical quandaries for Peter that will persist throughout the third season, as hinted by creator Shawn Ryan. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Ryan hinted that Peter is grappling with defining his character and preserving his moral compass in this line of work.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share some exciting news! Right now, the cameras are rolling on Season 3 – yes, you heard it right! While our favorite cast and crew are immersed in creating another exhilarating chapter for us to enjoy, there’s no need to feel left out. There’s a treasure trove of pulse-pounding espionage series waiting to captivate you. If you’re yearning for the same heart-stopping action and nail-biting storylines as “The Night Agent,” here are ten must-watch shows that should be on your list next!

The Recruit

Following “The Night Agent,” “The Recruit” has secured a spot on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Shows list, and it truly deserves it. Not only did their second seasons premiere close together, but they share more than just a release schedule. New CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks, played by Noah Centineo, begins his career in an office setting before being unexpectedly drawn into the world of espionage. As he investigates graymail threats to the government, things take a turn when CIA asset Max Meladze (Laura Haddock) threatens to disclose classified information unless she’s freed from prison. From this point, the plot unfurls into a complex tapestry of international conflicts and political issues, leading Owen through several close calls that make him question whether this career path is right for him.

Comparing two hit Netflix spy dramas, “The Night Agent” and “The Recruit,” reveals striking similarities. These series are so alike that their stars, Basso and Centineo, have collaborated for promotional purposes. Although their storylines take place in distinct universes and different presidents are portrayed (so a crossover may not be imminent), fans of one show would likely find appeal in the other due to their close resemblance.

In addition to the main plots, which involve dangers to the U.S. administration, Peter’s relationship with Rose has a parallel in the tumultuous love story between Owen and Hannah Copeland (Fivel Stewart). As Season 2 begins, both Peter and Owen possess additional knowledge but also bear wounds from their past that they must heal.

Bodyguard

In Season 1 of “The Night Agent,” Peter races against the clock to save President Travers (Kari Matchett) from a terrorist attack. The British political thriller “Bodyguard” portrays a similarly disturbing and deadly plot. “Game of Thrones” alum Richard Madden plays Sergeant David Budd, a discharged army veteran who, despite suffering from PTSD following his service in the Afghanistan War, is working as a dedicated Principal Protection Officer, or bodyguard. David must put his personal politics aside when he’s assigned to protect Conservative Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes). In the same way that Peter grows closer to Rose while protecting her, the boundaries between David and Julia’s professional relationship start to blur. But is the friendship she offers him just a cover for an even more sinister plot?

In six captivating episodes, the series “Bodyguard” offers a compelling journey filled with highs and lows, unexpected twists and turns, concluding in a neatly wrapped-up finale. As Richard Madden explained to Variety, these six hours of television beautifully encapsulate this phase in the protagonist’s life. Alongside Madden, Sherlock alum Tom Brooke and Doctor Who actress Anjli Mohindra are also part of the stellar cast.

Designated Survivor

“Designated Survivor” chronicles a scenario in American politics which is so unfathomable that it makes for highly addictive television. After a stunning terrorist attack wipes out the Capitol Building and everyone in it on the night of the State of the Union address, the unsuspecting designated survivor, Secretary of Housing Thomas Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland), finds himself running the country. FBI agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) is tasked with uncovering the details behind the deadly terrorist plot, while the newly sworn-in president attempts to lead the nation through an unprecedented tragedy.

Fans of political conspiracy series might find themselves drawn to the atmosphere of “Designated Survivor.” This show shares some similarities with “The Night Agent,” although it has a unique storyline. In “Designated Survivor,” after an attack wipes out most of the U.S. government, President Kirkman is left alone in power and can only rely on three individuals: Agent Wells, his chief of staff Aaron Shore (previously played by the late Adan Canto), and his Special Advisor Emily Rhodes (played by Italia Ricci). As with Peter in “The Night Agent,” Kirkman must navigate the treacherous waters of trust and uncover any potential traitors within his ranks. The show, originally aired on ABC before moving to Netflix, has completed its three-season run, as Kiefer Sutherland has decided not to pursue a fourth season.

Black Doves

In the 2024 lineup of Netflix’s espionage thrillers, “Black Doves” introduces us to Helen (played by Keira Knightley), a seemingly ordinary wife to British politician Wallace Webb (Andrew Buchan). Unbeknownst to most, she is a covert agent and mercenary. The story unfolds as Helen, living a quiet life away from her secret identity, has her cover blown when her lover, Jason Davis (Andrew Koji), meets an untimely demise. Fueled by vengeance, Helen is lured back into the clandestine world of the Black Doves, an enigmatic group dealing in classified information for the highest bidders. However, she doesn’t venture alone; her journey is shared with assassin-for-hire Sam Young (Ben Whishaw), who becomes her partner in this dangerous mission.

In the realm of spy thrillers, the objective is to leave viewers on the edge of their seats, questioning everything, and that’s exactly what “Black Doves” achieves. Just like Peter in “The Night Agent,” Helen finds herself frequently doubting who her allies are, which might be due to Knightley’s own uncertainty. The series was so dynamic that even during filming, the last two episodes were still being scripted.

In an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, Knightley shared that while we knew about the plot’s setting and flow, the specific details of how we arrived at that point were a mystery that unfolded during filming itself. This uncertainty about the direction of the storyline kept the cast and crew on their toes, making the series an unpredictable thriller with a compulsive edge. Excitingly, Netflix has already greenlit a second season even before the first one debuted.

Treadstone

In the TV series “The Night Agent,” Peter works for an enigmatic U.S. government agency known as Night Action. However, similar secretive espionage organizations like this are portrayed as Operation Treadstone in the Jason Bourne movies. After five films in the Bourne franchise, viewers were treated to an extensive exploration of the CIA’s deactivated covert black-ops program in the 10-part series “Treadstone.

The series doesn’t strictly follow Jason Bourne’s tenure at the agency, but rather explores its history and current status. “Treadstone” unfolds against the backdrop of the Cold War era, with repercussions felt in modern times. The show focuses on CIA agent John Randolph Bentley (played by Jeremy Irvine) and his journey as Treadstone is established in the 1970s. After managing to evade KGB agents operating under a program called Cicada, the CIA learns how to develop a behavior manipulation technique that eventually morphs into Operation Treadstone.

As spectators delve deeper into this protocol, it becomes clear that it amplifies the effectiveness of U.S. operatives, turning them into more formidable adversaries while erasing their memories. Simultaneously, a lethal scheme unfolds in the current timeline, with Cicada sleepers being triggered globally and an ancient Cold War nuclear weapon resurfacing. This intriguing, single-season conspiracy thriller is ideal for enthusiasts of “The Night Agent” who crave sophisticated, high-risk drama.

The Night Manager

Instead of Peter Sutherland from “The Night Agent,” who desires to work for Night Action, British army veteran Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) intentionally distanced himself from espionage in “The Night Manager.” Leaving his experience in the Iraq War behind, Pine took up a job as a night manager at a hotel in Cairo. However, following the death of his lover Sophie (Aure Atika), who supplied him with confidential intelligence about weapons – which he then shared with International Enforcement Agency agent Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) – he chose to lead an even more solitary life as a night manager at a hotel in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Following the discovery of additional pertinent details in Switzerland, Burr persuades Pine that it’s his obligation to join forces with arms dealer Richard “Dicky” Onslow Roper (Hugh Laurie)’s group undercover. Not long after, Pine finds himself back in a perilous and spying environment as he undertakes the mission of probing into and halting the trade of lethal chemical weapons.

Throughout the six episodes of the show, Tom Hiddleston delivers an outstanding performance that keeps viewers captivated. He confessed to being instantly attracted to the role, revealing to the BBC, “I was drawn to the character because I knew, as an actor, I would have to push myself to the limit of my mental and physical capabilities, as he is a field agent who must also be intelligent enough to go undercover.” In addition to Hiddleston, “The Night Manager” features a top-notch cast that includes David Harewood, Elizabeth Debicki, Olivia Colman, and Tom Laurie.

Jack Ryan

Jack Ryan, a fictional CIA agent, has consistently remained popular across various media platforms such as books, movies, and TV shows. This world where Jack Ryan exists, known as the “Ryanverse,” was initially introduced by Tom Clancy in 1984 through his novel “The Hunt For Red October.” Subsequently, actors like Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine have portrayed Jack Ryan in a series of films. Recently, John Krasinski has stepped into the role for Amazon’s political action thriller series titled “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” produced by Prime Video.

Like Peter Sutherland, the titular intelligence analyst is wrenched out of the safety of being behind a desk and thrown into the middle of the action, as he races against the clock to stop a terrorist as he plots a series of deadly attacks across the globe. The first season sees him investigate some conspicuous wire transfers that lead him right into the center of an Islamic extremist plot. There are four seasons for fans to enjoy, each with a thrilling new mystery that places Ryan dead center in any number of dangerous situations with global implications. As the series continued to evolve, it welcomed some of Clancy’s other popular characters to the small screen, including Domingo Chavez (Michael Peña).

The final episodes of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” Season 4 concluded dramatically as Jack Ryan was promoted to acting deputy director of the CIA and battled foes at home and abroad. This marked the end of the series, but it is possible that the character, played by John Krasinski, will appear on the big screen in a future movie adaptation.

Homeland

For enthusiasts of “The Night Agent”, here’s another gripping spy series titled “Homeland” that you might want to explore. Similar to the main character Peter, who uncovers a mole within his immediate circle, it revolves around CIA officer Carrie Mathison (played by Claire Danes). She believes a former Marine, having been held captive and later rescued, has been brainwashed by Al-Qaeda and is now working against his own country. The series also introduces double agent Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), who plays a pivotal role in a plot to assassinate the vice president upon his return to the US.

After becoming certain of Brody’s participation in the plot, Carrie embarks on a pursuit. However, when she experiences a bipolar crisis, she becomes uncertain about everything, and the boundaries of her relationship with him become unclear. Luckily, Saul Berenson, her friend, guide, and superior (played by Mandy Patinkin), is constantly there to help her regain her footing. Their connection shares similarities with Peter’s bond with Diane Farr (Hong Chau), but viewers can be reassured that Peter will not betray Carrie in quite the same manner.

Over time, “Homeland” expanded beyond just Carrie’s investigation into Brody, with the series’ duration following Carrie’s worldwide travels in the name of her country. Across its eight seasons, this political thriller skillfully maintained a steady flow of intense plotlines as both Carrie and Saul alternated between undercover missions.

Tracker

Actor Justin Hartley has moved from the emotional storyline of “This is Us” to the action-packed world of “Tracker” on CBS. In this new series, he plays Colter Shaw, a seasoned tracker and expert survivalist who assists both law enforcement and private citizens in locating missing individuals for a generous fee. The show, adapted from Jeffrey Deaver’s novel “The Never Game,” finds Colter constantly battling against time as he tracks down various missing persons, including lost family members and crucial trial witnesses.

While “Tracker” may not strictly fall under the genre of spy thrillers, it shares notable similarities with the character of Peter Sutherland from “The Night Agent,” who has repeatedly defied protocol. This is particularly evident in Season 2 of “The Night Agent,” where Peter frequently operates alone and believes it’s for the best. The same can be said about Colter. However, despite his habit of moving on to new assignments, Hartley recognizes admirable traits in him. As he put it to Showbiz Junkies, “What I love about him is I think he’s a good man.” He added, “He’s a good man and he wants to help those in need… I don’t think he intentionally disappears. I just think that’s his nature.” Rest assured, with Colter always pursuing the next missing person, the storyline will never grow stale.

Paris Has Fallen

Swap Washington D.C. for Paris in this action-packed series, which is a spin-off of Gerard Butler’s “Has Fallen” movie franchise. “Paris Has Fallen” explores a new world — and a new terrifying threat — within the movie and TV universe. “The Umbrella Academy” star Ritu Arya and French actor Tewfik Jallab front the series as Zara Taylor and Vincent Taleb. Zara is a new-to-the-job MI6 agent, while Vincent is a hardened protection officer. Although they work together as partners, the pair have just been thrown together for a relatively short time, and now this unlikely duo must prevent a devastating terrorist attack from a homegrown assailant in Paris.

Similar to Peter Sutherland, who finds it hard to confide in people following his mentor’s betrayal, the topic of trust is central in “Paris Has Fallen.” The characters Zara and Vincent maintain barriers despite being assigned to track down their attacker. As Arya told ScreenRant, “There are many gray areas involving honesty and trust concerns.” She added that Zara is a complex character who gradually learns to collaborate with Vincent, and their bond evolves over time.

Despite Arya’s claims that the mood of the upcoming eight-part thriller differs greatly from its cinematic counterparts, Butler’s presence behind the scenes suggests that viewers of the “Has Fallen” series may find some consistency with “Paris Falling”.

2025-03-03 20:32