Warning: This article discusses topics of terrorism, death, and violence.
While some political spy dramaTV showstake a bit of time to engage audiences, there are others that will hook you in early and keep you on the edge of your seat. Although there are severalamazing political thriller movies, the TV show format works far better for this kind of subgenre because it allows for better pacing and character development over time.
The combination of a political backdrop and the introduction of investigative, spy-like characters often results in something spectacular, andthe best British spy TV showsprove this. The added pressure of knowing that even the government or the most powerful organizations in the world are working against these characters draws viewers in without fail, and these titles are well worth checking out if you enjoy stories like this.
Homeland
Cast
Homeland is a suspenseful drama series centered on CIA officer Carrie Mathison, portrayed as a top agent despite her bipolar disorder. Released on July 07, 2025, the series follows her as she navigates the complexities of intelligence work with the guidance of her mentor, Saul Berenson.
While the early installments are generally considered better than the later seasons,Homelandis still a brilliant political thriller.Homelandfollows Carrie Mathison, a CIA officer with bipolar, and Nicolas Brody, a Marine Corps sniper whose experiences as a prisoner of war leaves Mathison convinced he is a threat to the country.Homelandis praised for its accuracy, especially when it comes to depicting the harsh realities of counterterrorism, which makes the stories of its characters that much more gripping.
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The pilot sets up Brody’s return to civilization and Mathison’s hesitation of him, which raises several questions about these individual characters.The jumps back and forth in time creates a sense of urgency and suspense, and while it seems far too obvious for Brody to be turned against the US, it’s also hard to rule his innocence out, too.Homelandis absolutely worth checking out, whether that’s because of the show’s thrilling narrative or because of the intriguing cast, which includes the likes of Timothée Chalamet.
Slow Horses
Slow Horses follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents led by the notorious Jackson Lamb. Set against the backdrop of the espionage world, the agents must navigate complex operations and defend England from sinister forces, all while dealing with internal struggles and their abrasive boss.
Slow Horsesis a great TV show for those who love political and spy thrillers, but are looking for more of a comedic undertone than a straight drama. Based on theSlough Housebook series by Mick Herron,Slow Horsesfocuses on a group of MI5 agents who prove themselves to be failures at a crucial task, but still important enough that they can’t be let go from their positions. While there are comical elements to the show, it’s still gripping enough that you never know what the tone of the next scene will be.
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WithSlow Horsesseason 5on the way, now is a great time to get into the show.The first installment introduces an array of figures, including Gary Oldman as the head of Slough House, Jackson Lamb. However, while each of the characters have an aura of incompetence or a lack of interest generally, the investigative cases they get involved in allow more and more details about these personalities to be revealed.
Paradise
Paradise is a crime drama set in an affluent community where prominent residents' lives upend after a shocking murder.
Mostreviews of Hulu’sParadisesay the same thing: it’s an addictive watch.While the pilot takes a few minutes to really hit the ground running, the non-linear narrative swiftly makes viewers start to theorize on who President Cal Bradford’s killer is. What’s so brilliant aboutParadise’s hook, however, is that the murder mystery isn’t the only thing that leaves you wondering. James Marsden’s performance as Cal Bradford is astounding, and throughout the show, I often went back and forth on whether I believed him to be innocent.
His gripping relationship with Bradford, which spans across several years, is unbelievably layered, too.
Sterling K. Brown as Agent Xavier Collins is fantastic, too.His gripping relationship with Bradford, which spans across several years, is unbelievably layered, too. My favorite thing aboutParadise, though, is that I truly thought I understood the show until the final moments of the pilot. The unexpected cliffhanger in episode 1 will make anyone want to start the next immediately, let alone binge the entire thing in one go.
The Night Manager
The Night Manager is a drama thriller miniseries based on John le Carré’s novel, featuring Tom Hiddleston as a former British soldier who infiltrates the inner circle of an arms dealer, played by Hugh Laurie. The series covers an ever-increasing game of cat and mouse where one false move could spell disaster for either party.
I’m so glad thatThe Night Managerseason 2is finally happening, especially as it has been a while since the enthralling first installment.The Night Managerfollows Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine, a former British soldier turned luxury hotel manager who is recruited by Olivia Colman’s Angela Burr, the manager of a task force run by the Foreign Office who are investigating the sale of illegal firearms. Within moments, Pine’s life is turned upside down as he goes back into a world of danger and war.
While the concept of an ex-service member being dragged back into their old life isn’t new,The Night Managerapproaches it in a truly unique way.Hugh Laurie is spectacular as the villainous Richard Roper, and the pacing of his downfall is an endearing watch.The Night Managerhas an aura ofJames Bondbut grittier, and Pine’s characterization is so well-balanced that it’s hard not to be invested in his journey.
Black Doves
Black Doves is a suspenseful thriller released in December 2024. It follows a spy masquerading as a politician’s wife who, after discovering her lover’s murder, joins forces with an old assassin associate to uncover the truth and seek revenge.
Netflix’sBlack Dovesis a widely discussed TV show right now, but it’s not surprising whatsoever.The show focuses onKeira Knightley as Helen Webb, a secret spy whose life as the wife of the Secretary of State for Defense is threatened after her lover, Jason, is killed. She is then joined by Ben Whishaw as Sam Young, an old friend who is sent by the titular organization to keep her safe. The first episode ofBlack Dovesdoes a great job of grabbing viewers’ attention early.
Within moments, Helen’s cozy life falls apart, and the stakes are continuously raised with every episode.
Not only is Jason’s demise a priority,but the death of the Chinese ambassador to the UK and the disappearance of his daughter are also at the forefront ofBlack Doves’ drama.Black Dovesseason 2is confirmed, too, and I cannot wait to see how Sam and Helen’s stories progress in the upcoming installment.
Bodyguard
Bodyguard tells the fictional story of David Budd, a heroic but volatile war veteran now working as a Specialist Protection Officer for the Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch of London’s Metropolitan Police Service.
WhileBodyguardonly contains 6 episodes, it’s undoubtedly one ofthe best miniseries to binge in a weekend.Bodyguardfollows Richard Madden as Sergeant David Budd, a war veteran with PTSD who is tasked with protecting Keeley Hawes’ Home Secretary Julia Montague. The immediate tension between the pair hooks viewers in quickly, especially as Budd is inherently against Montague’s policies. However, the possibility that Budd might be the biggest threat to the politician’s life is what really motivates the show.
Not only isBodyguardfull of gripping political themes and moments that make anyone feel like they’re a spy in the show while watching it, it also features an intriguing romance storyline between the two main characters that make things even more complicated. Budd and Montague’s affair is an interesting additional layer to the narrative, and it makesBodygaurd’s shocking endingeven more emotional.
24
24 follows CTU (Counter-Terrorism Unit) agent Jack Bauer as he contends with various threats to national and international security by any means necessary. With each season comprised of 24 episodes telling Bauer’s story in real-time, 24 brings the action to life one day at a time. Racing against the clock, Bauer is forced to make impossible decisions in the name of public service, bending his personal morals to get the job done.
24may not be the first political spy TV show, but it’s definitely one of the most notable titles in the subgenre and has influenced many others.Technically,24is labeled as an action-drama, but the storylines that focus on political corruption, terrorism, and assassinations prove otherwise. Kiefer Sutherland is an icon as Jack Bauer, and from the first moments audiences are introduced to him, his story pulls them in.
As a member of the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Bauer is always at the center of every drastic event. Because of24’s fascinating format, which sees every season set across a 24-hour period, it’s essentially impossible not to get invested immediately.The best24episodesforever stick in viewers’ minds,but especially the very first, which jumps between five different endearing storylines and wraps up with a deadly disaster which results in the destruction of a plane full of people.
The Americans
The Americans is a television series set during the 1980s Cold War, focusing on Soviet KGB officers Elizabeth and Philip Jennings. They pose as an American couple in suburban Washington, D.C., balancing their covert operations while Stan Beeman, an FBI Counterintelligence agent, lives next door.
The Americansis a fantastic period spy drama which is set during the Cold War and follows the lives of Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, played by Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, respectively.The Jennings seem like the average couple raising their children in the suburbs, but those around him are none the wiser to the fact that the pair are actually KGB officers. Many wonder whetherThe Americansis based on a true story, and it partly is, but the fictional elements of the show are just as enthralling as the factual parts.
The Americansnot only delves into the day-to-day events of the spies, but it also looks at how the pressure of the Jennings’ secret lives impacts their marriage, too.Even their kids, Paige and Henry, are unaware of who they are, which makes things even more complex.As the first episode ends with the announcement that the FBI is seeking out Soviet agents and neutralizing them, the uncertainty of Elizabeth and Philip’s fates becomes more interesting than ever.
Killing Eve
Killing Eve is a black comedy thriller series starring Sandra Oh as British intelligence officer Eve Polastri who is assigned to track and capture a dangerous assassin named Villanelle, played by Jodie Comer. Bored with her life, Eve finds herself hired by an undercover MI6 division tasked with tracking down Villanelle - who, after just a brief time studying and following her, she becomes obsessed with her. However, the obsession becomes mutual as soon the two enter a game of cat and mouse that deviates them from their missions as they venture to learn more about one another.
Killing Eveis one of my favorite spy TV shows ever, and the fact that the political side of things is just as important as the show’s emotional aspects is what keeps drawing audiences in.Sandra Oh’s Eve andJodie Comer’s Villanelle inKilling Evehave a beautiful yet tense chemistry, and the cat-and-mouse game between the MI6 agent and the unhinged assassin is absolutely perfect to watch play out. The early scenes of the show are enough to hook viewers by itself. Eve getting fired from MI5, paired with her interest in female assassins, makes her a unique character.
Killing Eveis so much more than a hero defeating a villain story.
Villanelle’s wild behavior and lack of morals are brilliant, too, and the obsessive relationship that develops between her and Eve is completely enthralling.Killing Eveis so much more than a hero defeating a villain story, and as the show progresses and the lines between good and bad blur together, it’s impossible to tune out. Although many considerKilling Eve’s season 4 endingdisappointing, it shouldn’t be enough to put new viewers off from checking out the hit TV show in the first place.
The Night Agent
The Night Agent is a suspenseful thriller in which a dedicated FBI agent becomes embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy after answering an emergency line call. Set against the backdrop of political intrigue, the agent uncovers a mole within the White House, posing significant risks to national security.
Gabriel Basso stars inThe Night Agentas Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent who finds himself caught up in a conspiracy about a mole within the highest ranks of the US government and his search for the mysterious figure.WhileThe Night Agentinitially seems like a standard investigative drama, the additional layers to the story, like Sutherland protecting Rose Larkin from her aunt and uncle’s murderers, make it even more exciting.
Sutherland begins as a simple telephone operator, but the events of the first episode thrust him into a new situation that he has no choice but to take on. The way Sutherland and Larkin meet raises a lot of questions, too, and what starts as a normal day instead ends with both of their lives never being the same again. While season 2 is met with mixed reviews, it’s still an enjoyable watch, and hopefully the upcomingThe Night Agentseason 3will be able to rectify past mistakes and return to what made season 1 such a powerhouse title.
