Genres within television and film have evolved over the years, with several being combined to form new genres and sub-genres. One such instance has seen spy and espionage television and films – which incorporate elements of thrillers, dramas, and more action-oriented fare.
More often than not, spy shows on TV emphasize the action element – comparable to the likes of James Bond. More rarely, however, shows will lean more towards the espionage side of things, in which spies and agents are sent deep into the heart of an intriguing plot.
10 The Blacklist Is A Thriller That Knows How To Build Suspense
The Blacklist is an American crime thriller, starring James Spader as a former U.S. Navy Officer-turned-criminal, named Raymond “Red” Reddington, who offers the FBI a blacklist in return for immunity and certain quirky perks.
While the show finds itself more in the area of the thriller, mystery, and crime genres, the fact that Red is helping the FBI with his list (which contains criminals and spies), the show has plenty to be considered a part of the spy and espionage sub-genres. Initially released in 2013, The Blacklist has amassed nine seasons and almost 200 episodes total.
9 The Night Manager Has The Audience In The Palm Of Its Hand
Airing originally on the BBC in 2016, The Night Manager is an espionage thriller that is often overlooked, when in fact it is undisputedly one of the best shows of the genre. It has since been imported to AMC in the US, broadening its accessibility. The show packs a lot in its six episodes, full of tension, suspense, and stellar acting.
With the MCU’s Tom Hiddleston and House actor Hugh Laurie leading a very talented cast, the premise of The Night Manager sees a night manager of a hotel going undercover to help take down an arms dealing ring, with chaos and suspense duly ensuing.
8 Burn Notice Centers Around A Disavowed Spy
American espionage television series Burn Notice has seven seasons and a movie to its name, airing from 2007 to 2013. The basic premise is that Jeffrey Donovan’s Michael Westen has been disavowed by the CIA and fans follow along for what that entails.
Being burned as a spy can ruin a person’s life as their previous life is separated from their new circumstances, and the show immediately catches the audience’s attention as Westen searches for the truth. Burn Notice is a must-watch for fans of spy and espionage television shows and has even influenced aspects of more modern shows within the genre.
7 The Americans Goes Back To The Cold War
Premiering in 2013 and lasting for six riveting seasons, The Americans has earned its place as one of the best spy thrillers and dramas out there. Set during the Cold War and focusing on two Russian agents who are posing as an American couple with a family, the show explores the roles and pressures on both sides.
While at times The Americans gives ample air time to the domestic life of the Jennings family, the tension is always lingering, as the audience knows that it isn’t always going to be easy when it comes to spies being spies. The Americans deserves its rave reviews and is a must-watch for fans of spy dramas.
6 Archer Is A Hilarious Animated Twist On The Spy Life
Compared to other top spy and espionage television shows, Archer is certainly different. The animated comedy is full of outlandish schemes and raunchy humor. It focuses on the titular character Archer and the spy organization he is a part of, called the International Secret Intelligence Service, headed by his mother. Naturally, there are many conflicts of interest.
The team is a hilarious mixture of characters, with some displaying pure vulgarity and incompetence, while others just suffer for their association with Archer and company. Premiering in 2009, Archer has 12 seasons under its belt, and while the reviews tend to vary every season, it is still funny and different enough to warrant a mention.
5 The Issues Raised In Person Of Interest Make It One Of The Most Intriguing Shows Out There
Jonathan Nolan’s Person of Interest is predominately a crime drama, about Harold Finch and John Reese, as they create and utilize “The Machine,” a surveillance AI that essentially predicts crimes that will occur. It can identify the people involved, but it doesn’t necessarily identify the specifics and important factors, which creates a sense of intrigue and mystery.
Person of Interest can also be considered an espionage procedural in how it presents itself and has the tension and suspense to help it feel at home in the spy and espionage genres. The show ran from 2011 until 2016, with five seasons to its name.
4 24’s Unique Premise Will Always Have It Mentioned Among The Best Espionage Thrillers
For everything that renowned actor Kiefer Sutherland has done throughout his career, he will always be remembered for his role as Jack Bauer in the action drama series 24. Initially standing out for its unique premise – 24 episodes per season, with each episode covering an hour – the show lasted for nine total seasons, with eight of those continuing the initial format.
24 helped to redefine espionage action thrillers and will forever be remembered for its unique methods of building up tension and effective execution of its premise.
3 Killing Eve Is A Compelling Story Of Two Spies On Different Sides & How They Come Together
The spy thriller series Killing Eve has become a huge hit since its inception in 2018, with Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh excelling in their roles as Villanelle and Eve Polastri respectively.
Pitting the two main characters on opposite sides – Oh is a member of MI6 and Comer is doing the bidding of The Twelve – Killing Eve focuses on the complicated relationship between the two leads. As stakes are raised and lines are blurred, chaos ensues. Similar to Chuck, Killing Eve is an action-packed spy series but has plenty of comedy to make it a mixed bag, and certainly worth watching.
2 Chuck Is The Ultimate Spy Series While Also Being A Hilarious Comedy
As far as television shows go, Chuck is one of the best multi-genre mashups. It has action, comedy, and romance, but at its core, it is a spy drama. It centers around Zachary Levi’s Chuck Bartowski, who receives an encoded email that embeds many of the United States’ most secret files into his brain, making him a Human Intersect.
Given a team of agents consisting of Yvonne Strahovski’s Sarah Walker and Adam Baldwin’s John Casey, Chuck is protected and used as a valuable asset to the NSA and CSI. Chuck has a little bit of everything for everyone, making it one of the best spy series out there.
1 Homeland Is The Best Espionage Thriller Series With Consistently Thrilling Seasons
While there are spy shows that opt to integrate comedy to help complement the espionage and action, Homeland thrives on its thriller tropes and psychological warfare, making it one of the most intense and engrossing spy/espionage shows out there. Spanning eight seasons from 2011 to 2020, Homeland focuses on Carrie Mathison, played by Claire Danes, and her work with the CIA.
Her investigations into Damian Lewis’s Nicholas Brody and the pair’s interactions, help to make the first few seasons particularly captivating. The later seasons even manage to move past the dynamic that drove the early episodes of the series and arguably get even better – as opposed to getting diminishing returns like with many long-running shows.
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