THE NIGHT AGENT: A Review Of The New Netflix Series

Introduction

Netflix, as of late, has been hit or miss. With the streaming juggernaut subscribing to the ‘quantity over quality’ method, some of their so-called ‘top shows’ has been anything but. Look no further to shows such as Space Force, Away, or Freud, as proof of this. Netflix has deep pockets and is willing to throw a lot of money at the wall to see what sticks. While a significant amount of new Netflix shows are of questionable quality, every now and then, one will slip in, under the radar. It reminds you why Netflix became the giant that it is. The Night Agent is a prime example of this.

It’s hard to put your finger on just what it is about The Night Agent that has attracted so many viewers in so short a period of time. Perhaps it’s the action-filled narrative or the government conspiracy theories that jump at the viewer at every turn. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of seeing high-quality shows of this genre (think 24 or Alias) at the forefront of the medium again. Whatever it is, it’s catapulted The Night Agent to the top of the streaming services’ Top 10 list since its premiere on March 23. With explosions, gunfights, and romance, The Night Agent is one of the best new shows of the year.

Synopsis

The Night Agent stars Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland, a low-level FBI agent. His sole, and lonely, purpose is to answer an emergency phone line in the basement of the White House. A flashback into Peter’s life shows Peter saving a group of passengers on a DC Metro train from a terrorist bombing. However, all is not so cut and dry. There is a growing number of people thinking that Peter may have been in on the attempted bombing. Subsequently, he is demoted to having to answer a phone that never rings…until it does.

Peter’s docile work life at the bureau suddenly shifts gears when he receives a panicked call from security tech CEO, Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan). Rose has just witnessed the assassination of her Aunt Emma (Simone Kessell) and Uncle Henry (William MacDonald), who, it appears, were also former operatives. They talk about a possible Russian mole in the White House right before they are executed. The president’s chief-of-staff, Diane Farr (Hong Chau), soon puts Peter in charge of retrieving Rose and keeping her safe. The killers are now after her as well.

Rose and Peter elude the assassins while slowly forming a bond with each other. Their chemistry is palpable. We follow this duo through a complex maze of terrorists, crooked government officials, and a high-level White House conspiracy that may be tied to Vice President Redfield (Christopher Shyer). Speaking of the Vice-President, Fola Evans-Akingbola and D.B. Woodside portray a pair of Secret Service agents assigned to protect the Veep’s Georgetown attending daughter (Sarah Desjardins). Her rebellion against her father causes some major issues. 

Peter soon goes rogue because of his distrust of the people in power around him. It’s at this point the supporting characters in The Night Agent are fleshed out. We are introduced to a number of colorful characters that are pivotal to the central plot. This includes Dale (Phoenix Raei) and Ellen (Eve Harlow), a pair of eccentric and ruthless lovers and assassins that are on the hunt for Peter and Rose. President Travers (Kari Matchett) and her long-standing relationship with Diane also play a key part in unraveling this complicated and multi-layered storyline.

Analysis

Created by Shawn Ryan (The Shield) from a novel written by Matthew Quirk, The Night Agent packs a lot of punch and world-building into its ten episodes. Gabriel Basso is surprisingly believable and, more importantly, likable as Peter. He fills the Jason Bourne shoes admirably, playing the son of a disgraced FBI agent, joining the bureau and trying to clear his name. Further, the chemistry between Basso and Buchanan is significant and helps drive the narrative forward throughout the ten episodes. Oscar-nominated Hong Chau, whose career is blossoming with standout performances in The Menu (2022) and The Whale (2022), elevates the show to another level. Her steely-faced and icy portrayal of Chief-of-Staff Diane Farr is delicious.   

To be honest, it’s chemistry and likability that makes shows like The Night Agent the success that they are. Even the crazed assassins (one just wants to stay home and play house), have a certain charm and appeal to them. We’re not actively rooting for them, yet, we’ll stick with them to see where the storyline takes them. In addition, the parallel storylines of the Vice-President’s daughter and the White House mole blend seamlessly with each other. Most importantly, none of it drags on for more than a few minutes per episode. 

The Night Agent is far from a perfect show. There is the usual mindless exposition that is used to tie up much of the loose ends towards the end of the series. This is a common trope for shows of this nature. Also, some of the writing – such as that of Vice-President Redfield – could be sharper, and less stereotypical. All of that aside, The Night Agent moves along at a breakneck pace. It pulls the viewer in from the first ten minutes of episode one. Much of this can be attributed to the writing and direction. Creator and showrunner Shawn Ryan is the director of the first two episodes. He handles the job competently and with confidence. He also brings out the physicality in both of his leads. 

Conclusion

The Night Agent might not be the most original series to come down the pipeline for Netflix (see The Recruit). However, that doesn’t stop Shawn Ryan’s show from being extremely engaging and almost non-stop action and intrigue. While there are multiple storylines overlapping each other, none of it ever gets too complicated or bogged down. With two engaging leads and a host of colorful and veteran supporting actors, Ryan once again delivers an exciting and fresh series that will undoubtedly result in a second season. If you’re a fan of Jack Recher or The Recruit, you’ll be more than satisfied with The Night Agent, currently the best new series on Netflix.

Created by Shawn Ryan and starring Gabriel Basso and Luciane Buchanan, The Night Agent premiered on Netflix on March 23, 2023

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