10 things you need to know about The Night Agent, Netflix’s most popular drama

The most-watched show on Netflix this year isn’t anything to do with Squid Game, Stranger Things, Bridgerton or the streaming giant’s other flagship franchises. It certainly isn’t either of its misfiring royal sagas, The Crown or Harry and Meghan’s docuseries.

Instead it’s a suspenseful spy thriller called The Night Agent.

This pulse-pounding 10-parter has seemingly come from nowhere to become one of Netflix’s most-watched shows ever. In Netflix’s new “What We Watched” report, releasing viewer data for the first time and detailing its most-watched content from January to June 2023, the debut season of The Night Agent tops the chart with more than 812m hours viewed – a whopping 22 per cent more than any other programme.

Unsurprisingly, a second series has already been greenlit. So what is The Night Agent and is it worth your valuable viewing time? We’ve answered the 10 key questions about this under-the-radar phenomenon…

1. What is The Night Agent?

An addictive blend of espionage procedural and political conspiracy, full of 24-style twists and turns. It follows low-level FBI agent Peter Sutherland, who works in the basement of the White House, manning an emergency “Night Action” phone line that never rings. Until one evening it does. When Agent Sutherland answers the call, he’s flung into a deadly conspiracy which ultimately goes all the way to the top. As conspiracies invariably do.

2. Why is it so popular?

It’s fast-moving, high-stakes and hugely bingeable. The sort of cliffhanger-laden ride where you’ll find yourself saying “Just one more episode” and staying up too late.

In his mission to find answers and save the nation, Sutherland unmasks government moles, dodges rogue hitmen and protects a murder witness. There are assassination attempts, car chases and bomb plots. Yet this isn’t one of those predictable dramas where the good guys win and the baddies lose. No spoilers but several beloved characters don’t make it to the end.

3. So why haven’t I heard of it?

Good question, considering it was released in March and has proved so popular. Pompous metropolitan types aren’t talking about it. You can either take that as a damning verdict or a hearty recommendation. You’re unlikely to see it on any critics’ “best of the year” lists – instead it’s become a hit via word-of-mouth, social media recommendation and grabby trailers playing on the streaming service. As the twin taglines say: “Question everything. Trust no one” and “Heroes aren’t born. They answer the call”.

4. Who stars in it?

Nobody very famous, which is another reason why it has lacked the media coverage devoted to lesser shows. New Zealand actress Luciane Buchanan plays former Silicon Valley cybersecurity CEO and all-round tech whiz Rose Larkin. Hong Chau, who was Oscar-nominated for her role in The Whale, plays the President’s chief of staff Diane Farr. British representation comes from South London model-turned actress Fola Evans-Akingbola as ambitious secret service agent Chelsea Arrington.

They’re all led by Gabriel Basso as FBI agent Peter Sutherland. The square-jawed St Louis-born actor is best known for sci-fi film Super 8 and Showtime drama The Big C but this has been hailed as a star-making performance. Basso is also renowned as a real-life action hero who almost became a Navy SEAL until injured his shoulder. He still practises both Muay Thai and kickboxing, and did most of his own stunts. “Peter’s not as badass as Gabriel is in real life,” jokes showrunner Shawn Ryan. Talking of whom…

5. Who’s behind the camera?

Based on the bestselling novel by Matthew Quirk, the series was created by experienced screenwriter and producer Shawn Ryan – best-known for police corruption classic The Shield and action series S.W.A.T. Ryan wrote the first three parts himself. His co-producer is Seth Gordon (The Good Doctor, For All Mankind), who directs the opening two episodes.

6. Anything else I need to know?

Quirk said his book was “inspired by a friend in DC who worked an overnight shift at the FBI”. Oh and if the White House chief of staff’s American flag looks strange, that’s because it’s the wrong way around – a production goof for which the show has been roundly teased.

7. Is it any good?

Yes. It’s finely crafted, cleverly written, character-led and irresistibly exciting. It’s been hailed as the latest successful example of the growing “Dad TV” phenomenon.

8. Wait, what’s ‘Dad TV’?

A term popularised in the last two years, initially to describe Taylor Sheridan’s vastly popular cowboy drama Yellowstone and its various spin-offs in the “Taylorverse”. It’s since been used to describe everything from Blue Bloods to The Boys, Billions to Banshee, Bosch to Narcos (sorry, there wasn’t another beginning with B).

Amazon’s fight-heavy Jack Reacher and Jack Ryan dramas are often airily dismissed as Dad TV, as are big-budget sports documentaries. UK-made entries in this loose genre include Sky’s glossy crime saga Gangs of London and Netflix’s Idris Elba-on-a-plane thriller Hijack.

9. Isn’t that a bit patronising?

Frankly, yes. It’s sneering, snobby shorthand for popular, crowd-pleasing dramas, usually made by men and often enjoyed by male viewers, though by no means exclusively. File it alongside annoying phrases like “dad bod”, “dad dancing” and “man flu”.

10. Should I watch it over Christmas, whether I’m a dad or not?

We’d certainly recommend doing so, especially looking at the lacklustre offerings on terrestrial TV. You know how Christmas viewing used to traditionally involve a Bond film? Well, think of The Night Agent as five of them stuck together with Quality Street toffees.

The Night Agent is available to stream on Netflix

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