7 Smart Spy TV Shows

Prime Target

Thriller | 3.16 out of 5 on MyShows | Season 1 | 2025–...

A young mathematician discovers a pattern that could revolutionize the way we think about computer security. Soon, the scientist realizes that powerful people are after his research, and he finds himself caught up in an international conspiracy.

“A great start. A very interesting topic—math and intelligence agencies. But I can’t really get into Leo Woodall, who plays the main character. It seems to me that he has the face of a maniac. And he looks like he’s about to seduce and slaughter someone,” — Kukabara

“About 10 years ago, shows and movies like this were popular. It looks like a miscarried twin from that era. There’ll be endless running around with some “agent” and solving ancient mysteries along the way. The only thing missing were really dumb plot twists. It’ll do for background noise,” — Zy4

“Wow! Well, let me put it this way: the series is very mixed. I don’t even know if it needs a sequel. The ending is open-ended, allowing for either a second season or wrapping up the project on a high note. At the end, there’s a cool part of the credits in the form of program code—I haven’t seen touches like that since *Mr. Robot*,” — 6o4ka

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“Ponies”

Espionage, Thriller | 3.48 out of 5 on MyShows | Season 1 | 2026

Two female employees at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow unexpectedly find themselves caught up in an intelligence operation. After the deaths of their husbands, the women try to figure out what really happened and gradually become spies themselves.

“If you set aside everything I’d call ‘Spanish embarrassment’—which had me laughing until I cried—it turned out pretty well; Bea and Twyla make such a funny and cute duo… The story isn’t half bad, and there’s even some intrigue—you end up suspecting everyone of spying. My favorite character in the series is the KGB agent Andryushka; he turned out to be quite the hedonist, at least to my taste. The dialog in Russian—a special shout-out to the cast for that. And, surprisingly, I actually want to watch the second season, so we’ll see,” — Marusya

“No, well, it wasn’t boring or anything—it was actually pretty engaging—but this isn’t even just ‘cranberry-level’ nonsense; it’s some kind of female fantasy bordering on cheesiness. For fans of Cold War-themed fluff, I’d recommend spending your time on *Whiskey on the Rocks* instead of this,” — iken

“I really started to like it starting with the fifth episode—the pacing, the great satire of both sides, and the shift to a more lighthearted narrative tone. The actors are good; I’m ready to keep watching,” — anastasiakizka

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“The Sympathizer”

Comedy, Drama, Espionage | 3.5 out of 5 on MyShows | Season 1 | 2024

A double agent who worked for communist intelligence during the Vietnam War finds himself in the U.S. after the fall of Saigon. The protagonist must continue his espionage activities while trying to preserve his own identity and navigate the contradictions of two worlds.

“A stunningly beautiful debut. Gorgeous cinematography, a dynamic plot, and dark, biting humor. Plus—I’m actually learning something new about this war; before, all I’d heard were the standard American war stories about heroic soldiers, but here the perspective is completely different. All in all, it’s a very interesting watch,”— PianoInBush

“It turned out great in the end. The plot, the soundtrack, the visuals… Everything is a treat for the eyes and ears. Even though it’s an arthouse film. Robert Downey Jr. deserves special mention—he’s particularly good here,” — Tikhonov91

“It’s amazing how the writer wove a story about trauma—a trauma that caused a man to lose his own identity and be unable to regain it—into a satirical spy thriller. As it turns out, the series works on the level of a hilariously funny satire, on the level of a fast-paced thriller, and on the level of a psychological drama (and even on the level of a buddy movie), and all these levels flow out of one another and complement each other. Even the four Robert Downeys, who at first were just a bit of fun, end up, like Chekhov’s gun, firing—only very grimly, so much so that it makes your throat tighten. Bravo! One of the most unusual and best series of the year,” — faruty458

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“Black Doves”

Thriller, Spy, Drama | 3.52 out of 5 on MyShows | 2 seasons | 2024–...

The wife of a British politician leads a double life: she’s actually a spy. After her lover is murdered, the heroine finds herself at the center of a dangerous conspiracy and tries to figure out who she can trust.

“Well, if you look at it as a spy/mercenary series—it’s really weak, on a ‘kindergarten’ level. And it didn’t quite measure up as a good drama either. I watched it purely for Keira Knightley—it’s always a pleasure to see her on screen—and a big plus for “Bang Bang”; I love that song no matter who sings it. Overall, it’s okay to watch in the background if you have some spare time and nothing else to watch, but if you have a choice, you’re better off finding something more worthwhile—3.5/5,” — Sen13

“The final episode turned out to be surprisingly solid. Overall, the same goes for the series. The plot itself seems pretty good. But maybe the problem lies in the directing—it just can’t keep the interest piqued consistently. Or maybe the cast wasn’t chosen well. Or perhaps the dialogue is just poorly written, making you want to skip it. And there’s no chemistry between the characters. If there’s a second season, I hope they change something,” — Paramelion

“I’m not a fan of spy shows, and this one didn’t change my mind. It seems to me like there’s a lot of over-the-top stuff—it’s not realistic—and the abundance of plot twists and new characters in every episode just confuses me personally. I don’t get it—maybe I’m just dumb. The show isn’t bad, it’s just an acquired taste; I think the actors are great, of course,” — jaredpsauncah

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“The Agency”

Thriller, Drama, Espionage | 3.53 out of 5 on MyShows | 2 seasons | 2024–...

A CIA agent returns to London after several years of working undercover. When his past collides with his present, a secret operation begins to threaten not only his career but also his personal life.

“For some reason, I fell asleep halfway through the first episode, but the next day I kept watching—and couldn’t fall asleep until I’d finished the seventh episode; since no new episodes have been released yet, that’s what stopped me. As a fan of detective stories, thrillers, and dark, depressing stuff—I’ll say I like it, even though this isn’t the end yet,”— Tanya04

“We liked the second season much more than the first. The pacing is solid; I wanted to binge-watch it all at once. They managed to weave together themes of Russia, Iran, Africa, and the relationship between U.S. and British intelligence—with China lurking in the background somewhere. This time, there was no blatantly nonsensical plot. I especially liked Saurra Lightfoot-Leon in her role as the active field agent Daniela—she’s a likable actress and a vibrant character. I’m glad they kept her alive, just like Michael Fassbender’s character, even though he found himself in very difficult circumstances. I hope the series gets renewed for a third season,” — alexeyfalko

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s too drawn out. The story is a couple of hours long at most. It’s watchable, though. It’s fine for fans of the genre, but I think the rest will find it boring. We’ll see what happens in the next season,” — Mike95

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“Slow Horses”

Spy, Thriller, Drama | 4.37 out of 5 on MyShows | 6 seasons | 2022–...

British intelligence’s underachievers are sent to a department filled with agents who’ve botched important missions. But even there, they have to carry out real spy operations that require observation, cunning, and the ability to outwit the enemy.

“The series continues to masterfully blend the absurd with suspense, turning these failed agents into the most human heroes of British intelligence. The story has taken on a slightly larger scale, but it hasn’t lost its trademark sarcasm and biting humor—the dialogue is sparkling, and the atmosphere of London’s gloom and cynicism remains mesmerizing. It’s a smart, bittersweet comedy-drama about misfits who, oddly enough, are the best at saving the world,”— Zaborika

“A unique series with a unique sense of humor—farting, torn socks, they could’ve even joked about shit... Not exactly subtle humor. The plot isn’t bad—there are some unexpected twists—but files and photos stored in folders in an archive…What century is this? Intelligence, with a bunch of experts and all that equipment, that can’t find a van with the kidnapped victim and track it down… But the genius loser did it all in 2 minutes,” — Elinkas

“The show has a great atmosphere; it’s interesting and fast-paced. I usually binge-watch shows once all the episodes are out, but this one is an exception—I looked forward to every episode,” — MarbleMe

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“The Day of the Jackal”

Thriller | 4.37 out of 5 on MyShows | Season 1 | 2024–...

A professional hitman is assigned a new mission, and a British intelligence agent begins hunting him down. The series turns the confrontation between these two professionals into a game of wits, where each tries to anticipate the other’s next move.

“To anyone who’s on the fence, keep watching. The first episode seemed a bit boring and dragged on a little, but then I got totally hooked—it’s really gripping, the visuals and soundtrack are just top-notch. I’m glad I kept watching,” — Mysterious-007

“Although the plot setup isn’t original, it really hooked me. The visuals are stunning and the color palette is stylish—and of course, many have already raved about the wonderful soundtrack. I caught myself thinking that it reminds me of the atmosphere of the Bond films and Fincher’s *The Killer* (not just because of the spy-and-assassin theme). It’ll be interesting to watch Eddie in this new role for him as a cold-blooded and brutal killer—he really is such a versatile actor!” — noir_character

“I stumbled upon this show after hearing the YouTube track ‘GRES, ENXK — Blacklist,’ and I was immediately struck by, ‘Wait, isn’t that the guy who played Stephen Hawking and was in some fantasy movie or other?’” First of all, I didn’t think I’d get so hooked… Second, Redmayne with a rifle—oh my god. My favorite episode is the one with “But it’s not about the money, Elias.” And third, I now have a goal to read the source material, since that’s the kind of thing I love,” — frau_schnaps

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