Please recommend a spy series

[DickEmery]

I've never really got into spy stories before but I recently watched The Little Drummer Girl and The Ipcress File (the telly programme from a couple of years ago, not the film). Loved them both. Also watched The Night Agent which I thought was quite shit. I've seen enough of Killing Eve, for me. Please recommend me something really convoluted and downbeat with good dialogue. I have Netflix and the free version of Prime plus all the UK catch-up main channels. Thank you!

The Americans (was on prime)
Slow Horses (Apple though)

Police rather than spy but suspenseful and downbeat - Red Riding Trilogy

Slow Horses

Ha, just spotted your user name. Oh you are awful...(but I like you) 😏

SLOW HORSES

McMafia on BBC!

Definitely Slow Horses. Was hooked on the books and the TV adaptation does not disappoint.

Slow horses. It’s apple, but well worth the fee. Tbh, the series’ are quite short so you probably only need 1 or 2 months

All the Smiley series , probably even better as audio; everything since is based on them? Spooks is pretty good ( and goes on for ever).

How has nobody said Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy yet?!

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy with Alec Guinness

Just to echo evtheria, in caps

SLOW HORSES

Slow horses is definitely worth the apple subscription.

Designated survivor is great if you like American TV.

Spooks is old but good.

The Americans is one of the best things I’ve ever seen on telly.
Le bureau (about French spies) is also fab

For uber fans, there’re nice little Smiley/TTSS references in….

SLOW HORSES

😁

Definitely Slow Horses

The Game on BBC iplayer

DH and I just rewatched them all before binging the latest season… fortnight tops 🫣😂.

I DON'T HAVE APPLE.

But, thank you. I'll keep it in mind for if I ever get it.

Spooks (on iplayer).

In case no one mentioned it… Slow Horses 😂

BBC iPlayer have just added some unmissable John le Carre series - Smiley's People, TTSS, Night Manager.

Modern series it probably is Slow horses (sorry OP)

But the George Smiley series are great classics.

thank you !

Honestly it's worth forking out for Apple TV for a month or two just for Slow Horses. That's what I do every time a new season starts.

Good thread. Love spy dramas.

Homeland

Berlin Station

But The Americans is hands down the best TV drama I’ve ever seen, and one that stayed with me for years later. Six seasons. Worth purchasing on Amazon like a virtual DVD box set (don’t think they’re on Netflix).

Oh and the Slow Horses books - box set cheaper than a subscription and they’re as compelling as telly.