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!

You can get Apple for free for a month. Binge watch Slow Horses Series 1 and 2, then realise it's worth paying Apple so you can watch the rest.

Edge of Darkness is an old series from 1980s but it hasn't dated. It's an absolute classic. Brilliant acting and story. It's on Amazon Prime as well as Apple.

A Spy Among Friends

You can get up to THREE months free if you join Currys' membership scheme (Perks...?)

We are a determined bunch, OP...

PS. I love the show but, yes, the books are even better.

Oooohh.

I am obviously in synch with the BBC. Fantastic!

I love the original Tinker, Tailor and Smiley's People with Alec Guinness.

The Americans is great (and also evidence of how bad wigs and awful styling can make two very attractive people look terrible). It seems very OTT but the underlying story of a pair of KGB agents living as spies in 1980s America is based on real cases.

Homeland is also great ( and the threads on here about it used to be hilarious).

Some of the earlier episodes of Spooks were very good but it did go off the boil towards the end. I'm not sure if it is a series that has dated that well. The style is a bit grating now.

I'm not sure if I would class it as strictly a spy story but I love Secret Army.

The Americans is on Channel 4 at the moment.

Oh, and A Spy Among Friends about Philby, loved it (on ITVX I think?)

Edge of Darkness is an old series from 1980s but it hasn't dated. It's an absolute classic. Brilliant acting and story. It's on Amazon Prime as well as Apple.

Edge of Darkness is sooooo good. Watched it again about a year ago, still brilliant. What a cast.

State of Play (original tv series not film). More political thriller/domestic security than espionage but it’s excellent and the cast is incredible.

The Americans is on Disney Plus now

Thanks so much for all the recommendations. (Even if forty of them were for Slow Horses 😜) I'm definitely going to watch The Americans - I remember the story it was based on, fascinating.

I've started with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy though, am two episodes in and having to stop myself from watching more because I don't want to waste it by binging.

My god it's brilliant. Exactly what I was looking for as well, the whole shady downbeat tone and engrossing in all the right ways. A lot less hand holding than most modern telly - I feel like I'm having to work for it, which makes it even better. A treat!

I’m enjoying TTSS sequel Smiley’s People which is currently available on iPlayer.

I found a really great episode guide / discussion thread with lots of curious details here:

fanfare.metafilter.com/show/smileys-people

Ooh thank you! Yes I'm planning on watching Smiley's People next.

I’d watch Tinker Tailor with Gary Oldman then...you guessed it SLOW HORSES, for contrast. But read the books, they are full of sly political references and Roddy Ho is such a cunt, it’s a pure joy when awful things happen to him.

Slow Horses is worth subscribing to Apple TV.

Lots of mobile phone providers etc offer a few months free subscription to apple tv. Worth having a look to see if you might be able to get it for free long enough to watch the 4 seasons of slow horses.

Bad Sisters as well on Apple TV is well worth the sub.