In spy shows, bigger is not always better...
I was a Homeland fan right from the start. Great performances, constant suspense, smart developments. The show remained watchable in later seasons, but the amount of action was greatly increased. Previously smart characters became dumb, and on season 7 Carrie Mathison was more action hero than spymaster.
Most recently, this is happening in Amazon's series Jack Ryan. The first season was a good thriller with interesting twists. The second was basically "Jack Ryan: Navy Seal". We know right from the start who the bad guy is, and, in the end, we get a "twist" that is both lazy and predictable. Not only that: Jack's "cowboy" behavior gets absurdly dumb (he's kind of an asshole too...), in a way that is not compatible with his backstory. I won't spoiler anything, but in this season he does things that would make Jack Bauer stand and applaud.
To me, that's frustrating because I love all that spy shit, preferably with large doses of realism. If I want action I'll watch Mission Impossible or something.
One of the possible reasons for the increase in action scenes in successful spy shows is the larger budgets. They start small, with character-driven stories, and grow to be action movies.
Another might be the need to please and retain a larger audience gained in the first seasons.
They also tend to get less and less realistic, like The Americans.
I wish there was a spy show that kept being a spy show all the way through.
If you want good TV shows without so much action and more espionage, you might enjoy Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and the sequel Smiley’s People. The first season of Fargo I think also fits the category (and some of the subsequent seasons as well, though there is a mix of violent action and more peaceful episodes). I think it’s a little lower in quality, but I started watching Sneaky Pete recently, which may also be up your alley.
Have you seen 2011s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy? It's highly rated also.
Yes, that was great as well!
Is it the same story? Cause if that is true, I'll watch the TV show (without spoilers) first. More delicious hours of spying ;)
Yes, they’re both based on the novel by Le Carré.
I loved all seasons of Fargo!
Will check the other suggestions, thanks!
Just wanted to thank you for the suggestion! I'm in the last episode of the TV show, and what a gem! I had no trouble adapting to the old-school rhythm. The dialogue is tremendous, and the characters are clever, genuine and coherent all the way through. Great minds in a game of spying chess. This show is everything I wanted and more. Now to the grand finale!
Cheers!
ps: I think I'll become a reader of John le Carrè now too...
Glad you enjoyed it!
oh boy! Yes! Jack Ryan is great, but as you said, it's basically Jack Ryan: First Blood. He really went from Analyst to The Jackal (skill-wise) in no time. I still enjoy it, but I wish they'd dial him back about five notches toward analyst.
One thing I really admire about Homeland over all other shows is how they listen to the fans and quickly adapt the next season to meet our desires while not allowing the fans to control the narrative. It's a delicate balance that I've only seen on display with the series.
Along with the other Le Carre stuff, you might like The Night Manager book and series. Also worth keeping an eye out for is Slow Horses (announced), the first book in the Slough House series from Mick Herron. For Tinker Tailor, both the movie, series, and novel are exceptional. The movie is a great place to start.
Another good one is Little Drummer Girl. Berlin Station is also good, for the most part, but less full-bore tradecraft and more spy-stuff with some interpersonal stuff. Deutschland 83 / 86 is another gem — not perfect, but good.
These are both way better than the typical 'pew pew' spy stuff and focus more on tradecraft. Strike is also a well-paced series, just enough pulp without being tropey (for a comedy that plays with tropes, Bored to Death is for you.) You might also enjoy The Looming Tower, which has a little tradecraft and a lot of politics but is really well-made.
There's only one season, but Rubicon is pretty good. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389371/
Rubicon is so good. If a series should have a ‘ten years later...’, its Rubicon.
I like to think that Rubicon and Mr Robot are in the same universe.
Just to say I finished it recently - an loved it! Kinda sad there won't be another season, since it's a true story.
I will watch it, thanks!
And hope that it remains spy focused ;)
Just finished it a few nights ago. It takes its time in the beginning, but, for me, it was a gripping story about the challenges of going deep cover. A fascinating story that I had never heard of in the USA.