Why you’ll want more after The Night Manager
The Night Manager set a high bar with its sleek espionage, sharp dialogue, and tense cat-and-m mouse games. If you’re craving more high-stakes intrigue, here are 10 shows that scratch that same itch—blend espionage, political power plays, and complex characters in gripping, binge-worthy ways.
1) Black Doves (2024, Netflix)
Keira Knightley leads in this darkly comic spy drama about a political wife who moonlights as a lethal operative. The intrigue deepens as secrets from a defense secretary husband’s inner circle leak to the highest bidders. Expect wry humor, razor-sharp twists, and a lead role that flips the usual spy stereotypes on their head.
2) The Night Manager (BBC/AMC)
If you’re revisiting the template that sparked your binge, rewatch or explore spinoffs and behind-the-scenes discussions. Its blend of glamorous locales, undercover operations, and moral ambiguity continues to be a gold standard for modern espionage storytelling.
3) The Americans
Set during the Cold War, this series follows two undercover Russian agents living in suburban America. It excels at intimate character studies set against a broad political backdrop, delivering tense undercover work, personal costs, and clever plotting that rewards careful viewing.
4) Treadstone
A contemporary spin on the Jason Bourne universe, Treadstone digs into the covert programs that create super-spies. If you loved The Night Manager’s clandestine world, this show expands the idea to a network of operatives with complex loyalties and shadowy motives.
5) Bodyguard
With a lean team navigating political risk, this UK thriller blends counterterrorism action with procedural stress and moral dilemmas. It’s a tight, character-driven series that tests loyalty under escalating pressure—perfect for fans of tight plotting and tense confrontations.
6) Homeland
Brooding, methodical, and relentlessly suspenseful, Homeland follows a CIA operative as she uncovers layered plots that blur lines between national security and personal belief. The psychology of espionage and the cost of vigilance are explored with acute realism.
7) Le Bureau des Légendes (The Bureau)
This French espionage drama offers a grounded, procedural take on long-term undercover operations. Quietly powerful and meticulously crafted, it emphasizes personal risk, deception, and the psychology of living a double life over explosive set pieces.
8) Messiah
When a mysterious figure erupts across different regions, the investigation uncovers global political tremors and ethical ambivalence about power structures. Its provocative premise keeps the tension high as secrets unravel across continents.
9) ZeroZeroZero
Based on a novel, this series tracks the global drug trade from the point of view of smugglers, buyers, and law enforcement. Its cold, documentary tone and multi-perspective storytelling offer a different flavor of global crime intrigue, with plenty of strategic maneuvering and risk.
10) The Invisible Line
A political thriller that dives into the murky ethics of intelligence work in a modern democracy. The show wears its realism lightly, offering sharp dialogue, strategic gambits, and characters who must navigate the gray areas between duty and personal safety.
Tips for choosing your next watch
- Consider the tone: if you want sharp wit with danger, Black Doves fits well. If you want procedural realism, The Bureau or Homeland are strong bets.
- Mix formats: combine a fast-paced thriller with a slower, character-centric drama to balance suspense and depth.
- Schedule smartly: these shows reward steady viewing—plan a weekend binge or spread an arc out across a week for maximum impact.
Whether you’re chasing the sleek stylistic polish of The Night Manager or craving grittier political intrigue, these 10 series offer compelling espionage, moral complexity, and the sharp tension that fans crave. Happy watching!
