10 More Thrilling Action-Packed Shows
The Night Agent is the latest thrilling and action-packed show on Netflix. Spread over 10 episodes, this one makes for a highly enjoyable watch from start to finish. If you’ve finished watching this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing.
To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have.
Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming The Night Agent!
Homeland
Similarities – Espionage, Action
Homeland follows the story of a CIA officer, Carrie Mathison, who becomes convinced that Nicholas Brody, a U.S. Marine Sergeant rescued after being held captive by terrorists, has been turned and poses a threat to national security. The show revels in its suspenseful tone and thriller vibes, with plenty of espionage, terrorism, and national security issues. Not only that, but the show also explores Carrie’s personal struggles with mental illness.
Both shows involve intelligence officers working to uncover and stop terrorist threats, emphasizing the psychological toll this line of work can have on its agents.
24
Similarities – Agents working against the clock
24 centers on Jack Bauer, a counter-terrorism agent working for the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU). Each season covers 24 hours of real-time, with Jack facing various terrorist threats and conspiracies across the 24 episodes. The show’s real-time format and high stakes make it tense and action-packed, although some of the stories shine brighter than others.
The Night Agent shares more than a few similarities to 24, given they both follow counter-terrorism agents working against the clock to prevent catastrophic attacks. Both shows feature intense action and high-stakes situations, making it an easy recommendation.
Fauda
Similarities – Espionage, Action, Tense Negotiations
Fauda is an Israeli television series that follows Doron Kavillio, a retired undercover operative, who returns to the field to hunt down a notorious Hamas terrorist. The show explores the complexities and moral ambiguities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from both sides, while peppering in plenty of action along to way to make for a highly enjoyable watch.
Both series center on special operatives engaged in covert missions, showing the complex political and personal dynamics involved in such operations.
The Blacklist
Similarities – Espionage, Action
The Blacklist follows Raymond “Red” Reddington, a former government agent turned high-profile criminal, who voluntarily surrenders to the FBI. He offers to help them track down and apprehend other dangerous criminals on his “blacklist,” but only if he can work with rookie profiler Elizabeth Keen.
The unlikely partnerships between law enforcement and outside sources is partly what makes The Blacklist so enjoyable, while the focus on tracking down dangerous criminals and uncovering hidden agendas makes for a highly enjoyable watch.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Similarities – Action, drama
Amazon have struck gold with Jack Ryan and while Reacher is also bringing up the action front on the platform, it’s Jack Ryan that’s been going strong since the beginning. This series follows Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst, who is unexpectedly thrust into the field after discovering a pattern in terrorist communication.
Ryan works to prevent global threats while navigating the complexities of international espionage. Like The Night Agent, this focus on intelligence officers stopping these global threats, not to mention the challenges and risks associated with espionage and counter-terrorism, makes for an exciting, nail-biting watch.
You can read our full season review for Jack Ryan here!
Designated Survivor: 60 Days
Similarities – Action, rookie protagonists
A hidden gem that few may know about, Designated Survivor: 60 Days is a South Korean adaptation of the American series “Designated Survivor”, following Park Mu-jin, a low-level government minister, who suddenly becomes the acting president after a terrorist attack kills all high-ranking officials.
As a result, Park has 60 days to uncover the truth behind the attack and stabilize the country. Unlike the original, 60 Days’ tight-knit plot and bottled 16 episodes makes for a singular story rather than an open-ended venture, while the acting across the board is outstanding.
Both shows deal with the aftermath of terrorist attacks and the pursuit of those responsible, while the focus on an inexperienced protagonists thrust into positions of power is another similarity.
You can read our full season review for Designated Survivor: 60 Days here!
Bodyguard
Similarities – Action, Politics
Bodyguard is a British series that follows the life of David Budd, a war veteran suffering from PTSD who now works as a Police Sergeant in the Royalty and Specialist Protection unit. He is assigned to protect the controversial Home Secretary, Julia Montague (played by Keeley Hawes), whose political views he strongly opposes.
Much like The Night Agent, the opening scene of the first episode is intense, revolving around a train bombing, and that alone manages to set the tone and mood of The Bodyguard beautifully.
In The Bodyguard, David gets drawn into a web of political intrigue and terrorism, forcing him to balance his duty with his personal beliefs, as well as navigate the dangerous waters surrounding his assignment.
You can read our full season review for Bodyguard here!
The Recruit
Similarities – Action thriller
The Recruit dropped late in 2022 and certainly made quite an impression. The Recruit follows a CIA lawyer who becomes entangled in dangerous international power politics when a former asset threatens to expose the nature of her long-term relationship with the agency.
Much like The Night Agent, both shows thrive on the high-octane action and thriller aspects of its plot, with plenty of twists along the way to keep things exciting. Both main characters are easy to root for and the story zips by at a lively pace.
You can read our episode recaps for The Recruit here!
Treadstone
Similarities – Espionage, Action
Created off the back of the successful Bourne movies, Treadstone is a series set in the exact same universe, centering around the black ops program, Treadstone, which was responsible for creating highly skilled assassins, including Jason Bourne.
The show follows multiple sleeper agents around the world as they are awakened to carry out their missions. There’s also additional lore thrown in here too, delving into the origins and inner workings of the Treadstone program.
Much like The Night Agent, this show highlights the global scope and high stakes of intelligence work, as well as the personal sacrifices faced by those involved.
The Shield
Similarities – Same creator, drama
he Shield is an American crime drama television series that follows the story of a corrupt police unit in Los Angeles, led by Detective Vic Mackey. The series delves into the lives of the officers in the unit, exploring their personal struggles, and corruption within the police force. With the same creator as The Night Agent at the helm, you’ll immediately draw some parallels to the filming style and the dialogue.
Here though, The Shield looks at the gritty portrayal of the thin line between law enforcement and criminality, exploring the moral dilemmas and challenges faced by those working within the police force.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching The Night Agent.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
Very similar to The Night Agent is Condor, loosely based on the Three Days of the Condor movie with Robert Redford back in 1975. Max Irons’ character, a CIA analyst, is on the run from one of the higher ups — is it Mira Sorvino, Glenn Hurt, Bob Balaban — he doesn’t know. There’s a woman who’s helping him out, as in the movie, there’s a black female cop trying to figure it all out, and there’s a deadly female assassin after him. One difference is that it’s darker than The Night Agent.