Pretzel Bites: The Rise of Spy Shows in the Streaming Era

As streaming platforms dominate, spy dramas with their intrigue, high stakes, and cliffhangers have become my new favorite, offering a thrilling escape from uncertain times.

Back when cable ruled the world, you could count on shows about lawyers, doctors, and cops. Add a couple of family and workplace comedies, and of course "Friends,” Seinfeld, and their countless knockoffs.

With streaming, another genre of scripted television has curried further favor - Spy shows. Sure, we’ve seen Get Smart and Mission Impossible from the 60s and MacGyver in he 80s, but I’m seeing a boon in shows about spies. Take a fresh-faced and handsome agent, throw him into a secret agency, mix him with some dangerous international intrigue, and end each episode with a cliffhanger. Voila, the next Netflix show is here. Why are they so popular? Like with any genre, there is an expectation of what you’re going to get: intrigue, high stakes, conspiracy, and action. Maybe it’s because we are in such uncertain times that we want to see these issues resolved in a definitive number of episodes.

Recently, my evenings have included various iterations of these shows. For some of these shows, the first season is good. The second season, trying to recapture the magic while also raising the stakes, often falls short. Here are some of my impressions.

The Recruit, Netflix: This Netflix original series follows Owen Hendricks, a rookie CIA lawyer who becomes involved in massive international conflicts with dangerous parties. In his first few weeks on the job, Owen finds himself tied to a murderous criminal, which takes him on a global adventure where he must negotiate with dangerous spies and deadly cartel bosses while following orders from his boss back in the States. The first season was good. The second season was meh. It has been canceled, and there won’t be a third season.

Night Agent, Netflix: Another Netflix show follows a low-level FBI agent who works nights in the basement of the White House, manning a phone line for undercover spies that never rings. But one day, it does, setting into motion a chain of events that uncovers a conspiracy that reaches all the way to the Oval Office. This is another show that had a great first season, but the second was so implausible. Peter is heroic in the first season but so dumb in the second.

Slow Horses, Apple+: Perhaps because each season is based on a book in the Slow Horses series by Mick Herron or because they are only six episodes long, Slow Horses consistently delivers year after year. Slough House is an administrative purgatory for MI5 service rejects who have seriously failed a task but not badly enough to get sacked. Those assigned there are expected to endure dull, routine tasks, along with occasional verbal abuse from their miserable boss, Jackson Lamb, who anticipates that they will leave out of boredom or frustration. Gary Oldman, who is always awesome as Dracula, Lee Harvey Oswald, Commissioner Gordon, or Sirius Black, is the best part of the show as Lamb, the smart yet slovenly head of Slough House. Highly recommend.

Black Doves, Netflix: This follows Helen Webb, a spy posing as the wife of a British politician, who embarks on a quest for revenge after her lover is murdered, enlisting the help of her old assassin friend Sam to uncover the truth and seek justice. Yes, it’s another British spy show, but Keira Knightly, as a sleeper agent and the wife of a British minister, is delightful. Recommend

Paradise, Hulu: The series follows United States Secret Service agent Xavier Collins as he seeks to discover the truth behind the killing of the President of the United States. As Xavier comes under suspicion for President Bradford's death, he searches for answers about what really happened and is unsure of whom he can trust as his questions lead to many shocking revelations. I enjoyed the first season, which offers a twist in the first episode that might translate to entertaining future seasons. It has been renewed. Recommend

Lioness, Paramount+: Showrunner Tyler Sheridan is the hot ticket right now. With the various iterations of Yellowstone (1923 and 1853), and other productions, he’s made a niche in compelling violent drama. In Lioness, he’s made a very masculine show with celebrated feminine sensibilities. Inspired by an actual US Military program, follows the life of Joe (Saldaña) while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA's spear in the war on terror. Recommend

Books I’ve read:

Zero Hour, Ruth Ware: Ruth Ware is a queen of intrigue. Sometimes, it’s spooky and mysterious. Other times, it feels like a bump in the night. In Zero Hours, she’s going for the woman on the run scenario. It leans into the tropes a little more than her previous works, but she satisfies her readers with the twists and turns.

Smoke Kings, Jahmal Mayfield: I came across this book by chance and wanted my sensibilities to be challenged. I was uncomfortable with these flawed protagonists making poor choices for what they feel are the right reasons, and part of me welcomed it. In fact, the only way the author could make them sympathetic was to include a cliched two-dimensional villain for them to confront. Not Recommend.

Burnt Ends, Laura Wetsel: Yes, part of me picked up Burnt Ends because the author’s name was close to mine. I also enjoy a little mystery with a Private Investigator looking for answers and battling her demons. Add in the setting of Kansas City barbecue, and I’m in. I recommend this easy read with family secret subplots, mysterious pig heads, and more. It’s ok.

How To Solve Your Own Murder, Kristen Perrin: A murder mystery in a small British village with an estate, an inheritance, and flashbacks to time gone by? Count me in. You know exactly what you’re getting with this type of mystery, and Perrin delivers, complete with a couple of twists on old tropes. Recommend

Side of Mustard: Happy Opening Day

Happy Opening Day to those who celebrate. The beginning of the baseball season is the epitome of Spring. There is rebirth. There is hope and anticipation of glory and the promise of lazy days ahead.

I’m celebrating with the audio release of Lose Yourself!

Lose Yourself will be available on Audible on April 15. One year after its release, I worked with the talented narrator Ian Seguenza to bring the stories of Brett Austen, Dana Peck, Will Jenson, Fred Stephenson, Derek Nguyen, and Lizzie Hernandez to life through audio.

Of course, print and ebook copies of Lose Yourself continue to be available. You can purchase them through your favorite online retailer or directly.

The Intern

The audio release allows me to remind folks of The Intern, my five-part prequel serial to Lose Yourself.

Javier is an intern with the Oakland A's (fictional reality) during a historical season when All-Star Brett Austen is on the verge of a historic achievement. Javier navigates good-natured indoctrination, relationships, and more in this coming-of-age story.

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