Peter Sutherland, the lead character in the Netflix series The Night Agent, is genuinely a good guy. During season one, Peter (played by Gabriel Basso) proved to be both an Everyman and physically capable. He was also a dynamic character. The first season of The Night Agent had a compelling, exciting story to showcase him. The long wait between seasons gave me plenty of time to wonder if season two would be as good. Well, it’s a pleasure to report that The Night Agent season two is intense and complex, with some effective emotion to boot.
The first season of The Night Agent was densely plotted and thrilling. Peter is a likable character to lead the audience through a political thriller, and we root for him as he saves the President from assassination and even gets the girl, Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan). He learned about the Night Action government intelligence program during that adventure. Even though Peter started as a low-level FBI agent, I hoped he would advance in his career like he wanted to. Peter setting off to begin his journey as a Night Agent himself in the final minutes of season one was satisfying. I knew the character had more story to tell.
Season two of The Night Agent delivers on the promise of season one, expanding Peter’s journey with thrilling plotting and action sequences. Even the moments that stretch believability or test your affection for the characters don’t diminish the viewing experience.
“I understand why someone would sacrifice everything for their family.”
The first season of this show qualified as a political thriller, given that Peter saved POTUS from an attempt on her life by the Vice President and a shady defense contractor. This season is different. It is more of an espionage thriller, and we see that from the beginning. Peter has been a Night Agent for 10 months. He and his partner Alice (Brittany Snow) are tracking the buyer of CIA intel when their cover is blown and Alice is killed. What follows focuses more on covert intelligence and the world’s security than the first season did.
The style of writing for this show hasn’t changed, though. The thing I liked most about season one was the fact that a lot was happening but it was all connected. The plotting was successful in that way, and season two is written in the same fashion. Events move at a quick, but not overwhelming, pace. The writers blend disparate elements like chemical warfare, Eastern European terrorists, and Iranian defectors into a layered story. And Peter remains the conduit for the audience to connect with it all.
“It’s reductive to view this job as right and wrong.”
Peter is also an evolving character, just as he was during season one. Whereas back then, he was honing the skills he would need to eventually be a Night Agent, now he is struggling through what being a Night Agent requires him to do. This conflict comes to the fore when they need information from Noor (Arienne Mandi), a junior aid in the office of the Iranian ambassador to the U.N. Peter must keep painful truths from her so she will cooperate. Basso’s performance on The Night Agent clearly expresses how difficult this is for Peter, fleshing out his character more as this show goes on.
Another thing The Night Agent has always done well is fight scenes. Because Peter is now a full-fledged government agent, there are more of these sequences in this season, and they are still well-choreographed and exciting. The supporting characters were also a highlight of season one. Nearly all of them were interesting and memorable, even the villains. Season two has its share of these. Besides Noor, characters like Tomas (Rob Heaps), the son of a dictator from an unnamed Balkan nation, and Sami Saidi (Marwan Kenzari), another Night Agent, come into the narrative with important things to do. That’s a mark of good writing.
“We found each other once. Maybe we will again.”
I’m a shipper, so the relationship between Peter and Rose captures a lot of my interest here. This series focuses on action so romance doesn’t take up a lot of screen time. However, Peter and Rose’s interactions during season one made for an enjoyable subplot, and the progression of their story during season two heightens the emotions. The final two episodes of season two particularly bring the feels. Alice tells Peter early in the season that their work makes relationships dangerous. I call BS on that since Rose’s aunt and uncle in season one were both Night Agents and they were married. Catherine (Amanda Warren), Peter’s boss in Night Action, says he is better with Rose by his side. We can see that’s true.
That’s why season 3 of The Night Agent needs to invest more in Peter and Rose. The writers know how to craft intrigue and physical conflict, so balance that out with more of the love story. I think watching Peter figure out how to be a Night Agent and maintain a committed relationship with Rose would be satisfying. The Night Agent season 2 is entertaining in the ways a thriller should be, so I’m crossing my fingers that the next season will be too.
The Night Agent is streaming on Netflix.
Season One was excellent and made the wait for the follow up seem unbearable at times. Unfortunately, the follow up seems just as unbearable at times as well. The tired plot of middle-eastern nogoodniks out to bomb something or enact a mass terrorism plot is just that, tired. It seems to be the go-to for way too many programs now and leaves the show with a not-so-creative feel. More annoying though, are the ridiculous subtitles. I understand the attempt to create realism but the vast majority of Americans do not speak in Arabic tongues and therefore, spend a ridiculous amount of time reading the bottom of the screen. I don’t watch TV to read or be annoyed and reading the bottom of the screen takes your eyes off of the action and acting.
The storyline is redundant in comparison with a vast number of other programs and Angela Warren is a terrible actress. She was the same personality in East New York and that person has terrible timing, awful vocal infections, no emotional range and most often, resembles someone who is failing asleep.
This should have been a great deal better than it was, considering the elongated wait for the second go-round.