Our take
Olivia Colman and Hugh Laurie (House) star in this espionage mini-series based on a John le Carré novel.
A quick mini-series that spans six episodes, it’s about a former soldier (Tom Hiddleston) who, while working as a night manager for a hotel in Cairo, Egypt, ends up getting hold of very sensitive information. He is then recruited by an intelligence officer (Olivia Colman) to bring down a corrupt businessman (Hugh Laurie.)
A highly-acclaimed TV show not to be missed by lovers of spy stories, John Le Carré films (A Most Wanted Man, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), or just anyone who appreciates excellent acting.
What it won
Golden Globes
3 wins · 1 nom
The story
Former British soldier Jonathan Pine navigates the shadowy recesses of Whitehall and Washington where an unholy alliance operates between the intelligence community and the secret arms trade. To infiltrate the inner circle of lethal arms dealer Richard Onslow Roper, Pine must himself become a criminal.
Elsewhere
"There's no denying the excitement of the end product, which pulls viewers along on a strong current of suspense, glamour, and macho regret, and gives us two lead performances worth savoring."
— Matt Zoller Seitz
"The production and performances really do deserve such adulation, but the miniseries itself feels like a rather by-the-book spy story - which, notably, it is; an acknowledgment that means even more when you consider the author of said book is [Carre]."
— Ben Travers
The details
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Bilal Zouheir is the founder of A Good Movie to Watch. He is based in the US and a member of the Nevada Film Critics Society. He grew up in Morocco, where he learned English from watching movies. Bilal's work with A Good Movie to Watch is focused on offering an alternative to streaming algorithms, which are often used as commercial tools by streaming services.
