12 TV series about spies, from which it is impossible to tear yourself away

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Mission Impossible, Homeland and, of course, Seventeen Moments of Spring.

12. Spy

• USA, 2001-2006.
• Action, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Sidney Bristow believed for several years that she worked in the secret department of the CIA called SD-6. But then she learned from her father that in fact she was recruited by a terrorist organization. Then Syd goes to the present CIA and becomes a double agent, while learning about the dark past of his parents.

Future star Jennifer Garner played the main role in an unusual TV series from J. J. Abrams, and Bradley Cooper became one of her on-screen partners. In addition, the project pleases with a huge number of guest stars: Quentin Tarantino, Ethan Hawke, Christian Slater, David Cronenberg and dozens of other famous personalities appeared in "Spy".

11. Agents A. N. K. L

• USA, 1964-1968.
• Action, crime, adventure.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

American Napoleon Solo and Ilya Kuryakin from the USSR work for the international secret organization "A. N. K. L." under the leadership of the British chief. Most often, they have to confront the terrorist organization THRUSH, which is making plans to take over the world.

Initially, the main hero of the series wanted to make only Solo, which was invented by Ian Fleming, the creator of the James Bond books. But the American audience fell in love with the Russian agent Kuryakin so much that the characters became full-fledged partners.

Now the classic series has already been forgotten, but in 2015 Guy Ritchie's film of the same name was released, which tells about the same characters. Alas, the vivid picture of spies failed at the box office.

10. Mission Impossible

• USA, 1966-1973.
• Action, adventure, crime.
• Duration: 7 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

A team of professional agents led by a certain "minister" prevents tragedies around the world: thwarts assassinations of officials, returns valuables and secret documents, and interferes with the plans of terrorists.

Now "Mission Impossible" is more associated with a series of films with Tom Cruise in the title role. But the paintings not only inherit the main idea of the series - they even use the same basic musical theme that Lalo Shifrin wrote.

9. Black mark

• USA, 2007-2013.
• Action, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 7 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Special agent Michael Westen, who is carrying out a covert operation in Nigeria, is suddenly declared unreliable. He manages to get to Miami and settle there. But now Michael needs to earn a living, and he cannot leave the city. And then he starts working as a private detective.

The "Black Mark" primarily attracts with good action combined with humor: something explodes here all the time, the hero is fluent in any kind of weapon, and good always triumphs over evil.

8. Haunted Tower

• USA, 2018.
• Drama, thriller, historical.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, FBI agent Ali Sufan is interrogated in court. He talks about the confrontation between the FBI and the CIA: it turns out that the special services had enough information to prevent a terrorist attack, but they were too carried away by fighting each other.

Since the main plot is based on real events, the denouement of the series is known from the very beginning. The authors have even added many documentary footage of the terrorist attack. But the plot is captivating in that, without any conspiracy theories, it shows how the state apparatus misses the opportunity to prevent a tragedy.

7. Germany 83

• Germany, 2015.
• Drama.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

A native of the GDR, Martin Roch goes to work in the Stasi special service. He goes to Germany, where he has to photograph the secret documents of the American general. For completing the mission, the hero's mother will perform the necessary operation out of turn. But the matter is not limited to just one task.

The series has two sequels - "Germany 86" and "Germany 89", telling about the later life and work of Martin Roch until the fall of the Berlin Wall.

6. Jack Ryan

Jack ryan

• USA, 2018 - present.
• Political thriller, drama.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Former military and now CIA analyst Jack Ryan discovers a terrorist financing channel among suspicious wire transfers. Now the hero has to change office work to the everyday life of an operative in Europe and the Middle East.

The series is based on the series of books by Tom Clancy about Jack Ryan, which have already been repeatedly transferred to the screens. But usually the authors showed the hero as an experienced special agent. The series also tells about the beginning of his activities.

5. Chuck

• USA, 2007-2012.
• Action, drama, comedy.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

A kind and positive guy Chuck lives the simplest life: he shares an apartment with his sister and works in a shopping center. But one day he receives an email from which a secret supercomputer is automatically loaded into the hero's brain. Now he is forced to work for the secret services, and agents of the CIA and NSA are assigned to guard him.

The positive comedy combines a story about the everyday life of special agents and a simple story of the development of Chuck's relationship with his curator Sarah. The main characters were played by Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski.

4. Patriot

• USA, 2015-2018.
• Drama, thriller, comedy.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

American intelligence agent John Tavner works undercover for a firm that lays pipelines. His real mission is to sabotage the elections in Iran, allowing a candidate loyal to the United States to win. But things are not going according to plan.

The Amazon streaming series surprisingly combines political satire, live drama, and even comedy with musical numbers. Although the project only lasted two seasons, it has become a cult following among fans.

3. Homeland

• USA, 2011–2020.
• Drama, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 8 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

CIA agent Carrie Matheson investigates terrorist attacks and tracks down dangerous criminals. It all starts with the return to the United States of the US Marine Corps Sergeant Nicholas Brody, who was held captive in Iraq for eight years. Matheson suspects that he may be involved in preparing a terrorist attack on America.

The American remake of the Israeli project "Prisoners of War" turned out to be much more popular than the original: the series lasted eight seasons, during which the main character repeatedly managed to change her occupation. There is also a Russian version of this story, in which the main roles were played by Vladimir Mashkov and Victoria Isakova.

2. Americans

• USA, 2013–2018.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 6 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

Two KGB agents are settling in the United States under the guise of an American family just after Reagan's election. They develop a spy network, but over time they begin to have real feelings for each other. To complicate matters, an FBI agent lives next door to them.

This show is worth watching for anyone who thinks that Russians in the West are shown to be extremely evil and stupid. Here the KGB agents are positive and very intelligent characters. Although the creators of "Americans" have repeatedly emphasized that in fact this series is about family relationships.

1. Seventeen Moments of Spring

• USSR, 1973.
• Drama, adventure.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8, 9.

Soviet intelligence officer Maxim Isaev infiltrates the highest circles of Nazi Germany under the name of SS Standartenfuehrer Stirlitz. On the eve of the defeat of the Nazis, he continues to carry out the orders of the center, suppressing the last attempts of the enemy to escape from retaliation.

Of course, the legendary Soviet television series should be in the first place on this list. For many years Stirlitz became the embodiment of the ideal noble intelligence officer, and over time he turned into the character of many anecdotes.