Netflix encourages fans to binge their content by releasing entire seasons of shows in a single season. It’s obvious that certain genres do much better than others in this format. A thriller show that ends each episode on a cliffhanger is going to be the premiere type of story to tell on Netflix, and not many thrillers have done better in recent years than The Night Agent. Starring Gabriel Basso as a badass, do-it-yourself FBI agent who takes matters into his own hands to solve government conspiracies, there’s always one more mystery to solve and one more bad guy to whip before moving on to the next season.
The Night Agent just finished its second season on Netflix and it’s one of the top shows in the world yet again. Fans are thirsty for more action but might be at a crossroads, searching for similar programming. Does this sound like you? We thought so. Here are the best shows like The Night Agent to watch next on Netflix, Hulu, and other popular streamers across the web.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018)
Jack Ryan is one of the most likable action heroes in fiction since the 1980s. Author Tom Clancy had the right idea to make his CIA protagonist an everyman who still seems approachable while beating down the bad guys. This made John Krasinski the perfect casting choice after his previous work in The Office. Krasinski plays Ryan with poise, but he still seems like someone you might see crossing the street on the way to work. The Wire’s Wendell Pierce is fantastic as Ryan’s sidekick. Jack Ryan became one of Prime Video’s signature series since it premiered in 2018.
Reacher (2022)
Jack Reacher is the opposite of Jack Ryan. Reacher isn’t relatable at all and can’t be played by an everyman. Enter hunky and muscular star Alan Ritchson. Prime Video knew they needed someone who embodied author Lee Child’s warrior to a tee, and Ritchson has been nothing short of perfect so far heading into season 3. Reacher is equal parts corny and cartoony while ramping the action and thriller elements up to 11. The series should be a prime candidate to go many seasons before running out of storylines, considering how many novels there are to draw upon.
The Diplomat (2023)
The Diplomat is another Netflix powerhouse in the vein of The Night Agent. Keri Russell has earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as a U.S. Ambassador who has a lot more on her plate than she anticipated when she took the job. This series has a lot more political drama than your typical thriller, so consider that element when checking it out.
Homeland (2011)
Claire Danes and Damian Lewis propel this drama about a CIA officer who works through her trauma while simultaneously looking for moles in the U.S. government during the height of the war on terror in the Middle East. This series requires a lot more knowledge about real-world events and the time period it takes place in to gain the most enjoyment. Homeland was a winner of the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 2012.
Slow Horses (2022)
Gary Oldman makes the transition to TV with ease in yet another one of Apple TV+’s underrated dramas that grows in popularity with each passing season. Slow Horses is a mystery series with a tinge of humor as Oldman plays the leader of a washed-up group of investigators who possess overlooked abilities that allow them to solve crimes that are way above their pay grade.
24 (2001)
What is it with men who take down government threats being named Jack? Beats me, but Jack Bauer of 24 is just as cool as anybody on this list. Kiefer Sutherland is exquisite as the man who will literally do whatever it takes to defeat terrorists across each season of this drama that represents 24 hours in a day. 24 won Outstanding Drama Series at the 2006 Emmy Awards.
The Shield (2002)
Michael Chiklis gets lost in the pool of legendary TV leads during the Golden Age of Television, but anyone who has watched The Shield knows his worth. This FX police drama covers the corruption both within and adjacent to the Los Angeles Police Department. The officers in the division the show follows are morally shoddy and often feel just as evil as the criminals they’re trying to defeat. Chiklis won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2002. He was nominated again in that category in 2003.
Sons of Anarchy (2008)
Sons of Anarchy wasn’t quite as good as other crime dramas of its era, but it definitely excels in what it sets out to do. Kurt Sutter’s drama follows a motorcycle gang that takes it as their responsibility to be vigilantes in their community, often solving crimes and killing people whether the police want their help or not. Katey Sagal should have gotten an Emmy nomination for her role as the motherly figure of the gang.
