The third season of Netflix’s spy thriller, The Night Agent, premiered on February 19th and is being hailed as its strongest season so far. It kicks off with a series of explosive events: a plane is shot down, Pentagon employees are caught leaking classified information, and an analyst is suspected of theft and murder. The thrilling conclusion of Season 3 is incredibly captivating, and many viewers have noted its similarities to the classic action series 24.
Created by Shawn Ryan, the mind behind shows like The Shield and S.W.A.T., The Night Agent follows Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), an FBI agent working in a highly confidential unit called Night Action. This secret team, run jointly by the FBI and the White House, investigates conspiracies that could endanger the country. The series is inspired by the novel of the same name by Matthew Quirk.
‘The Night Agent’ Extensively Uses ’24’s Template
Daniel Smith / © Fox / Courtesy: Everett Collection
Considered a peak in Kiefer Sutherland’s often unpredictable acting career, the show 24 centers around Jack Bauer (played by Sutherland), a counterterrorism agent who works to stop threats to America. Uniquely, each season takes place over a single 24-hour period, told in real-time with techniques like split screens and a visible digital clock. 24 was incredibly popular, receiving a total of 68 Emmy nominations throughout its run.
Anyone watching The Night Agent will immediately recognize similarities to the show 24. The protagonist, Peter Sutherland, is interestingly named – perhaps as a tribute to Kiefer Sutherland? While Peter’s ethics are a bit stronger than Jack Bauer’s, he shares the same drive and commitment when uncovering conspiracies. Just like Jack and other heroes in popular thrillers, Peter is constantly battling the clock.
Both shows share a similar style. They both feature a lone hero who can’t fully trust anyone within established organizations because of the constant threat of betrayal. Bureaucracy also frequently complicates things, slowing down the process of resolving crises and finding the real enemy. A key element in both is their connection to the White House. Throughout ’24’, Jack Bauer regularly interacts with the President, and while Peter’s role isn’t quite the same, his work is directly tied to what happens within the White House.
‘The Night Agent’ Has a Few Things to Fix to Reach ‘24’s Level
Netflix
While The Night Agent shares similarities with 24, offering a fast-paced, modern thriller experience, it doesn’t quite reach the same level of perfection. The show is both visually stunning and incredibly suspenseful, though its storylines can sometimes be over-the-top. It’s expertly directed and filmed, creating a dark and unsettling atmosphere. However, the show sometimes feels emotionally distant, as the main character, Peter, comes across as more of a professional operative than a fully realized person.
When it comes to spy thrillers with political themes, a flawed main character is usually more interesting than a perfect one. However, that’s not the biggest issue with the character of Peter. Unlike Jack Bauer in 24, who had personal relationships and a support system – even if those relationships often ended tragically – Peter seems completely consumed by his work. Jack had romantic interests and a close friend, Chloe, as well as a daughter he loved. Peter, however, appears to care only about his job, making it difficult for viewers to connect with him.
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The story is generally good—better than most in this genre—but could be a bit smoother. Sometimes, the show focuses too much on surprising reveals and loses sight of the main plot, making it feel disconnected. We need a more interwoven story where the action, practical details, and political elements connect better. Currently, the show doesn’t explore the political side enough, which weakens the overall impact and makes the stakes feel less important.
With these little improvements, the Netflix series will be perfect, but so far, so good.
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2026-02-23 02:04