‘The Night Manager’ Season 2 Review: Tom Hiddleston Returns for a Thrilling Follow-up

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It’s been a decade since the first season, and originally, The Night Manager wasn’t planned for a continuation. Creator David Farr faced a challenge: expanding a complete story without a source novel to work from. Fortunately, like the first season, the new installment boasts stunning locations, a compelling lead performance by Tom Hiddleston, and a captivating villain, played this time by Diego Calva, known for his role in Babylon.

As a huge fan of The Night Manager, I’m thrilled about Season 2! It starts off picking up after the events of the first season, confirming that Hugh Laurie’s fantastic villain, Richard Onslow Roper, really was taken care of by those who captured him. We find Tom Hiddleston’s character, Jonathan Pine – the former soldier turned hotelier turned spy – in Syria with Olivia Colman’s Angela Burr (who, by the way, has won an Oscar since we last saw them!). Angela actually sees Roper’s body, confirming he’s gone. But the story jumps forward ten years, and we find Pine still haunted by bad dreams.


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Since becoming a spy, Pine has proven to be incredibly valuable to British intelligence. He now leads a team called the Night Owls, who primarily conduct surveillance in luxury hotels. One character describes them as one of MI6’s most effective surveillance units. This quickly establishes the direction of the second season: a departure from the style of John le Carré novels.

I recently revisited the first season of The Night Manager, and what struck me was how it took John le Carré’s novel and really ran with it. Le Carré is known for thrillers that feel grounded and emotionally complex, and while this book was one of his more accessible stories, the show leaned into a very heightened, dramatic style. It was a smart move, honestly. With a fantastic cast – Hiddleston, Debicki, and Hugh Laurie were all brilliant – and stunning locations, especially Egypt, it felt incredibly glamorous. Director Susanne Bier, an Oscar winner, brought a real visual flair to it. It wasn’t your typical, gritty le Carré story – this was much more stylish and sexy – but it still captured the essence of his cat-and-mouse spy games. It was a really compelling watch.


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While Season 2 of The Night Manager still features the classic back-and-forth of spies and counterspies, the show focuses more on unexpected twists and the thrilling basics of undercover work. This was a clever move, adding a direct and exciting energy to the series as it continues, with a third season already confirmed.

Season 2’s story really gets moving when, during a nighttime operation, Pine spots someone who used to work with Roper. He decides to secretly follow this person, and the trail leads to a much larger conspiracy. Things become even more serious when Pine’s friend and boss, Rex Mayhew, is killed in what’s made to look like a suicide. Pine now understands he and his team have gotten involved in something incredibly dangerous, and they might even be targeted by MI6 itself.

I was really hooked when Pine discovered a contact on Mayhew’s phone – it led him to Roxana, one of his operatives, played by Camila Morrone. She’d gone undercover within the organization of Teddy Dos Santos, a seemingly charitable Colombian, but actually a dangerous arms dealer and a follower of Roper. It instantly clicked for Pine – he realized how much trouble he was in! That’s why he jumps right back into action, heading to Colombia undercover to take down Dos Santos and expose a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top of British intelligence. It’s a fantastic setup!


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The dynamic between Pine and his adversary remains the strongest part of the second season. Tom Hiddleston delivers a compelling performance as a more troubled and world-weary version of his character, and he’s brilliantly matched by Alberto Calva, who brings both charisma and a hint of hidden pain to his role. Unlike the previous villain, Calva’s Dos Santos is more vulnerable, making him both frightening and strangely appealing. As Pine and Dos Santos’ complicated connection deepens and loyalties change, the season takes several unexpected turns, revealing more about the arms dealer’s inner demons and building to a truly exciting conclusion.

The first season of the show had a very cinematic style thanks to its director, but the second season, directed by Georgi Banks-Davies, takes a more straightforward approach, focusing on locations, characters, and classic TV suspense. This was a smart move, successfully transforming what began as a limited series into an ongoing one. The show has embraced its TV roots, expanding the world of espionage with spies, weapons trading, and hidden conspiracies – similar to the darkly humorous Slow Horses and other popular spy dramas – to keep viewers engaged.


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Strong acting really elevates the show. Tom Hiddleston continues to be a reliable and captivating lead, and newcomer Diego Calva delivers a performance that confirms director Damien Chazelle’s belief in his potential. It’s also great to see returning cast members like Olivia Colman, who has become even more well-known since the first season. However, the standout new addition is Hayley Squires, who first impressed audiences in the film I, Daniel Blake. Since then, she’s appeared in projects like Beau Is Afraid, In Fabric, and the Great Expectations series. Squires plays Sally Price-Jones, a member of Pine’s team, and is easily the most interesting character among the supporting cast.

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The announcement of a second and third season of The Night Manager, so long after the original and without a source novel by John le Carré, initially felt risky. However, after watching the second season, it’s clear that the creator still understands what made the show successful. While it doesn’t quite capture the same feel as le Carré’s work, that’s not a problem when the series delivers such exciting moments and features a strong cast.

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2026-01-11 20:03