Club Benefits
I recently binged "Minx" on Netflix before realizing its season 2 cliffhanger marked the series finale after Starz gave it the axe. I was devastated. The impeccable '70s vibes are unmatched — from the songs I heard my parents singing growing up to the wood-paneled and shag carpeted sets and costume design so groovy I was salivating over it. Or rather, were unmatched until I saw "Ponies," Peacock's newest spy thriller that captures the same sizzling humor and commentary with a Soviet style makeover. It's a cross between James Bond, "Minx," and "Chernobyl," and I'm here for it.
I've had my eye on "Ponies," slang for "persons of no interest," since the trailer, which includes one of the best uses of the '70s disco anthem "Rasputin" since Just Dance. "Ponies" season 1 landed on Peacock this week (Jan. 15), and though I've only watched the first few episodes, I already know it's my next binge watch. Stars Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson are easy to root for as two women making their best of an impossible situation, white knuckling through high-stakes situations while also overcoming personal struggles and trying not to rip their hair out over men in the '70s being, well, men in the '70s. Critics are already calling for it to be renwed for season 2, with "Ponies" season 1 currently sitting at an impressive 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is 'Ponies' about?
Set in 1977, "Ponies" centers on the budding friendship two wives of CIA agents working undercover in Moscow: irreverent and street-smart Twila (Clarke) and polite, rule-following and Russian-fluent Bea (Richardson). When their husbands both die under mysterious circumstances and no one will give them answers, they propose the CIA take them on as spies. To everyone's surprise (including their own), the CIA agrees, knowing the Soviets aren't likely to suspect two civilian women.
Of course, neither Bea nor Twila are what you'd consider spy material, which becomes immediately apparent when they get sent on missions to keep a low profile and pass along intelligence to Soviet citizens. Everything gets immediately more complicated, and dangerous, when Bea attracts the attention of Andrei (Artjom Gilz), a notorious KGB leader who may be the key to finding out how their husbands died.
Stream 'Ponies' on Peacock now
Watching a show led by two women who are allowed to be messy and flounder is refreshing. I expected nothing less from series co-creator Susanna Fogel, who also co-wrote “Booksmart." This the kind of show that lives or dies by its stars' chemistry, and Clarke and Richardson make Bea and Twila both instantly recognizable and easy to connect with. The teetering balance of their good girl/tough girl relationship makes for plenty of great banter and hilarious moments, which kept me interested throughout the uneven pacing of the first few episodes.
I'm far from the only one enjoying my time with Peacock's new spy thriller. Writing for the USA Today, Kelly Lawler described "Ponies" as "that kind of unfussy, easygoing but still absolutely thrilling, action series that you can't wait to sit down and watch because it's such a joyous ride." Decider's Hope Sloop called it "exactly the kind of hilarious and heart-racing thriller the world needs right now."
"With compelling writing and striking performances, Ponies never loses sight of the grounded chemistry between its leads, making it one of the most impressive new shows of 2026," wrote Tania Hussain of Collider.
Stream all 8 episodes of "Ponies" on Peacock now
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