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After almost 10 years away from our screens, Tom Hiddleston's Jonathan Pine is about to return to the field. Back in 2016, he tangled with arms dealer Richard Roper in the BBC's gripping John le Carré adaptation, "The Night Manager," and in just a couple of days, he'll be heading out on another mission.
This Sunday, "The Night Manager" season 2 will return with a three-episode premiere on Prime Video, and it's therefore no surprise to see that season one has become one of Prime Video's most-streamed shows in recent days. After all, I'd bet even the show's most die-hard fans have probably struggled to keep all the key details in their heads for a decade!
What is 'The Night Manager' about?
"The Night Manager" revolves around ex-British soldier Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), who now works as the night manager at Cairo's Nefertiti Hotel, during the height of the Arab Spring. After a guest's plea for help ends in tragedy, Pine finds himself being recruited by British intelligence officer Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) for a dangerous undercover op.
His mission? Pose as a dangerous criminal to infiltrate the inner circle of a person dubbed early on as "the worst man in the world".... notorious international arms dealer Richard "Dickie" Roper (Hugh Laurie).
In addition to Hiddleston, Colman and Laurie, "The Night Manager" cast also includes Tom Hollander, Elizabeth Debicki, Alistair Petrie, David Harewood, Tobias Menzies, Douglas Hodge, Michael Nardone, and Adeel Akhtar, among others.
Should you stream 'The Night Manager' on Prime Video?
Whether you've never watched the show before or you're feeling a little rusty on the series as we head into season 2 this weekend, I'd absolutely recommend streaming "The Night Manager" on Prime Video. Having watched it both in the past and again in the run-up to the show's return, I can confirm it's watchlist-worthy.
It's a show that thrives thanks to excellent performances — Hiddleston's Pine is a suave, capable leading man, and Laurie's Roper proves a menacing, arrogant opponent — and suspenseful, twisting plotting. As our undercover gent gets closer to his target, he's also inevitably placing himself in greater peril, and as loyalties continue to shift and fresh revelations come along, you'll only want to keep ploughing on.
Action fans might be left a little wanting, though. The series does have its moments, but generally plays quieter and somewhat slower than some of streaming's more bombastic espionage sagas. Aside from that, though, "The Night Manager" is a stylish, tense, and compelling watch. It's the closest we'll probably get to Tom Hiddleston as 007 himself, and it's a sensational spy thriller that I'm confident many viewers will enjoy.
I'm far from the only fan of "The Night Manager," too: season 1 was a big hit with critics and viewers alike when it first hit our screens, and it was no slouch on the awards circuit, either. At the time of writing, "The Night Manager" holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 89% score from fans.
The series came seventh on The Guardian's 50 Best TV Shows of 2016, with writer Archie Bland summing it up as "a budget-bustingly grand epic of subterfuge and deceit."
Reviewing for Collider, Allison Keene gave the series a 5-star rating, saying the series "delivers on every front," adding: ""The Night Manager" has something for everyone — fans of spy craft, fans of cinematic television, fans of good storytelling or just of Tom Hiddleston (or Hugh Laurie, for that matter)."
Over at Vulture, Matt Zoller Seitz said the series "succeeds as eye and brain candy," adding: ""The Night Manager" knows exactly what kind of entertainment it wants to be: escapism with just enough of a dark edge to pass for art."
Bottom line: if you're looking to dive into a rich, tense tale, then you need to stream "The Night Manager on Prime Video (or BBC iPlayer, in the U.K.). But if you remain unconvinced, be sure to check out our round-up of the best shows on Prime Video for tons more top streaming suggestions.
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