6-Part BBC Spy Miniseries Is So Good, They Revived It After A Decade

Published Nov 10, 2026, 2:00 PM EST Kyle is a senior writer at ScreenRant and has been part of the team for over two years. Having led coverage on The Walking Dead projects alongside Rick & Morty, Kyle is well versed in numerous genres. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kyle is a passionate journalist who has a keen interest in TV and film. He has six years of experience studying journalism including a HND in Practical Journalism and a BA Honours in Journalism, Media and Communication and History. Alongside his love for TV and film, Kyle enjoys video games, football and Formula 1. Between Sherlock, Peaky Blinders, and Luther, the BBC has produced plenty of wonderful dramas that have made a global impact, but one 6-part miniseries was so good, it was revived 10 years after its first season. In an era full of lengthy waits between seasons, fans have become used to shows being off-air for several years, but not a whole decade. However, fans of The Night Manager had to wait that long for their beloved project to return. Despite an impressive first outing, the BBC spy thriller looked destined to stay a limited series as the years passed, but The Night Manager finally came back for season 2 in 2026, making it even more popular than before. The adaptation of John le Carré's novel stars Tom Hiddleston as former soldier and undercover agent Jonathan Pine attempting to infiltrate an arms ring led by Richard Onslow Roper (Hugh Laurie). While season 1 was a classy affair that saw Hiddleston play a James Bond-like role in The Night Manager, season 2 proved to be much darker. That elegant presentation and unquestionable charm remained, but there were moments that no one saw coming, completely changing the entire narrative. Although the show underwent a lengthy absence, this gap proved valuable, as it was picked up for season 3, which is already in development. As a result, The Night Manager has become one of the best spy thrillers around, and while it already had a strong legacy as a limited series, it's now a mainstream hit that keeps on getting better. The Night Manager Made Such An Impression, The BBC Brought It Back 10 Years Later While the BBC could've easily just left The Night Manager as the perfect one-season show, it was so impressive, it simply had to be revived 10 years after it started. Considering le Carré never wrote a sequel, it's possible there was apprehension about bringing the series back, since this time around, it would have to be an original story. However, season 1's ratings were fantastic, earning a 91% critic score and an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, highlighting just how much people enjoyed the project. All six episodes were incredibly consistent, capturing that tense espionage feel from the book with arguably even better pacing, capped off by countless stellar performances. Hiddleston and Laurie are the standouts as expected, but with names like Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, and Elizabeth Debicki all involved, it's no surprise the characters felt so memorable. Viewership was also strong during the show's initial run, and it never seemed to fade into obscurity, especially when finding an international audience. Everything about the first season went smoothly, which made the wait for season 2 more understandable, as the BBC clearly wanted to bring back its main stars and get things right. It's rare to see studios show this kind of restraint rather than cash in right away, but this only speaks to The Night Manager's quality, which undoubtedly left a lasting impression. Both seasons of The Night Manager are available to watch on Prime Video in the US. Letting the series end how it did 10 years ago would've still been effective, cementing it as a great book adaptation. Fortunately though, the powers that be recognized its popularity and allowed it to become a huge project like it was always destined to be, making The Night Manager a must-watch for any spy thriller fans who haven't yet seen it. Does The Night Manager Season 2 Live Up To The First? Image from MovieStillsDB As a completely fresh story, The Night Manager season 2 does a great job of continuing on from the first and maintaining the franchise's legacy. The second entry really ups the intensity, raises the stakes, and provides a genuinely shocking cliffhanger that left fans feeling divided, but despite all that, it still falls short of season 1. That isn't to say the 2026 return was poor or disappointing; it just had an extremely high bar to clear, and to its credit, season 2 did come close. Alongside introducing more compelling characters, the story was much bolder this time around, bringing back seemingly dead foes, killing off key heroes, and delivering a rather bleak ending that sets up an unpredictable future. All in all, The Night Manager remains compelling throughout season 2, yet it has a few more notable flaws than the first. The pacing suffers compared to season 1, since the show was clearly brought back with plans for a third installment. Likewise, some of the big twists undo le Carré's original vision, which many viewers weren't too happy about. If you enjoy realistic spy action, then season 2 shines in isolation, especially if you have an appetite for more. However, those with nostalgia for season 1 and the original novel may have more complaints, explaining why the audience score was much more divisive for this entry. Still, regardless of whether you loved it or hated it, The Night Manager season 2 broke BBC viewership records and proved it was worth resurrecting. Even if season 2 didn't quite live up to the first, season 3 is in the works, confirming the spy thriller isn't going away quietly as it did 10 years ago, and its next chapter looks very promising. Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Network BBC One Directors Susanne Bier, Georgi Banks-Davies Writers David Farr Franchise(s) Based on a novel by John le Carré Creator(s) David Farr