The BBC's 12-Episode Spy Series With Avengers Star Is Perfect For Binging

Published Sep 4, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT 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. The BBC has created plenty of gems over the years that have reached an international audience, and its 12-episode spy thriller, which started 10 years ago, is one of its most bingeable shows yet. After emerging as a true breakthrough star by playing Loki in The Avengers, Tom Hiddleston's career has continued on an upward trajectory ever since. Alongside being a mainstay in the Marvel universe, he has been part of several other hit projects, including The Night Manager. Although this production from the BBC aired its first season in 2016, it took ten years for it to return, with season 2 premiering earlier this year. However, despite the gap, The Night Manager retained its charm and quality. Based on the novel by John le Carré, the BBC thriller stars Tom Hiddleston as Jonathon Pine opposite Hugh Laurie's Richard Onslow Roper in an intense drama that sees Pine work undercover to investigate Roper's illegal arms operation. Other notable names like Olivia Coleman and Tom Hollander are also involved, helping create a truly memorable cast. In many ways, The Night Manager shares similarities to James Bond, as its unapologetically British atmosphere blends perfectly with the spy genre, so much so that Hiddleston was even a brief front-runner to be the next 007. That said, even without Bond, the Brit undoubtedly has a great role to rival his part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers: Doomsday may be the end of an era for Loki, as Hiddleston has played the character for 15 years, meaning his story may be coming to a close. Therefore, The Night Manager could open up more opportunities in an entirely different genre, and if you haven't seen it, the 12-episode thriller is absolutely worth binging at the earliest opportunity. The Night Manager Is Better Binged (Not 10 Years Apart!) As someone who prefers a weekly release format, I wouldn't always recommend binge-watching shows, but The Night Manager is certainly better consumed this way, especially when considering the 10-year gap between seasons. Having been off the air for so long, many fans may have completely forgotten what happened in season 1, making a rewatch almost mandatory. Therefore, it doesn't really matter whether you've been a fan since 2016 or just got into it this year, as a refresher is needed before diving into season 2. With just 12 episodes total, it makes binging the entire thing relatively easy, as even two episodes a day would take less than a week to get through. Not only does binging the series remove the fears of forgetting plot points set up 10 years prior, but it also allows you to get completely engrossed in the action. Sure, some mysteries may not linger as long or leave you with a week of theories, but The Night Manager thrives on tension and strong performances, rather than cliffhangers. Seasons 1 & 2 of The Night Manager are available to stream on Prime Video in the US and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Although around a decade has passed in the story between seasons 1 and 2, watching them back-to-back won't hurt your experience in the slightest. In general, The Night Manager's return in 2026 was better than many people expected and is a seamless follow-up that doesn't suffer from being off-screen for so long. As a result, watching the entire show in a few sittings is easily the best way to enjoy this thrilling ride, especially given the news on season 3. Is The Night Manager Season 3 Happening? For those who are caught up on The Night Manager, there is reason to be excited, as the BBC spy show has officially been renewed for a third season. Unlike the previous installments, the gap between new releases is expected to be much shorter this time, with work already beginning behind the scenes, according to Tom Hiddleston. Likewise, season 3 will pick up directly after season 2's shocking finale, which created plenty of room for the series to continue. Details on an exact release date are yet to be confirmed, but even if it doesn't premiere until 2028, it will still feel like a significant improvement compared to the previous hiatus. Without going into spoiler territory, the central characters who survived will return, while other surviving members of the supporting cast could also be back. Inevitably, there will likely be new faces on board for season 3 as well to help flesh out the story and inject some fresh life into the already vibrant series. A big theme will be justice, as the show's main villain made his most devastating play yet in the season 2 finale, perfectly laying the stage for an even bigger return. With The Night Manager being one of the best spy thrillers around, it only seems fitting that it will get at least one more outing, which could wrap things up nicely. With filming for season 3 yet to begin, there is still plenty of time to catch up on this excellent project, and it's one you won't want to skip, as The Night Manager still has plenty more to offer. 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