Number One on Netflix is a weekly highlight on no matter is at the moment the most well-liked factor on the world’s hottest streaming service. Typically it’ll be a film. Typically it’ll be a TV present. No matter it’s, lots of people are clearly watching, and we’ll attempt to perceive why with a fast assessment. At the moment, we’re taking a look at Season 2 of the thriller collection The Evening Agent. The next incorporates spoilers by way of the Season 2 finale, “Purchaser’s Regret.”
When The Evening Agent premiered in 2023, it proved to be addictive viewing. Season 1 of the Netflix thriller derived lots of its energy from its core premise, constructed on a traditional trope — the engaging younger couple on the run from no scarcity of nefarious forces. On this case, the nefarious forces have been attempting to assassinate the President of the USA, with rogue agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) and cybersecurity professional Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) doing their finest to cease stated assassination — with a little bit bit of constructing out alongside the way in which.
On the finish of Season 1, Rose and Peter reluctantly parted to reside very totally different lives: Rose returning to work in Silicon Valley, whereas Peter lastly received promoted to the extent of full Evening Agent. However it was fairly clear their story wasn’t over, a promise made good early into Season 2 of the present. Choosing up a number of months after Season 1, Peter as soon as once more finds himself in a lethal scenario, a brand new conspiracy that additionally entangles Rose after she tries to trace Peter down.
There’s no actual want right here to enter the specifics of the conspiracy that Peter and Rose should thwart this season — it includes lethal chemical weapons, the UN, an Iranian defector, and a mission during which Peter has to put on a really snazzy waistcoat, with the accompanying twists designed to maintain the viewers on edge. And all through most of it, Peter and Rose work very a lot as a group, with Peter’s handler Catherine (Amanda Warren) observing greater than as soon as that they function nicely collectively.
Which is why the tip of Season 2 is so irritating, as Peter turns himself into the authorities for a few of the mild treason he dedicated over the course of the season — after he and Rose primarily break up, him pressuring her to appreciate that their relationship places her in peril. Whereas prior to now, Rose has confirmed to be very dangerous at listening to Peter when he tells her to go away and save herself, this time it appears to be sticking: In her remaining scene of the season, she affirms that she’s returning to her life in California, and gained’t attempt to contact him once more.
The Evening Agent has already been renewed for a 3rd season, however that doesn’t imply Rose will return: In an interview with Deadline printed after Season 2’s premiere, creator Shawn Ryan actually implied that Rose wouldn’t be a significant a part of Season 3, given the way in which her character and Peter are on totally different paths. “We’re nonetheless figuring all of that out. What I might say is that we don’t need to artificially create a scenario the place characters should be a part of a particular season frequently,” he stated.
The Evening Agent (Netflix)
Not less than Ryan is being type about decreasing expectations for the place Season 3 would possibly go — which, based on early reports, will embody Istanbul earlier than returning to New York, the place Peter will deal with new collection regulars together with Jennifer Morrison, Stephen Moyer, and Genesis Rodriguez. Luciane Buchanan just isn’t on the forged listing.
As a viewer, I admittedly love a superb love story (particularly one the place the primary couple is going through epic exterior odds). However my frustration right here goes past a craving for love, as a result of all through Season 2, the present is at its most compelling when Peter and Rose are working collectively to cease no matter calamities are in play. For each line of dialogue meant to reaffirm that Rose actually desires a standard life, we get a scene during which she as soon as once more proves her mettle as an operative, unofficial or not. It’s a way more fascinating present when the 2 of them are working collectively… and lacks that very same spark after they’re aside.
The truth that Rose has a standard life to return to (whereas Peter’s neck-deep on this world of spycraft) is a pressure that comes up quite a bit over the course of Season 2, together with the dilemma maybe finest summed up by the film Pace: “Relationships that begin underneath intense circumstances, they by no means final.” All of this could be a good concern… if The Evening Agent have been a grounded relationship drama, and never a high-octane spy thriller. Issues about poisonous don’t precisely really feel relevant to a TV present about ultra-secret spy companies and worldwide intrigue.
What actually stands out in regards to the resolution to interrupt up Peter and Rose is the belief that there could be nothing fascinating about watching two folks strive to determine the way to be in love whereas additionally doing spycraft — to not point out the belief {that a} Will They/Gained’t They romance is just fascinating so long as the core query stays unanswered. There are sufficient scenes in Season 2 which show in any other case.
On the plus aspect, a minimum of The Evening Agent didn’t select to fridge Rose, killing her as a means of motivating Peter additional in his quest. Wanting again on the Bourne movies, 24, numerous James Bond films… It’s virtually a shock she survived, on condition that it could have given the writers a straightforward solution to shut the ebook on Rose and transfer ahead with no matter derrings-do will happen in Season 3.
As a substitute, Season 2 of The Evening Agent ends on an unsatisfying be aware, with no promise that Season 3 will function any of the identical chemistry which made the primary two seasons so watchable. As a substitute, it might find yourself being one other spy thriller looking for a spark… leaving Netflix viewers looking for one thing else to observe.
The Evening Agent is streaming now on Netflix.
