Rapid Insights: The Agency and Black Doves Prove Romance Sharpens Espionage
Two buzzy new spy thrillers premiered earlier this month that explore the dangerous intersection of romance and espionage, and both have expertly hit their targets that they’ve already been renewed for second seasons. Paramount+ with Showtime’s The Agency stars Michael Fassbender as a CIA operative emerging from six years undercover who is pulled back in by a woman he’s come to love. Netflix’s Black Doves stars Keira Knightley as a spy-for-hire who needs protection from an old friend after her lover is murdered by gangsters.
Here’s what you need to know about these two exciting new series:
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Who’s been watching these new spy thrillers?
We’re seeing an audience that leans toward men (59% for The Agency; 54% for Black Doves) and those aged 30+ (77% for both). A male skew is common for the genre, with shows boasting especially action-heavy operations (e.g., Citadel, Citadel: Diana, The Terminal List – 64-68% men) often showing a more pronounced tilt than more drama-oriented series (e.g., The Night Manager, Homeland, Berlin Station, Counterpart, The Diplomat – 52-58% men).
What do these two shows have in common?
Danger and high stakes. As with any good spy thriller, both The Agency and Black Doves send their operatives on highly Dangerous Missions (136) where their lives are in peril (Life in Danger, 134) from sinister, shadowy foes. The former focuses on various CIA operations, while the latter centers on revenge for a murdered lover. Both also up the ante by exploring the dark Psychological Turmoil (135) of leading a double-life and the potential consequences of intense Emotions Running High (116).
What type of viewing experience is drawing in viewers?
Tension and suspense. Both shows lean heavily on the “thriller” side of their genre, trafficking primarily in more negative emotions that very effectively put audiences on edge and leave them holding their breath. Viewers are tuning in to experience emotions like Disgust (134), Terror (126), Fear (120), Surprise (115), Rage (123), and Vigilance (113) as they move from danger to danger alongside each series’ protagonist.
What makes each series stand out as unique?
Genre and focus. While both series offer up nail-biting suspense, Black Doves cuts the tension with moments of deliciously sharp wit, infusing elements of a cutting Buddy Comedy (128) with over-the-top violence and gore (Bloody Violence, 157; Stylized Action & Violence, 141). Here, one old friend tries to save another from her own tendency to go off the rails (Saving a Life, 145). The Agency, in contrast, takes a much more serious tone, focusing on the gray areas (Moral Ambiguity, 123) built into life as a spy within the secretive yet bureaucratic Central Intelligence Agency (122), where anything and everything could be a lie and the very underpinnings of world power could be at stake (Geopolitics, 119). Both series’ distinct elements are key drivers of ratings and bingeability.
What helped push these shows to their second season renewals?
Their wider worlds. Black Doves explores its protagonist’s seemingly normal Family Relationships (126) against the backdrop of her secret life as a spy, injecting ordinary ‘daily life’ conflicts amidst the heightened reality of her espionage. Set in London, the series also highlights quirky aspects of British Culture (132). The Agency, on the other hand, is more directly immersed in the world of international Espionage (127), delving into the Emotional Turmoil (120) and Moral Dilemmas (122) inherent in Working Undercover (118) on behalf of a government bureaucracy. These elements will help keep each show’s story engine churning through future seasons. The Agency’s connection to the popular and critically-acclaimed French series The Bureau, which ran for five full seasons, also contributes to its staying power (IP Extension, 126).
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