10 Best Spy Thrillers Like Slow Horses: From Alias To Andor

Spy thrillers have always had to strike a balance between building suspense and not wearing out the audience, and shows like Apple TV+’s Slow Horses are currently keeping that tradition alive. To be successful, a spy thriller needs a well-managed pace, increasingly high stakes, and resolutions that feel natural and deserved. Because TV shows unfold over a longer period than movies, they need to maintain suspense for months without tiring viewers or losing track of the story.

What makes spy stories so hard to write well is balancing mystery with a compelling pace. These stories need secrets and gradual reveals, but viewers also want things to keep moving. Too slow, and the suspense fades. Too fast, and characters might not feel believable. The most successful spy thrillers find a sweet spot – they build intrigue naturally while still giving the audience satisfying payoffs and emotional connections.

Apple TV’s Slow Horses is a standout spy show that does something different. Based on Mick Herron’s books, it’s not about glamorous heroes, but about MI5 agents who’ve messed up and are relegated to dead-end jobs. The show’s clever writing, realistic storylines, and focus on compelling characters make it a refreshing addition to the many options available on streaming services.

Apple TV has found major success with this show, proving that spy stories can be gripping without constant action or exotic locations. Slow Horses stands out with its clever writing, complex characters, and the gradual reveal of its mysteries. The show’s popularity and positive reviews show that viewers appreciate this focus on character development and a more realistic take on the world of espionage.

As much as I love Slow Horses, it’s definitely not the only great spy thriller out there right now. I’ve been really impressed with how many shows across different networks and streaming services are keeping me on the edge of my seat. They’re not just about action, either – the best ones really dig into what makes their characters tick and deliver satisfying conclusions to complicated plots. It’s awesome when a show can balance all those elements and create a really compelling story that just pulls you in.

10. Alias

Created by J.J. Abrams, Alias follows Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), a college student who begins working as a spy for the CIA. She soon realizes she’s actually been helping a dangerous criminal group. The show combines exciting weekly missions with a larger, ongoing mystery. At its heart, Alias is about Sydney’s complicated life, her struggles to balance loyalty and deception, and her difficult relationship with her father, Jack Bristow (Victor Garber).

Alias was remarkable for how much it focused on the personal consequences for its characters. Betrayals truly mattered, and characters were always forming and breaking alliances. Even though the show used classic spy elements, its exploration of trust and who people really are gave it a lot of substance. Alias paved the way for many of today’s TV spy thrillers by demonstrating that a complex, ongoing spy story could keep audiences engaged over multiple seasons.

9. Counterpart

The sci-fi spy series Counterpart centers on a seemingly ordinary office worker, played by JK Simmons, who uncovers a hidden gateway to a parallel Earth. Both versions of Earth have their own spy agencies, constantly watching each other in a tense, Cold War-like standoff. Despite its fantastical setting, the show plays out like a traditional spy thriller.

Instead of relying on big action sequences, the show Counterpart focuses on nuanced acting and a sense of political unease. It adds emotional depth to the typical spy story by exploring questions of identity and how different choices can lead to vastly different lives. Similar to Slow Horses, it’s more interested in what makes its characters tick than in explosions and chases, making it a smart and well-crafted spy drama.

8. The Terminal List

Inspired by Jack Carr’s book, The Terminal List centers around Navy SEAL James Reece (Chris Pratt) and his discovery of a conspiracy connected to a disastrous mission his team undertook. While it’s primarily a military thriller, the series also unfolds as a spy story, exploring intelligence mistakes, secret operations, and hidden agendas within the government.

What makes the show compelling is its deliberate, unhurried storytelling and its exploration of betrayal within organizations designed to keep people safe. It delves into the damaging effects of lies and hidden plans. Though it has more action than Slow Horses, The Terminal List similarly questions the trustworthiness of intelligence agencies and those in power.

7. Homeland

The show Homeland was a major spy thriller of the 2010s, known for blending international conflicts with the personal struggles of its main character. It centers on Carrie Mathison, a CIA officer played by Claire Danes, who battles terrorists while also managing her own mental health. The show’s first few seasons were especially acclaimed for being gripping and exploring complex moral questions.

What makes Homeland different from other spy shows on TV is how it uses paranoia to build the story. The show constantly makes you question who to trust, and success often comes with a heavy personal price. Similar to Slow Horses, it shows the reality of intelligence work – it’s chaotic, draining, and focuses on the human side of things, rather than portraying heroes.

6. The Americans

I’m totally hooked on The Americans! It’s such a clever show – it’s set during the Cold War and follows these two Soviet spies who are pretending to be an American couple. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, who play Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, are amazing. What I love is it’s not just about the spy stuff; it really digs into what it’s like to live a lie for years, how that affects their marriage, and what it even means to be ‘American.’ The missions aren’t these quick, action-packed things, they build slowly, and you really feel the weight of everything that happens. It’s brilliant!

What makes The Americans so compelling is its grounded and subtle approach. The show realistically portrays the difficult moral choices and emotional toll faced by intelligence operatives. Similar to Slow Horses, it focuses on developing believable characters and building suspense through quiet moments, demonstrating that intense drama doesn’t always require flashy action.

5. The Night Agent

As a total thriller fan, I was hooked by The Night Agent right away. It centers around Peter Sutherland, played by Gabriel Basso, an FBI agent stuck with a pretty boring job – watching an emergency hotline that almost never gets used. But when it does ring, his life completely changes. Suddenly, he’s caught up in a huge conspiracy that reaches the very top of the government. It’s a really clever mix of political intrigue and classic spy action, which I absolutely loved.

The popularity of The Night Agent stems from its straightforward storyline and consistently building tension. Each episode raises the stakes while remaining easy to follow. Like Slow Horses, the show centers on underestimated intelligence officers who find themselves in unexpectedly perilous and high-stakes circumstances.

4. Special Ops: Lioness

Taylor Sheridan’s new series, Special Ops: Lioness, is based on a real US military program and centers around female agents who go undercover within terrorist groups. Starring Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman, the show explores both the dangerous missions these women undertake and the personal struggles they face while living secret lives. The show’s spy story is built on current world events, making it relatable and easy to follow.

The show Lioness explores the difficult choices people make and the sacrifices they bear, driving the story forward each season. Success in the intelligence world isn’t straightforward, and the characters grapple with the long-term effects of their actions. This realistic and complex portrayal shares a similar outlook with the series Slow Horses.

3. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan

I’m really enjoying this new take on Jack Ryan! It’s so cool to see him, played by John Krasinski, not just as an analyst stuck behind a desk, but actually in the action. The show takes you all over the world, mixing intense spy stuff with complicated political games. It feels true to the original Tom Clancy stories, but they’ve taken those familiar ideas and created something fresh and thrilling. It’s a great way to explore what’s happening with security threats today.

Despite a more conventional format, Jack Ryan is effective because it realistically portrays how intelligence agencies function, focusing on both the investigative work and the internal challenges. This approach is similar to the way Slow Horses examines the broader problems within the intelligence system.

2. Andor

Custom image created by Evan D. Mullicane

Even though it takes place in the world of Star Wars, Andor is primarily a thrilling spy story. The show centers on Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his involvement with secret rebel groups, spy networks, and the powerful systems used to monitor everyone. Despite being set in space, Andor delivers a quick-paced, intense experience thanks to its focus on espionage.

What makes Andor stand out is its dedication to realism, especially considering the long-running Star Wars saga. The show depicts intelligence work as a slow, risky, and often ethically gray process. Similar to Slow Horses, it portrays acts of rebellion and spying as gritty, dangerous, and deeply affecting for those involved, rather than glamorous or heroic.

1. The Night Manager

Inspired by John le Carré’s novel, The Night Manager centers on Jonathan Pine, played by Tom Hiddleston, a former British soldier who is asked to go undercover and get close to a dangerous international arms dealer. The series explores familiar spy story elements like lies, faithfulness, and blurred lines between right and wrong. Despite a ten-year break, the show is still attracting viewers when its second season arrives in 2026.

With its careful speed and focus on building suspense through characters’ feelings, this is a particularly well-made spy thriller. Similar to Slow Horses, The Night Manager respects its viewers’ intelligence, favoring subtle storytelling over flashy action, and ultimately offering a compelling and emotionally impactful spy story.

2026-01-17 18:02