‘Ponies’ Lands Strong Rotten Tomatoes Score for Emilia Clarke on Peacock – Binge It This Wekeend

The former Game of Thrones actress is trading fantastical creatures for a world of espionage in her latest series, joining forces with Haley Lu Richardson to tackle shadowy spies and ruthless assassins. Early reviews are in, and the show is already earning a “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Created by Susanna Fogel and David Iserson, Ponies is Emilia Clarke’s latest project that takes her further away from the role that made her name as the Mother of Dragons. The synopsis of the series reads:

In 1977 Moscow, two women, known within intelligence circles as “PONIES” – people considered unimportant – work as anonymous secretaries at the American Embassy. Their lives change dramatically when their husbands die under suspicious circumstances in the Soviet Union, leading both women to join the CIA. Bea Grant is intelligent, well-educated, and speaks Russian fluently, having grown up as the child of Russian immigrants. She’s trying to understand why her life hasn’t gone as planned. Twila Hasbeck, on the other hand, is a spirited and outspoken woman from a small town, surprisingly brave and determined. United by loss and fate, the two women begin to uncover the large-scale conspiracy that led to their husbands’ deaths.

Starring Nicholas Podany, Adrian Lester, Artjom Gilz, and Vic Michaelis alongside Clarke and Richardson, ‘Ponies’ is rated TV-MA and all eight episodes will be available to stream on January 15th, making it perfect for a weekend binge.

‘Ponies’ Is a Hit With Critics

Spy shows and movies are incredibly popular on streaming services, and with all episodes of Ponies available on Peacock at once, it’s expected to draw a lot of viewers. Positive reviews from critics will likely encourage even more people to watch the entire series this weekend.

The series has received largely positive reviews, earning an 89% approval rating based on 9 reviews, with only one considered negative. However, that negative review from Angie Han at The Hollywood Reporter pointed out that while the show has some impressive moments, it lacks the depth or consistent entertainment value to make a truly lasting impact.

Despite some flaws, many critics have enjoyed the series. Trent Moore of The AV Club highlighted the strong performances of the lead actors, noting they skillfully handled the show’s emotional weight without feeling overly sentimental. Martin Carr from CBR acknowledged the show follows a familiar spy thriller formula, but praised its surprisingly deep storytelling. Lissete Lanuza Saenz of Fangirlish described it as a clever and twisty, yet consistently engaging, spy thriller.

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Emilia Clarke is eager to move past roles involving dragons and fantasy, and her performance in Ponies demonstrates her ability to excel in serious dramatic roles, just as she did with fantastical creatures. Add Ponies to your watchlist this weekend and prepare to be captivated by eight hours of suspense – it’s a perfect reminder of Clarke’s impressive acting talent.

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2026-01-15 05:02