The Night Manager’s most surprising romance is probably doomed – but it’s not too late for Teddy

by

*Warning: spoilers for The Night Manager season 2 episode 4*

Honestly, the gunfire itself wasn’t even the most exciting thing about the climax of The Night Manager‘s newest episode. It was what led to the shootout – the tension, the betrayals – that really grabbed me. The bullets were almost secondary to the drama unfolding.

Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) confessed his real identity to Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva) while working to save a young girl who had been manipulated into helping with the murder of Alejandro Gualteros (Alberto Ammann).

This wasn’t a betrayal like you’d expect in a spy story. Instead of dramatic twists and deceit, the emotional music, tears, and heartfelt confession revealed this was a personal issue, driven by love.

It was obvious Pine and Teddy had a connection – a lingering touch, a quick look – but even after their passionate dance, it wasn’t clear if Pine was simply using Teddy as part of her undercover work.

Well, consider that case closed.

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Unlike how quickly and harshly Pine dealt with his earlier opponents, Corky and Freddie, he’s visibly upset about having to fight Teddy, even though he feels justified in doing so.

Hiddleston and Calva both deliver strong performances in this intense confrontation, but Calva truly shines as his character experiences a whirlwind of confusion, sadness, and anger when the truth is revealed.

The situation is so shocking it momentarily makes you question who you’re supposed to be angry with, especially considering someone just killed a government official simply because they refused to be bribed.

What struck me most about Calva’s performance is that even when portraying truly awful acts, you still catch glimpses of humanity in his character, Teddy. It’s a fascinating portrayal, and I think that’s why Pine’s character is so drawn to him. It really makes you wonder: is redemption even possible for someone who’s done so much wrong?

Things are already starting to unfold. As we saw in episode 4, Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) is willing to manipulate even his family, and that could eventually cause problems for him.

I was shocked to learn that Teddy, after keeping it hidden for so long, finally approached Roper. Apparently, he wants Roper to publicly recognize him as his son – and he’s offering to help Roper through a really tough time in exchange. It’s a huge ask after all these years, but it seems like Teddy’s desperate for a father-son relationship.

Roper seems to agree to the arrangement, but he unexpectedly and harshly rejects Teddy. He confides in his friend Sandy that he now considers Danny to be the only one he wants to pass his legacy onto.

Teddy doesn’t realize his father doesn’t appreciate him, which makes his efforts to connect – like making breakfast or even covering up a mistake during a risky plan – especially sad. It’s clear he’s trying hard, even if his methods aren’t always ideal.

If Roper clearly shows his disapproval, might Teddy be hurt enough to reject his father? It’s possible, but it likely wouldn’t result in a reconciliation with Pine.

Tom Hiddleston often transforms himself for roles, but his personal life hasn’t seen the same success – his past relationships haven’t lasted, as evidenced by the lack of long-term connections. Producer Stephen Garrett jokingly noted to Deadline that, like the characters Hiddleston often plays, he seems to keep people at a distance, having ‘no friends, no family’.

Even though Pine clearly feels for Teddy, he likely wouldn’t simply forgive his past crimes. The best Teddy could hope for is working for Pine as an operative, and perhaps even joining a monastery.

Though it’s not a perfect happy ending, if either man can escape Roper’s negative influence, their strong connection could actually last – and that’s a significant positive outcome!

Let’s avoid a heartbreaking ending for Jonathan and Teddy – a happy outcome would be much better! The fans are really hoping for a good result, so please don’t disappoint!

The Night Manager season 2 is airing on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about television and streaming dramas and comedies for TopMob. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine, hosted the podcast The Winter King for ITVX, and earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-01-19 22:35