Netflix fans can rediscover Stephen Graham's 'forgotten' period drama

Daily Record

5 hours ago

The Adolescence star plays Inspector Heat
Netflix has subtly added all episodes of Stephen Graham's 'forgotten' period drama based on a highly praised novel.
The four-part series, The Secret Agent, is now accessible to subscribers of the streaming service. Originally aired on the BBC in 2016, the mini-series is now available for a wider audience.
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The show masterfully combines elements of period drama and spy thriller, although even ardent fans of these genres may have overlooked it. Set in London in 1886, it follows a shopkeeper who moonlights as a spy for the Russian Embassy, finding himself under pressure to execute a politically-motivated act of terrorism, all while grappling with the risk of his true identity being revealed.
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The Secret Agent is an adaptation of the renowned satirical novel by Joseph Conrad, first published in 1907. Despite not achieving commercial success upon its release, it has since been recognised as one of Conrad's finest works.
Some critics have even hailed it as ahead of its time due to its exploration of global terrorism themes, reports Surrey Live.
Toby Jones heads the cast as Anton Verloc, the eponymous secret agent, alongside some of the most familiar faces in British television.
Vicky McClure, known for her role in Line of Duty, portrays his wife Winnie, while Charlie Hamblett plays her brother Stevie, later appearing in Missing You, a Harlan Coben adaptation for Netflix. Stephen Graham from Adolescence also features, taking on the role of Chief Inspector Heat.
When the series first aired, it received a mixed reception from critics. The Radio Times praised it as "a gripping period tale exploring urgent modern anxieties."
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while The Telegraph was less favourable, describing it as "one of the bleakest, murkiest and most disturbing dramas this year".
The original book's complexity led esteemed film critic Roger Ebert to once deem it unfilmable, which might explain why the adaptation didn't resonate with everyone. Some reviewers expressed dissatisfaction with minor deviations from the source material.
Nevertheless, there are fans who have come out in support of the series amidst the critiques. A fan defended the show online, stating: "I'm puzzled by the reviews that claim all of Conrad's brilliant story have been abandoned. Utterly untrue. All the main points of the original story are here. The betrayals, the ethical compromises, the cowardice. Not a single one missing. What had changed is how the story is told. Conrad jumped back and forth, a device that works better on writing than on TV."
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They elaborated further: "The result is a thoughtful carefully constructed story that resists the urge to pick up the tempo just for the sake of a little excitement. Some lovely performances by the whole cast. No one is cast as either superhero or supervillain. These are ordinary people of no great distinction, no matter their place in life. Both evil and justice are flawed and banal."
Another chimed in: "This is a totally enthralling production. It is very contemporary in its topic. Considering when the story was originally written, it has a very modern appeal. The story has twists and turns. The ending is very intriguing. The acting is excellent. Toby Jones and all the cast give marvellous performances. I would highly recommend this."
The Secret Agent is streaming on Netflix.