Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant’s Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones.
You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, “Movie Monsters of the Deep.”
Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant.
Every streaming platform has at least one flagship show representing the most popular genres, and while Netflix has recently rivaled HBO for prestige drama, it has also found success with exciting action thrillers. Based on Matthew Quirk’s novel of the same name, when The Night Agent arrived on the platform in 2023, it quickly became a standout action series for Netflix.
The success of the show was immediate, becoming the third-most-viewed debuting series on Netflix within its first four days, and it was renewed for a second season within a week. However, that presented a potential problem. The first season of The Night Agent fully adapted the original book, leaving writers to create an entirely new storyline and mission for the central spy, Peter Sutherland. The next two seasons proved that The Night Agent exceeded its source material, and the show could have lasted forever.
That said, this has not happened, with Netflix announcing that season 4 of The Night Agent would be its last. Some reviewers have raised questions about whether declining viewership led to the decision, but the series’ creator and showrunner, Shawn Ryan, explained in the Netflix article that “ever since the initial success of The Night Agent, I’ve been obsessed with eventually delivering a proper and thrilling conclusion to the show and to Peter Sutherland’s journey.”
This confirmation that The Night Agent will end with season 4 will likely disappoint fans, but it will leave a gap open for Netflix to fill with a new action thriller TV show. What is most exciting about this is that there is an opportunity to offer audiences something different that still hits the same beats. The Night Agent could not avoid “Reacher replacement” comparisons, and a new spy action TV show could introduce a completely different kind of hero, or a setting that is markedly different from those in Reacher and The Night Agent.
The streaming hit Man on Fire is a great contender, emerging to rave views, but Netflix could also look into other options, including international shows, and series with a female lead character who is both skilled and realistic. The Night Agent’s fan favorite Chelsea Arrington (Fola Evans-Akingbola) would be a perfect candidate for a spinoff, but as of yet, no Chelsea-centered project has been announced despite persistent rumors. Even so, while the original series’ ending marks the end of an era, its popularity is likely to increase over time.
Netflix regularly cancels TV shows that deserve more seasons, leaving behind frustrated fans and putting potential new viewers off beginning series that they know will not have an ending. This approach is likely to hurt both Netflix and the quality of its shows in the long run, with creators potentially growing reluctant to pitch long-running and complex series and viewers changing to a platform that gives more of a chance to new shows.
On the other hand, The Night Agent has avoided this pitfall, even despite some surprisingly bad reviews for its second season. While critics enjoyed it, Rotten Tomatoes audiences rated the show’s second season as just 40% positive. The series bounced back with its highest audience reviews yet for the explosive third season, and if the final season can keep up this momentum, it might just cement the legacy of The Night Agent.
The three released seasons of The Night Agent
With Titus Welliver cast in season 4 of The Night Agent alongside other big names, the show is set to end on a high note which could set a great legacy for the series. TV shows that are canceled early risk being forgotten, while a series with a full run and a satisfying ending are often more likely to attract new viewers, even years later. The Night Agent already stands out among other excellent Netflix action thrillers for its quality, and a well-rounded ending may ensure it also stands the test of time.
The Night Agent ](/db/tv-show/the-night-agent/)
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The Night Agent is a Netflix original series based on the novel by Matthew Quirk. Gabriel Basso plays a young entry-level FBI agent named Peter Sutherland who handles a hotline in the basement of the White House that never rings. When it finally does, Sutherland finds himself embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy that climbs all the way to the top.