The Night Manager

:

Season 1
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 182 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 147 out of 182
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 182
  3. Negative: 10 out of 182
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User Reviews

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  1. bruceylegs
    Apr 20, 2016
    9
    As a handsome international man of mystery stuck in a boring desk job myself, I can totally relate to Jonathan Pine's desire to blow stuff up. Great escapist fun!
  2. LamontRaymond
    Jul 17, 2016
    10
    My show of the year so far. Incredibly well-scripted, Hiddelston is a major star after this, and "House", the bad dude, is extremely spooky. Loved that they jammed it all into six episodes - not room for filler. Would love to see more of this type of thing.
  3. eagleeyeviking
    Mar 7, 2017
    8
    Taut, tightly plotted and mesmerisingly shot, BBC's espionage drama adapted from John le Carré's novel of the same name thrills throughout. The characters are perfectly cast and the plot remains interesting throughout, even if there are minor blips here and there.
  4. vanhuizum
    May 11, 2016
    10
    Great storytelling... all the hooks... romance, thriller, intrigue.... wonderful acting by all. Hugh (House) is always a joy to watch. Highly recommend... a great series!
  5. katezoe
    Apr 25, 2016
    10
    A great espionage thriller and pure entertainment. It reminds me of a James Bond movie and "Homeland." Everything in the series works, with very good acting, wonderful characters, gorgeous locaitons. Must watch TV.
  6. HarryNuggets
    May 14, 2016
    8
    Good stuff. Watched it pretty much in one sitting. Lots of despicable people, like most anything Le Carre has penned. Found good faces for the political weasels as they all actually look like weasels. The romantic component of the plot doesn't really ad anything. Hope Hiddleston does more of this sort of stuff, he's a good actor. I was interested in this because I think Le Carre isGood stuff. Watched it pretty much in one sitting. Lots of despicable people, like most anything Le Carre has penned. Found good faces for the political weasels as they all actually look like weasels. The romantic component of the plot doesn't really ad anything. Hope Hiddleston does more of this sort of stuff, he's a good actor. I was interested in this because I think Le Carre is an underrated writer who is pigeon holed in the espionage genre. His worldview is too black for that. People being ground beneath the wheels of socio and psychopaths. It is of much more application than solely to world of politics unfortunately.… Expand
  7. SchroederRock
    Jun 17, 2016
    10
    A brilliant mini series by the BBC with a superb pair of leading cast members, The Night Manager is exactly what many of us want in these types of shows: intrigue, suspense, class, strategy and some unknowns. The show not only tells a great story, it does so without ever feeling the least-bit boring or mundane. While I was yearning for more episodes (and more episodes could have beenA brilliant mini series by the BBC with a superb pair of leading cast members, The Night Manager is exactly what many of us want in these types of shows: intrigue, suspense, class, strategy and some unknowns. The show not only tells a great story, it does so without ever feeling the least-bit boring or mundane. While I was yearning for more episodes (and more episodes could have been made to offer up more details from the book), I was totally happy with what I was given. The 6 episode story arc is absolutely fitting for the events that unfold. Hugh Laurie is a likable bad-guy and Tom Hiddleston makes for one of the best protagonists I've seen on screen in quite some time. The only thing you need to know about this series is that there's a lot going on in the early episodes that help setup the story. Pretty much everything shown on-screen is crucial to being able to identify what's going on throughout each episode, so wandering off to grab a snack or checking your Facebook could immediately land you in a state of "what's going on?". If you're going to watch an episode, don't let yourself be divided.… Expand
  8. shoulderoforion
    Apr 19, 2016
    10
    I gave this a 10 because it's everything I want in a spy thriller, beautiful locations, beautiful people, hard boiled criminals, political intrigue, weapons, things that go boom, and that English actress from season 1 of Broadchurch. Such a delight, I dug this immensely & hope Hiddleston gets Bond or keeps making La Carre stories.
  9. MazinroboX2
    Apr 19, 2016
    9
    I liked this one, a short show with a very good cast and entertaining story. The last chapter, well, it makes you feel nervous all the time, and that's cool. It goes extremely fast, though, but hey, it's just 6 chapters, it's logical it goes fast. A worth watching show in my opinion,
  10. podunk411
    Jun 6, 2016
    6
    Could've been great, but wasn't adapted to TV well (and I've never even read the book). The plotting & early character story seemed terribly truncated and don't fit well together --especially Jonathan Pine's first "romance" which I didn't buy at all but is the basis for everything to come. Then his sudden skill set change from Night Manager to trained double agent? The actors do well withCould've been great, but wasn't adapted to TV well (and I've never even read the book). The plotting & early character story seemed terribly truncated and don't fit well together --especially Jonathan Pine's first "romance" which I didn't buy at all but is the basis for everything to come. Then his sudden skill set change from Night Manager to trained double agent? The actors do well with what they're given but that's not saying much. It's still beautifully shot & entertaining, just misses the mark on the whole.… Expand
  11. DonMega
    May 29, 2016
    6
    Watch this if you want to see Loki have a **** eating grin throughout 90% of the show.

    Start's out very good but after episode 3 quality degrades really fast. Tom Hiddleston's shining bright smile glows on your tv screen every time he talks to someone in the show. It really makes you want to punch him in the face.

    Mutiple times.

    Multiple times.
  12. CassioSanfelice
    May 31, 2016
    10
    gave this a 10 because it's everything I want in a spy thriller, beautiful locations, beautiful people, hard boiled criminals, political intrigue, weapons, things that go boom, and that English actress from season 1 of Broadchurch. Such a delight, I dug this immensely & hope Hiddleston gets Bond or keeps making La Carre stories.
  13. reluctantexan
    Jun 8, 2016
    10
    I found this interesting and totally engaging all the way through. What's not to like about our handsome leading man. Love to watch things I can't predict. I highly recommend it.
  14. schlotzy
    Jun 17, 2016
    7
    A great story that soon becomes painfully contrived. My suspension of disbelief was tested more once.
    Acting was good and it was beautifully shot.
    As pointed out in other reviews - some things did not make any sense.
  15. Carl_LCDH
    Aug 29, 2016
    8
    The show is really good, although it kinda take it's time to go serious, it worths the chance at least to the third episode, that is when I think the plot went sky rocket.
  16. orwellflash
    Apr 22, 2016
    5
    Started out promising, but quickly devolved into an idiot plot plagued
    mess of eye-candy and stupidity. This is not an intelligent show! Check
    your brain at the door. Good acting could not redeem it. Painfully contrived. I feel betrayed by the professional critics.
  17. Bo33y
    Apr 19, 2016
    4
    Nothing special. A paper thin story that doesn't work today. To deal arms outside of the UK from the UK, it would have to go through about 5 committees M.O.D, Intelligence, GCHQ, Foreign Office and Whitehall. That is before any sub committees, where there is even a morality committee in Whitehall of how the sale of arms affects the population.

    Regardless this plot was 4 hours too long,    Nothing special. A paper thin story that doesn't work today. To deal arms outside of the UK from the UK, it would have to go through about 5 committees M.O.D, Intelligence, GCHQ, Foreign Office and Whitehall. That is before any sub committees, where there is even a morality committee in Whitehall of how the sale of arms affects the population.

    Regardless this plot was 4 hours too long, it would have made a better film if adapted properly, aside from it having so much basic flaw like in its abysmal fairy tale ending. Yawn. The TV show was like watching paint dry. It had some scenery acting and fireworks. Although the TV series is best avoided where the book reads better in a time where the world was a different place. Some of it was made for the demographics like adding the token pregnant woman etc....    … Expand
  18. Mehtv
    Apr 20, 2016
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This series wasn't bad it was awful. Dicky Roper was the only thing worth watching and they wouldn't even give him any justice in its fairy tale ending. It was stomp foot onto the ground like an angry child and cry for mommy. Tom was so green behind the ears all he did was underwear model reading his lines off a chalk board smiling and winking at the camera, no nuances, no tone, nothing. There was an American Diana cast because of the aristocracy, but she was so tall she made everybody else feel short. Broadchurch was preggo, how f'ing disgusting you would endanger a child with flights and counter espionage. Obviously this series was made by a female director, meh, a baby gives them special powers gaining all the female votes.

    This series was typical of your average BBC in romanticising another show into its pretentious lalalala, as it makes up belief for other numbers, although it never knows which numbers it wants to hit and therefore will always lack in all credibility. As it was off to lord fartlory's tea parties attempting other games of intrigue that amounted to a fairy tale.

    We simply remove eyeballs today, and every transaction can be monitored and recalled. Why when you have your own army of mercenaries do you let the yokels guard the merchandise? Why did his goon need to take the girl with him, knock her out, tie her up, cancel her, and where did his mobile phone go and he still had two guns, forget about all the other hotel security. She had been cut lose effectively fired why is she still spending resources? Why pretend that was a bad end when his net worth was worth how much? Isn't it so f'ing annoying all these mediocre shows use the same formula the FBI hates the CIA and they all have their own agendas giving their wannabe bob the builders their insubordinative edge turning them into James Bond. Arghhhhhhhhhhh    … Expand
  19. effinayright
    Apr 22, 2016
    6
    Kinda uncertain about this. Why did the Arab mistress of the obviously murderous Egyptian rich guy return to the hotel, where he could find her??

    Why would the Night Manger, having got himself involved in Cairo, think he could expunge it from his past by taking the same positions, in the same fancy hotels, as the one he left?
  20. JennetP
    Apr 30, 2016
    5
    This miniseries ends up being mediocre because its strengths and its weaknesses cancel each other out. Chief strength: gorgeous cinematography at what appear to be real (and beautiful) locations. Chief weakness: terrible writing marked by improbabilities in character, situation, and plot. Viewers must suspend disbelief almost constantly--without getting much dramatic payoff. The acting is,This miniseries ends up being mediocre because its strengths and its weaknesses cancel each other out. Chief strength: gorgeous cinematography at what appear to be real (and beautiful) locations. Chief weakness: terrible writing marked by improbabilities in character, situation, and plot. Viewers must suspend disbelief almost constantly--without getting much dramatic payoff. The acting is, by and large, decent. None of the characters is convincing, but that fault lies more in the script than in the performances. I finished watching the series, though I did household chores during the last couple of episodes (always a sign of reduced expectations).… Expand
  21. EludiumQ36
    Jul 19, 2017
    6
    "The Night Manager" isn't awful, in many ways it's quite good but I've got some "notes". First, though I enjoyed Hugh Laurie's return to television, his English accent is offputtingly pretentious. His American accent was natural and great, the English accent is just wrong. Tom Hiddleston as an everyman James Bond is just too much. He's got a wimpy looking face and manner that's made more"The Night Manager" isn't awful, in many ways it's quite good but I've got some "notes". First, though I enjoyed Hugh Laurie's return to television, his English accent is offputtingly pretentious. His American accent was natural and great, the English accent is just wrong. Tom Hiddleston as an everyman James Bond is just too much. He's got a wimpy looking face and manner that's made more for a sad romance than a spy thriller. The love interest - Elizabeth Debicki - is attractive but not stunningly so which I think is necessary since she's the pet of the villain and the fantasy of our hero for which he jeopardizes so much. And that brings me to my last note. The mini-series was thankfully short at six one-hour eps, but there was a predictability to it, like it was a film school project that was busy checking all the requisite drama boxes: loss of loved one, revenge, recruitment, sacrifice, boinking, murder, betrayal, etc. There was only maybe one plot twist but everything proceeded as you'd imagine it would and by the end it was clear you knew this was how it would end. That's fine for writing in the 1960s but not for 2017.… Expand
  22. thorshammerbc
    Jul 3, 2016
    9
    This series is the perfect size for the story : a movie cannot do justice to any good story, and a many-season tv series wringing every drop of life from said story is just gross.
    And that's just another facet to this gem : every way you view it The Night Manager is brilliant. Outstanding story (screen writing always comes first), locales and cinematography are a treat, superbly cast.    This series is the perfect size for the story : a movie cannot do justice to any good story, and a many-season tv series wringing every drop of life from said story is just gross.
    And that's just another facet to this gem : every way you view it The Night Manager is brilliant. Outstanding story (screen writing always comes first), locales and cinematography are a treat, superbly cast. After a very good start, I kept waiting for the episodes to begin to disappoint. Inevitable with most shows - not with The Night Manager.    … Expand
  23. LeZee
    Aug 10, 2017
    8
    Get in and get him. It's not that simple!
    SEASON 01:
    The British television series has a special status in me. Usually they won't disappoint me, particularly one under the banner of the BBC. I was expecting it, and also it took time for me to give it a try. After so many months delay, I finally saw and liked it. One of the best secret intelligence-thriller. When it comes to the basic    Get in and get him. It's not that simple!
    SEASON 01:

    The British television series has a special status in me. Usually they won't disappoint me, particularly one under the banner of the BBC. I was expecting it, and also it took time for me to give it a try. After so many months delay, I finally saw and liked it. One of the best secret intelligence-thriller. When it comes to the basic narrative, there's nothing new. You know it's a man was sent to get close to the international criminal and pass all the details to the security agency. Yeah, it's that simple, yet a bit differently done in here.

    It is a mini-series with six episodes and each one was like an individual film in a spy film franchise. Yeah, that would have not been a bad idea. Surely it would have been one of the best films of its kind. Anyway, the narration shifts its locations all over the world in each episode. There's no preserved secret in the tale, everything was told in a straightforward narration. But comes to the point whenever it needed. Then what makes it so powerful is the performances, especially all the lead ones, including, Tom Hiddleton, Hugh Laurie, Elizabeth Debicki, Olivian Colman and a few others.

    The night manager in one of the leading hotels in Cairo unexpectedly gets into an international criminal affair. But he escapes unhurt, except hurt in the heart. Following that, a few years later on the different part of the world, again he meets the same gang and this time he tries to do the right thing. The plan is to infiltrate and collect all the information. He succeeds in getting in, but what are the challenges he is going to face are the remaining suspense parts told.

    Liked the casting, locations, the making was awesome. Looks very carefully carved product. Highest budget television product from the BBC till date and it all paid off back with the great recognition all around. The details are good, it took time to get everything right, otherwise it would have been 3-4 episode series. It won three Golden Globes, three BAFTA and two Emmies. Almost recognised in all the important sections as it deserved for awards. If you love television series, then this one is not to be missed. The same old theme, concept, but brilliantly reshaped with fine actors and in locations with music and all. Recommended!

    8/10    … Expand
  24. Carewolf
    Feb 18, 2018
    8
    It is a very good series. It feels almost like a mini-series in how much happens and changes in every single episode, and of course the actors are great.
  25. Trailesque
    Jan 8, 2018
    8
    Well done adaptation of a LeCarre thriller. Smart, suave, and nice to look at. Hugh Laurie is a good choice for the heavy role, an uber-manipulative international arms dealer whose organization is being infiltrated by hero Hiddleston, a newcomer to the espionage game.
  26. amheretojudge
    Aug 5, 2018
    7
    "the dirty work" is left upto viewers' imagination..

    The Night Manager 3 And A Half Out Of 5 The Night Manager is a character driven mini-series adapted from the novel by John Le Carre, that swept away three Golden Globes on the acting category and was nominated for the best series too. As much as simple the plot is, despite of its genre, it doesn't unnecessarily grows    "the dirty work" is left upto viewers' imagination..

    The Night Manager

    3 And A Half Out Of 5

    The Night Manager is a character driven mini-series adapted from the novel by John Le Carre, that swept away three Golden Globes on the acting category and was nominated for the best series too.

    As much as simple the plot is, despite of its genre, it doesn't unnecessarily grows convoluted or even attempts to make impossible possible. And such simplistic reasons is why it connects with the audience instantly and stays true to its tone throughout the course of it.

    The adapted screenplay by Farr is smart as it glorifies each little moments with equal dignity keeping the audience enchanted in its self-created tense bubble that doesn't pop but explodes. Addition to that, it not only is edited perfectly but each character's perspective is accounted in perfectly for it to justify the actions.

    It is rich on technical aspects like sharp sound effects, stunning live locations, alluring costume design and metaphorical cinematography that seeks viewers' attention through it.

    Beir; the director, is ahead of her game and the viewers, for her description of a sequence is not only electrifying but thought-provoking too; she is in your head from the start. The performance objective is the ace in the hole for the series, since the casting pays off more than well, as Hiddleston, Laurie and Colman have genuinely invested their heart in it.

    Pragmatic conversations, three-dimensional characters, tense environment and stellar performances are the high points of this mini-series. Beir's world in here is bolder, faster and scarier than it may seem and no matter how many times the makers plays their "close call" theme, it never gets old, it never gets dull.

    The Night Manager isn't shady or twisted as one's usual spy thriller and is instead beautiful on visual aesthetics and neat on terms of projecting the questionable morality where "the dirty work" is left upto viewers' imagination; a slick move.    … Expand
  27. geewah
    Dec 21, 2020
    6
    Okay. Nothing more. Found this to be too predictable and not overly entertaining.

Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best TV Season of 2016
50
#50 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
22
#22 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    May 2, 2016
    90
    The Night Manager is easily the best miniseries of the year--in a year packed with monumental ones. Hiddleston, Laurie and Bier aren’t just adding another credit to their resumes. They’re part of a series that’s quite likely a game changer.
    Read full review
  2. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Kevin Fallon
    Apr 20, 2016
    80
    We’ve seen this all before. The good guy’s descent into darkness, the cat-and-mouse thriller, the escapist action series, the on-location porn. Does The Night Manager do it any better than we’re used to? Sure, quite often. But at least it almost never does it any worse.
    Read full review
  3. Slate
    Reviewed by: Willa Paskin
    Apr 19, 2016
    70
    The Night Manager is concerned with the complications and accommodations made to cope with man-made, humanitarian disasters. But all the permutations of its plot, however grisly and threatening, never dominate the show in the way they are meant to.
    Read full review
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