(Credits: BBC One)

Timing is everything when it comes to streaming because in the digital world, you never know what sticks with the audience. Amid the Squid Game updates, a three-part British spy series based on Joseph Conrad’s 1907 novel, The Secret Agent, has recently found a second wind at Netflix. And it looks like fans have good reason to give The Secret Agent a much-needed second shot. Originally, the show aired on BBC One in 2016, serving as the fourth adaptation of the novel following the works in 1967, 1972 and 1992.

Since The Secret Agent’s streaming debut on Netflix, multiple tabloids have noted a cult following. The BBC adaptation is set against the backdrop of 1880s London. It revolves around Mr Verloc, a humble shopkeeper who lives a double life as a reluctant spy. Although he works for foreign agents, coercion leads him down a path of high-stakes terrorism under the hawk’s gaze of British authorities. The show captivates with its untamed representation of espionage and deception.

But it trades spectacle for suffocating suspense, where eerie settings and whispered threats unravel the nerves of the characters on the brink. The Secret Agent is made of terror cells and informant networks. And underneath the façade of political crossroads lies disintegrating domestic lives. The Secret Agent is a raw portrayal of a society hanging by a thread, where there are no heroes to save the day. Here, the mundane people tango with incredible danger.

Unlike stereotypical espionage thrillers, The Secret Agent doesn’t rely on twists and turns to convey the grimness of the political space. Instead, it’s built within a tense atmosphere where true terror lies in the psychological pressure cooker. It’s an immersive viewing experience that capitalises on visual tonality to bring out the political paranoia. The show has also been showered with praise for its dedication to period detail, capturing the essence of Victorian London through its dimly lit alleyways and misty thoroughfares.

But that’s not all. Even the costumes, lighting, and set designs add to the political and psychological turmoil. Although The Secret Agent is a period piece, the audience cannot help but note contemporary themes and its critique. The show doesn’t provide an aerial point of view. In fact, it’s projected through the lens of the ordinary. It delves into the intersections of surveillance, rebellion, and radicalisation, where everyday lives become the frontlines of extraordinary turmoil.

Besides these, the cast has a hold over the viewers, thanks to their outstanding delivery. Toby Jones, who portrays Mr Verloc in The Secret Agent, has received critical acclaim for his performance. A reviewer wrote on IMDb, “Toby Jones can do little wrong for me… he played the hapless, hopeless, desperate and cowardly Verloc brilliantly.” In fact, Vicky McClure, who plays Mr Verloc’s wife, has also received rave reviews alongside Stephen Graham’s intense delivery.

Speaking of the zero-hero reliance, another viewer wrote, “There are no heroes, only flawed but passionate people dangerously entwined with the lives of essentially honest people who are, for the most part, unaware of the dangers brewing underneath their floorboards.” It’s safe to conclude that The Secret Agent is a realistic and raw representation of a society where survival is a task and crude politics the lingua franca.