I’ve been seeing previews for The Night Manager for a while now, and—of course—my interest was piqued.
The show, which aired earlier this year in its entirety on BBC One, but only started airing in the U.S. last month*, is a six-part miniseries based on the John le Carré novel of the same name. The novel, and the show, tell the story of Jonathan Pine, a night manager of a hotel in Cairo who inadvertently gets involved with Richard Roper, a businessman and philanthropist who also happens to be an international arms dealer.
After he share evidence of Roper’s wrongdoings with an arm of the British government, Pine is recruited to go undercover into Roper’s business and life with the aim of bringing “the worst man in the world” down once and for all.
If that doesn’t entice you to tune in, read on for three specific reasons why I think this show is worth watching.
*Episode 3 aired this past Tuesday, so there’s plenty of time to catch up before the series ends.
1. Travel Lust
The first two episodes of the show takes viewers from a posh hotel in Cairo, Egypt (albeit during the Revolution of 2011); to a chalet high in the Swiss Alps; to a charming cottage in Cornwall, England; to the city of London, England; to an estate in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. In other words: Jonathan Pine goes many places I can only dream of one day visiting. I mean:
The show is beautifully shot, as well, taking full advantage of all these gorgeous filming locations.
2. A Quick Hit of Intrigue
A good spy drama, particularly one with a lot of high-tension action, makes for a great escape from everyday life. Although The Night Manager is longer than, say, a James Bond film, the series’ short run doesn’t require a lot of commitment while allowing you to bond more with the characters.
3. Thomas William Hiddleston
Since realizing our mutual attraction thanks to The Avengers, Tom Hiddleston has been at the top of my celebrity dream date list. He remains there not only because of his penchant to break out in dance (the latest example of which you can see here) and his being an unabashed life-ruiner, but also because of his serious acting talent. He can transform from a megalomaniacal villain to a world weary vampire to a Shakespearean soldier seemingly without breaking a figurative sweat. Jonathan Pine might be one of his most contemporary/”normal guy” roles, but it’s no less nuanced, particularly as he pushes his morals aside to infiltrate Roper’s ranks. Do be warned though, Thomas’ beautiful face gets a bit marred in the process. Thank goodness we know it’s just makeup!
Plus: There have been numerous shirtless scenes and sexy times so far. Just sayin’.
I’m such a tease.
(If Thomas isn’t your bag, I’m sorry, you’re crazy the series also features House’s Hugh Laurie, Outlander’s Tobias Menzies, Pride and Prejudice’s Tom Hollander, Supergirl’s David Harewood, Broadchurch’s Olivia Colman, Being Human’s Russell Tovey, and a slew of other familiar faces.)
Are you watching The Night Manager? If so, let’s chat in the comments! If not, I’ll be here to chat when you’ve caught up.