The Night Agent refuses to take a day off. Even before season two dropped last year, Netflix had already renewed the series for a very eager third instalment. That should come as no surprise given how the first chapter quickly became one of Netflix’s most-watched series of all time. But is such confidence still warranted, three seasons in?
The answer is yes, for the most part, despite losing one of the key elements that made this show a success in the first place.
Like the previous two seasons, these new episodes send FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) on another global mission to protect the White House. Except, it looks like the call is coming from inside the house, so to speak, with dangerous conspiracies that go all the way to the top.
So far, so typical of the genre. But beyond the specifics of the story itself, season three is notably different, thanks to the absence of Rose Larkin.
Introduced in the first season, Luciane Buchanan’s cybersecurity wiz became a vital entry point into this world (first introduced in Matthew Quirk’s novel of the same name). Early reviews commended Rose’s growing connection to Peter, which eventually developed into romance by season two.
Netflix
As the only major character (aside from Peter) to be brought back a second time, Rose became just as integral to the show as the night agent himself. Or so it seemed at the time because now, Buchanan doesn’t appear at all in The Night Agent’s new season. There’s talk of her connection to Peter and how things didn’t work out, but Rose herself is entirely absent.
That’s no bad thing though. As much as Buchanan might be missed, the goal was always to tell a different story each season with a revolving cast, and new additions for season three end up making a strong impact of their own.
Plenty stand out including True Blood’s Stephen Moyer as a hitman with a heart, along with Ward Horton and Jennifer Morrison who, together, channel political charisma and horrors alike as the show’s President Richard Hagan and his First Lady.
The most impressive newcomers, however, are Genesis Rodriguez and Fola Evans-Akingbola, who play a journalist named Isabel and White House Head of Security Chelsea Arrington. Combined, they fill in some of the gaps left in Rose’s wake, but do so without becoming mere stand-ins or carbon copies.
Creating new dynamics in this way helps flesh Peter out too, encouraging him to examine the choices he’s made and how this path has changed him. These women aren’t included just to serve Peter’s story though; both are fully realised characters in their own right, leading rich lives with or without the night agent’s involvement.
Netflix
And what of The Night Agent himself?
Brasso still pulls his weight in the fight scenes, which feel refreshingly brutal and grounded. As unrealistic as they can be sometimes, they’re still more visceral than most, committed to showing the toll of this line of work.
The emotional toll takes precedence though, and therein lies the key to making this series work.
Season three begins with flashbacks to Peter’s mother, who makes him promise that he’ll “always do the right thing.” And so he does, often to his own detriment, but such commitment to virtue isn’t easy in the world of espionage.
There are times when Peter comes close to betraying the memories of his mother, even if it’s for the greater good, and Brasso is at his best in these moments, internally struggling with the choices before him.
Netflix
While that’s typical for the show, it’s not just the hero who’s battling himself. A flashback episode in the back half introduces a new love story in Mexico that not only fleshes out key characters but might just be the standout chapter of the entire season.
If only one of the few returning characters from season two was treated with as much respect. No spoilers, but the way this one particular character is dealt with will leave a bad taste in your mouth… assuming you even notice, because the writers gloss over it far too quickly.
There are some other smaller points to consider, such as a few filler sequences with plot specifics that are easy to gloss over. This season isn’t wildly different than what’s come before in that sense, despite Rose’s absence.
But like Peter, The Night Agent is extremely efficient at what it does do well. And like Peter, the show is also pretty stubborn about taking time off, which is to our benefit because it looks like Netflix’s premier thriller won’t be calling it a day anytime soon.
The Night Agent season 3 releases on Netflix on 19 February 2026. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on the same platform now.
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After teaching in England and South Korea, David turned to writing in Germany, where he covered everything from superhero movies to the Berlin Film Festival.
In 2019, David moved to London to join Digital Spy, where he could indulge his love of comics, horror and LGBTQ+ storytelling as Deputy TV Editor, and later, as Acting TV Editor.
David has spoken on numerous LGBTQ+ panels to discuss queer representation and in 2020, he created the Rainbow Crew interview series, which celebrates LGBTQ+ talent on both sides of the camera via video content and longform reads.
Beyond that, David has interviewed all your faves, including Henry Cavill, Pedro Pascal, Olivia Colman, Patrick Stewart, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Dornan, Regina King, and more — not to mention countless Drag Race legends.
As a freelance entertainment journalist, David has bylines across a range of publications including Empire Online, Radio Times, INTO, Highsnobiety, Den of Geek, The Digital Fix and Sight & Sound.