The BBC's new Cold War spy thriller Honey premiered on Saturday, November 14, and immediately divided viewers, with many complaining about the lack of German-speaking characters in the drama.
The series, a prequel to Killing Eve, follows the early years of Carolyn Martens, the sharp-witted MI6 officer played by Fiona Shaw in the original show. In Honey, the character uses the alias Martha Schmitt, a 24-year-old MI6 rookie sent undercover to East Berlin in 1982, where she is expected to act as a honey trap.
Viewers complain about English dialogue
As they tuned into the new series, a number of BBC viewers issued complaints over the lack of German-speaking characters. One person fumed on X: "BBCs new cold war drama #Honey is pish and that is me being nice. If you love a good spy drama set in the old day's give it a miss. If you like some dark comedy you might like it. I think it's shocking that this is in English. The BBC must think their viewers can't read subtitles," reports the Mirror.
Another added: "At the bare minimum a spy show about a deep cover MI6 agent in Germany should have an agent speaking German. An English speaking agent would raise suspicion. This show fails at the basic level to become an immersive experience," while a third said: "Why do I feel they should actually be speaking German."
The frustration continued, as someone else wrote: "This looks crap," while another added: "What the hell!"
Some viewers hooked by the drama
However, not everyone was unimpressed, as a number of viewers found themselves "hooked" by the new drama. "In love with the chaotic duo that is Martha and Kurt," one person wrote. Another added: "Everyone needs to watch #Honey." A third said: "This looks good @BBC1 new spy drama," while another commented: "Only two episodes in and I am HOOOOOOKED. Cant wait to see how Kurt feels about Martha's hots for Friedrich the 'psycho'."
The drama's synopsis states: "East Berlin, 1982. Martha (pronounced as Marta), 24, is a deep cover agent for MI6. Surrounded by enemies and constantly under threat of her cover being blown, she tries her hardest to avoid detection by Friedrich, the new Stasi Head of Counterespionage against British Targets, Berlin Office."
Plot and inspiration
The synopsis continues: "Finding herself caught between Friedrich and the reckless, arrogant (and incredibly attractive...) CIA operative Aaron Neeland (posing as Kurt Fischer), she is blind-sided by desire in this Cold War ménage à trois. The risk of being garrotted or incarcerated is nothing compared to the horrifying ordeal of falling in love. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and bearing your heart and soul? She'd rather have her fingernails pulled out."
The opening two episodes of the series made their debut on BBC One on Saturday. In the first instalment, Martha posed as a lover of a British diplomat, while harbouring ambitions to take on a more significant assignment.
Discussing the inspiration behind the drama, lead writer Emma Moran said: "I'm such a big rom-com fan and I wanted to do a Bridget Jones style love triangle, with a messy woman in her twenties struggling with her career and boys."
She added: "Adding that spy thriller element on top, weirdly felt quite natural. It didn't feel like I had to squeeze the pieces together: that subterfuge, and whether someone is saying the truth to me or not, is kind of the same dynamic as, do they like me? Do they know I like them? Do they know that I know that they like me? It all felt quite natural."
Honey is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
