The highly anticipated second series of the BBC's espionage thriller The Night Manager has been met with a wave of criticism from a section of its audience, who have labelled the new episodes a letdown compared to the first.
Mixed Reactions for the Long-Awaited Return
Returning to screens on New Year's Day 2026, a full decade after the acclaimed first season, the show sees Tom Hiddleston reprise his role as MI6 agent Jonathan Pine. This time, Pine – operating under the alias Alex Goodwin – is embedded with the Night Owls surveillance unit and faces a new adversary, arms dealer Teddy Dos Santos, played by Diego Calva.
However, following the broadcast of the third episode on Sunday, January 11, which featured a tense stand-off and a sultry dance sequence, many viewers took to social media to voice their disappointment.
Viewers Vent Frustration on Social Media
The criticism has been pointed, with some fans suggesting the show has lost its magic. One viewer posted on X, formerly Twitter, stating: "Does anyone else think the new Night Manager is pretty s***, like it's made by and for Hiddleston's ego. Pretty poor."
Another complained about a lack of tension, commenting: "Unpopular opinion... this series of Night Manager is c**p... without the music it's tension free." A third simply lamented: "What a shame The Night Manager is b***** this time around," adding that Corky, Tom Hollander's character from season one, would be "turning in his grave."
Further critiques included confusion over the plot, with one person asking "What is even going on?", and another comparing it unfavourably to James Bond, calling it "pure poor Bond cliche now in 2nd series."
Not All Hope Lost: Praise from Other Quarters
Despite the vocal criticism, the reaction to The Night Manager's second series has not been universally negative. A contingent of viewers has praised the new instalment, arguing it maintains the high standards of the original.
One fan championed the opening episodes as "making a case for being one of the best TV shows out there," while another enthused: "The Night Manager Season 2 is as good if not better than season 1. Can't wait for the remaining episodes. Absolute cracker 5/5."
The return of the series, which is based on characters from John le Carré's novel, came as a surprise to many following the author's death in 2020. Its revival was confirmed in April 2024. The first series followed Pine's infiltration of an arms dealer's network, winning widespread acclaim and leaving fans eager for more.
The Night Manager season two continues on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
