A BBC thriller hailed as "one of the best shows ever" has just landed on Netflix. The series, which originally premiered in 2018, is now available for streaming, and fans believe it did not receive enough recognition during its initial release. The show in question is The Little Drummer Girl, adapted from John le Carré's best-selling novel of the same name.
Plot and Setting
Set in the late 1970s, the six-episode series follows Charlie, an English actress who is recruited by Israeli intelligence agents to infiltrate a suspected terrorist group. As the spy delves deeper into her mission, she forms complicated relationships with both sides, making her task increasingly dangerous.
Star-Studded Cast and Director
The series boasts an impressive cast led by Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh, who plays Charlie. She is joined by Primetime Emmy Award winner Alexander Skarsgård and two-time Oscar nominee Michael Shannon. The director is celebrated South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, known for his distinctive style.
Critical Acclaim and Fan Praise
Despite being overlooked by many viewers, The Little Drummer Girl earned a rare 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One critic described it as "a six-part series brimming with style and intrigue, ranking among the best espionage TV dramas in recent memory." A casual viewer praised it as "one of the best shows I've seen in the past years, with a perfect blend of suspense, romance, and drama. Pugh, Skarsgård, and Shannon are fantastic."
On Reddit, fans shared their enthusiasm. One wrote: "I personally loved it and thought it deserved more praise and accolades than it got. I liked it more than The Night Manager. It was extremely stylistically filmed and one of the most beautiful looking TV shows ever, outside of Hannibal or Westworld." Another added: "I thought it was fantastic, one of the best spy thrillers I've ever seen. I chase the high of that show sometimes from other things but nothing ever quite scratches the itch." A final viewer commented: "Fantastic mini series with a killer cast and direction. It really is a shame that it flew so far under the radar."
Where to Watch
The Little Drummer Girl is streaming now on Netflix and is also available for free on BBC iPlayer.
