Netflix’s 5-part spy thriller with Happy Valley star is its ultimate hidden gem

Need something that can be binged in one night? Netflix’s five-part spy thriller is the tense show that need to be on your watchlist

We all love a twisty spy thriller, and there’s nothing like screaming at the TV as you figure out the plot before our heroes, or slump back after getting everything so wrong (I may be very guilty of the latter).

7 Netflix Spy Thrillers To Keep You On The Edge Of Your Seat | Thought Catalog

Back in 2022, Netflix fans were treated to a tense thriller named Treason, that featured former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko. The mini-series lasted for five episodes, and it remains a hidden gem on the platform thanks to some mixed reviews.

The synopsis for the series reads: “With a number of successes under his belt at Britain’s spy agency, MI6, Adam’s career is on the upswing. But after his boss narrowly survives an assassination attempt, Adam takes over.

“Soon, though, his past begins to catch up with him. First there’s a compromising rendezvous with a deadly former flame. Then there’s his wife, who grows increasingly suspicious about the secrets he’s keeping — and with whom he’s keeping them.”

WATCH: See the trailer for tense spy thriller Treason

Treason’s reception

When it came to the critics, there was plenty of love for the five-part series. Writing for Decider, Joel Keller opined: ” Shows like this sometimes lose the focus on what made us attracted to them to begin with; in the case of Treason, it’s the tension that comes with Adam’s handling of the director’s job while Kara simultaneously threatens his family and what little freedom he has left.

“As long as the show stays on that, while giving some of the third-tier characters a little more to do than what we’ve seen so far, it’ll make for a satisfying thriller.”

Charlie Cox and two men in suits in a still from Treason© Netflix
The five-part series is available to be streamed on Netflix

Meanwhile, in The Hollywood Reporter, Daniel Fienberg said: “The characters may be thin, but the cast is good. [Charlie] Cox conveys a general sense of Everyman decency — though, even if he isn’t as compromised as his enemies think, he’s more compromised than the show thinks.

“[Olga] Kurylenko is effectively inscrutable, though the series doesn’t give us the information necessary to judge her, much less understand her. [Oona] Chaplin is giving probably the best performance in the series — with the possible exception of [Ciaran] Hinds’ effortless chilly arrogance — despite a character defined exclusively by having once been in the military.”

Charlie Cox and a woman in a still from Treason© Netflix
Fans were dismissive of the show

However, this didn’t translate with the audience, with there being a 30% difference between the critic and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes. One bemused viewer penned: “Just finished watching Treason. What absolute garbage and a bloody waste of time.”

A second commented: “Lasted 2 episodes and bailed. Absolute garbage. Charlie Cox and Ciaran Hinds must owe someone a favour. Slow Horses is a far better watch,” while a third posted: “Complete and utter waste of time, I watched the whole thing cause only 5 episodes and in the hopes that it might just get better but nope.”

Who stars in Treason?

The series is led by a pedigree of thriller stars with Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace), Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Oona Chaplin (Game of Thrones), Ciaran Hinds (Belfast).

Olga Kurylenko and Charlie Cox in a still from Treason© Netflix
Olga Kurylenko helped to lead the cast

Other cast members include Tracy Ifeachor (The Pitt), Danila Kozlovsky (Vikings), Samuel Leakey (Clout), Beau Gadsdon (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Simon Lenagan (Happy Valley), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who), Avital Lvova (Atomic) and Adam James (Wicked).