Despite its issues, the 2023 thriller “The Night Agent” ranks as the fifth most-watched show on Netflix of all time.
The show follows an FBI agent assigned to an emergency hotline. The agent climbs the ranks after saving the country from a conspiracy to harm high-ranking officials.
The show contains an overly complex plot, trying to tie too many characters into the story’s conflict. Additionally, the writers connect a former conflict from the story to the current scheme, overwhelming the viewer with scarce context.
The acting in “The Night Agent” is also substandard. The two main actors Gabriel Basso and Luciane Buchanan, are young but experienced, appearing in numerous other movies and shows; however, the actors seem to lack emotion. For example, main character Gabriel Basso shows strong signs of sympathy in “Hillbilly Elegy,” a production he also stars in, but not here.
“The Night Agent” also portrays ridiculous inaccurate events, like firing 40 bullets without reloading. Although the writers have good intentions to not bore the viewer when it comes to events like these, real-world, accurate scenarios would contribute to a much better plot.
If Peter (Gabriel Basso) had to reload while in a battle with adversaries, the viewer would become more engaged as this would make the show more realistic or relatable.
The writers should emphasize more simplicity and the creation of dynamic characters in their future productions in order to grasp and maintain the viewer’s attention.
Some viewers enjoy the tedious plot, hence its high ranking.
“It was a little bit confusing early in season one, but once I understood what was happening, it hooked me in to watch the second season,” junior Dillon Libasci said.
