Netflix has quietly launched one of its most gripping new spy thrillers of the year with The Asset, a six-episode limited series that has quickly climbed the global charts and left viewers hooked on its taut storytelling, morally gray characters, and relentless sense of dread.
Created by British writer Peter Moffat (Criminal Justice, Your Honor) and directed by Hans Herbots (The Serpent), The Asset follows Maya Ellis (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), a former MI6 operative who walked away from the intelligence world after a botched mission in Eastern Europe left her scarred and disillusioned. Eight years later, she is living a quiet life in London as a university lecturer when her former handler, Charles Lang (Cillian Murphy), reappears with an urgent request: a high-value Russian asset — codenamed “Swan” — has gone dark, and Maya is the only person who can bring him in safely. The catch? Swan is someone from her past — someone she once loved, someone she betrayed, and someone who still holds secrets that could topple governments.
The series is a masterclass in slow-burn espionage. It unfolds almost entirely in present-day London and remote Eastern European locations, with flashbacks to Maya’s final mission in 2018 revealing the betrayal that ended her career. Priyanka Chopra Jonas delivers a fierce, layered performance as Maya — a woman who has spent years trying to outrun her past, only to be pulled back in when the stakes become personal. Cillian Murphy is chillingly effective as Charles, a handler whose loyalty to the Crown is absolute, even when it means sacrificing the people who once trusted him. The supporting cast is equally strong: Toby Jones as a cynical MI6 desk officer, Indira Varma as Maya’s estranged mentor, and a breakout turn by 22-year-old Ukrainian actor Maksym Kovalenko as the enigmatic Swan.
The show’s strength lies in its refusal to glorify the spy world. There are no glamorous gadgets, no high-speed chases through exotic cities, no glamorous seduction scenes. Instead, The Asset focuses on the psychological toll of espionage: the isolation, the constant paranoia, the moral compromises that erode the soul over time. Every decision Maya makes carries real consequences — for her, for Swan, for the people she once swore to protect.
Visually, the series is moody and atmospheric. London is captured in cold, gray tones — rain-slicked streets, dimly lit safe houses, anonymous underground stations — while Eastern European flashbacks use stark, desaturated colors to evoke a world still scarred by the collapse of the Soviet Union. The soundtrack, composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, is sparse and unsettling, with long stretches of silence punctuated by sudden, jarring strings that mirror the characters’ inner turmoil.
Critics have been unanimous in their praise. The Guardian gave it five stars, calling it “a slow-burn masterpiece that treats espionage as a human tragedy rather than a game.” Variety described it as “the most intelligent spy thriller on television right now,” while The Hollywood Reporter highlighted Chopra Jonas and Murphy’s “electric chemistry that crackles with distrust and unspoken history.” Audience reactions have been equally enthusiastic, with many binge-watching the entire season in one or two sittings and posting reactions like “I haven’t been this tense since Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and “That final twist left me speechless.”
The series also subtly explores contemporary issues: the lingering effects of Cold War-era betrayals, the ethics of using human intelligence assets, and the personal cost of living a life built on lies. It never preaches, but it forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about loyalty, sacrifice, and the price of secrets.
All six episodes are now streaming on Netflix. If you’re looking for a smart, atmospheric, character-driven thriller that rewards attention and patience, The Asset is the one to watch. It’s tense, intelligent, and emotionally devastating — the kind of show that lingers long after the screen goes dark.
