Gangsters and spies — stories that Hollywood has been in love with since time immemorial, but no more than we, the audience, have loved them. So, without further ado, let’s dive straight into two shows that deal with the dark, dirty and absolutely unpredictable worlds, where there is a new threat around every corner.

THE AGENCY

Based on the French espionage series Le Bureau des Legendes created by Eric Rochant, The Agency deals with the operations of the CIA and its efforts to stay a step ahead of global forces that threaten world peace and America’s position on the world stage. Specifically, The Agency is the story of Martian — a CIA agent operating primarily out of the agency’s London station. On his return to London from a six-year-long op, he finds his cover threatened, his loyalty tested and his career in jeopardy when Sami Zahir, the woman he was engaged in a passionate affair with while abroad, suddenly resurfaces. Struggling to find any measure of control over his heart, he reignites his romance with Zahir, only to find that she is at the centre of a global conspiracy involving some of the biggest powers that pose threats to US interests.

Make no mistake, The Agency is a slow burn. It will test your patience more than once, but the payoff by the end of each episode is so fulfilling that you will inevitably find yourself clicking on the “next episode” button. The primary reason for this is that the show explores the life of its master spy protagonist, Martian, not through a lens of heroism and bravado but rather works towards creating a sense of empathy in the viewer through a presentation that makes him seem flawed, human, vulnerable and relatable. He is a father struggling to reconnect with his daughter after a long absence. He is a man who had to abandon the woman who was perhaps the love of his life because duty came above all else. When his loyalties start getting tested on a regular basis, you cannot say with certainty that he will make the right choice, simply because the show opens up his perspective and his priorities so effectively to the viewer that it becomes almost vividly clear that there are no “right” choices.

While the writing must primarily deserve credit for the same, one cannot help but imagine the character having the same impact had the role been essayed by anyone but the incredibly talented Michael Fassbender, who yet again puts forth a performance that can be considered a masterclass in performance and character sketching. Mind you, the task he has been entrusted with is not an easy one. This isn’t a James Bond movie where you see a rather debonair man seduce gorgeous women and use hilariously unrealistic gadgets to take down evil warlords when he has the time. Espionage, in reality, deals with gathering intelligence, filtering, analysing and verifying said intelligence, creating a threat perception and forming counter-intelligence just as much as it deals with sending operatives on covert missions into enemy territory with aliases and assumed identities. That is where Fassbender’s performance is so effective; he brings believability to both sides of the coin. He is as believable as a field agent as he is as an analyst.

While the focus is mainly on Fassbender and his character, Martian, the other performances on the show are just as commendable. One must make special mention of Jodie Turner-Smith and Saura Lightfoot-Leon, who are absolutely brilliant in their respective roles. Richard Gere has very little to do in terms of histrionic capabilities as the London station chief; his presence, however, is a treat to the eyes, owing mostly to his ever-dependable screen presence and charisma. Another aspect of the show that is spectacular is the cinematography. The show is quite the globetrotter, bouncing from continent to continent, country to country. Be it the cold Russian/Ukrainian landscape or the modern architectural wonders of London, every visual is woven into the story seamlessly and with purpose. If you are a fan of realistic spy thrillers, this one is definitely for you.

Platform: JioHotstar

MOBLAND

Two warring crime families and one fixer, stuck in between, getting his loyalties tested. MobLand was initially conceived as a prequel to the hugely popular Ray Donovan, however, it was finally given form as this brilliant series of its own. As with all films and shows by Guy Ritchie, there are two primary opinions that one might have about MobLand – Classic Guy Ritchie or Cliched Guy Ritchie. For me personally, it’s the former. Guy Ritchie brings his signature style to this London-based gangster tale, narrating an extremely dark and disturbing story with the right doses of wit, quirk and humour.

Harry Da Souza (Tom Hardy) works for the Harrigan family, one of the two criminal empires that rule London, as a fixer. Much of what he does is taking care of messy business for his boss, the eccentric patriarch of the family, Conrad Harrigan (Pierce Brosnan). That is the part of the job that comes naturally to him because of his inherently cold, calculative and precise nature. He can be a fierce warrior when needed but also switch effortlessly to being more of a political spokesperson for the family when required. What does not come naturally to him, what one must assume he despises, is having to clean up the goof-ups of his boss’s children, who are politicking against each other for a larger share of the pie and often these vested interests land them in hot water. Harry’s marriage is also beginning to show signs of strain owing to his long spells of absence. Amidst all the bloodshed, politics and power struggles, there is an invisible puppeteer, pulling strings and hatching plots to benefit her own ulterior motives – Conrad Harrigan’s wife and one true love, Maeve (Helen Mirren).

Before we get to the performances of the cast, which are absolutely delectable by the way, one must talk about the cinematography of the show. Any Guy Ritchie fan would tell you that that is something that always takes precedence in the director’s unique narrative style. MobLand is no exception. While major portions of the show deal with the politics of running criminal organisations and the politics of running a family of misfits, there are several high-octane, heart-pounding action set-pieces on the show. Without spoiling things for you, at least two of these will leave you marvelling at the technical proficiency of the makers. Even the comparatively mundane, more verbose scenes are captured with such atmospheric effect that you quite literally feel the danger level escalate with every veiled threat, every misplaced word, as if you were present in the rooms with these lunatics.

As you might have figured out, the show boasts an exciting and enviable line-up of actors. Tom Hardy starts out with his signature swag, establishing the cold and unwavering confidence of Harry with brutal effect, his brilliance, however, lies in how he subtly, slowly and deliberately starts displaying the cracks in his unrelenting demeanour. Pierce Brosnan, as the eccentric and colourful patriarch with a penchant for violence, puts forth a performance that will make you believe that it is an absolute travesty that an actor of his calibre will perhaps be best remembered as James Bond.

The range he displays is spectacular. He is quirky, goofy and funny effortlessly, but at the same time, he can lock eyes with anyone and absolutely crush a soul with that piercing (pun intended) gaze. It is, however, Helen Mirren as Maeve who steals the show. To reveal the reasons behind that statement would perhaps spoil the show for you, but know that Maeve is the one character on the show who is most unpredictable, whose motives seem murkiest to you. In that respect, Helen Mirren plays Maeve with so much precision and range that you’ll fall in love with her legend all over again. Fair warning — MobLand isn’t for the faint-hearted. The creators don’t hold back their punches in their attempts to shock and disturb you. It is, however, one of the best crime shows of the year.

Platform: JioHotstar