The Night Agent: Netflix's Action Thriller That Could Last Forever

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Published Feb 21, 2026, 12:46 PM EST

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The Night Agent is one of Netflix's best thrillers, but it could theoretically go on forever. Since its 2023 premiere, the action drama penned by Shawn Ryan has had unprecedented success on Netflix. With 30 action-packed episodes to date, fans are already anticipating The Night Agent season 4, eager to see what the future holds for the drama's indomitable hero.

Gabriel Basso leads The Night Agent's cast as Peter Sutherland, a federal agent who unravels political conspiracies, unsolved crimes, and other life-threatening schemes each season. While his consequential moral dilemmas and potentially fatal occupational hazards are typical for the genre, The Night Agent has a unique edge over competitors that could potentially mean the hit Netflix original series never ends.

The Night Agent's Seasons Are Self-Contained

Each Entry Is A New Standalone Adventure

Unlike most Netflix originals, The Night Agent ventures into new territory with each season. The first season, adapted from Matthew Quirk's novel of the same name, follows Peter Sutherland's quest to protect Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) from a series of assassination attempts. After wrapping that mystery up, however, Peter moves on to bigger and better details.

From The Night Agent season 2's Foxglove mystery to season 3's chaos in the White House, every batch of episodes brings with it a new Big Bad and government conspiracy. Of course, there are recurring characters and themes that keep the show cohesive, but only one role is necessary to keep the ball rolling: Agent Sutherland.

Peter Sutherland Can Always Be Sent On A New Mission

The Flexibility Leaves Ample Room For Creativity

Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland smiling in The Night Agent

Like James Bond films or Agatha Christie novels, a solid protagonist is all a series needs to survive. As a member of the lucrative Night Action program, Peter Sutherland could be sent anywhere at any time for any mission. Just as season 2 abruptly sent him to Thailand, season 4 could easily occur in Australia, Uruguay, or The North Pole.

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Similarly, new villains, national security threats, and killer catastrophes could seamlessly be introduced as Agent Sutherland's next chapter. Plus— granted they survive their season's final battle— fan-favorite characters could always reappear, like Rose in season 2 or Chelsea Arrington (Fola Evans-Akingbola) in season 3. By centering on one character, though, The Night Agent has endless possibilities for future missions.

The Night Agent Already Proved It Doesn't Need A Source Material

A Strong Protagonist Is All The Series Needs To Succeed

Genesis Rodriguez as Isabel in The Night Agent season 3

The Night Agent may have started as a book-to-screen adaptation, but the Netflix series has only gotten better with its turn to original content. The Night Agent season 3's critical acclaim is merely further proof that taking risks can yield high rewards, especially for a flagging genre like action thrillers.

Critical Response to The Night Agent

Season	Rotten Tomatoes Score
Season 1	75%
Season 2	86%
Season 3	82%

What sets The Night Agent apart is that it never tries to be more than it already is. It's the kind of show you can always turn to for a good binge-watch, something that entertains rather than challenges the viewer. The numbers don't lie; if The Night Agent went on forever, its fandom likely would as well.