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Limited Series – A Spy Among Friends

Play trailer Poster for Limited Series – A Spy Among Friends 2022 Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
In England in 1963, Nicholas Elliott works for MI6 as an intelligence officer but is left in turmoil when he learns his close friend and colleague, Kim Philby, had been secretly working as a double agent for the KGB, defecting to the Soviet Union.
A Spy Among Friends — Limited Series

What to Know

Critics Consensus

More cerebral than outright thrilling, A Spy Among Friends is an intelligent tale of espionage elevated by a pair of sterling performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Ben Dowell Times (UK) The cloistered, nicotine-stained rooms feel deliberately evocative of the best John le Carré adaptations, to which this occasionally feels like an homage, while flashbacks to 1930s Vienna and wartime London add texture to the story. Rated: 4/5 Jul 10, 2023 Full Review Manuel Betancourt AV Club This series is more Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy than The Spy Who Loved Me, with a stellar ensemble that makes even the most seemingly drab and dry scenes (two people in a room talking) feel like high-stakes drama with spidery diplomatic repercussions. Mar 17, 2023 Full Review Daniel D'Addario Variety Pearce’s performance is suitably charming, and among the small satisfactions of this series is discovering just how hollow that charm is. Mar 13, 2023 Full Review Stephanie Bunbury Deadline Hollywood Daily The unfolding of their negotiations and the nature of the friendship underpinning them is not seat-of-your-pants televisual excitement, but it is the stuff of sustained intrigue -- enough to keep us watching for six episodes, certainly. Sep 26, 2023 Full Review Christopher Connor Yahoo! Movies UK A Spy Among Friends is a series packed full of standout performances that help negate its sometimes languid pacing, Lewis and Pearce especially share phenomenal chemistry that really captures the years of friendship and memories shared by the pair. Jul 19, 2023 Full Review Eilis O'Hanlon Sunday Independent (Ireland) Watching it again confirmed that what I really like about A Spy Among Friends is its slow-burning quality. It is dialogue, rather than action, driven and that means you have to concentrate. That’s something of a lost art these days. Jul 14, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David F While I think it nails the atmosphere of globe trotting espionage, betrayal, and decades long double-crossing, it felt too padded out for the material at hand. It really just shows the endgame of the Philby unmasking and the fallout but it spends hour after hour going into the minutiae of the ensuing interrogations to exhausting effect. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/25 Full Review CLYDE C Just watched for the second time. A brilliant acting masterpiece. Damian Lewis has recreated Nicholas Elliot, RP accent , cadence, movements, tone, clothing, and sarcasm. Best Series of any year or age. Schedule an appointment. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/05/24 Full Review Avindu G Best observers and escape artists deciding fate of many during a turbulent period in history. With a little advancement in surveillance techniques spy stories of world war era are naturally thrilling yet this series has a very distinct personality that sets it far apart from light hearted spy comedies. Masterful performances by the cast brings the silent wars of intelligence officers to life tremendously. Great visuals and special effects to stress meaning into each scene. Good audio that fits well with both time line and nature of story. Dialogues adds colour to each character. A spy among friends is a little slow but a worthy watch. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Anna R A really excellent production all round. Great cast good script. Definitely one of the better tv series so far this year. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/22/23 Full Review John H Riveting story with Absolutely brilliant acting! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/08/23 Full Review william N A more traditional spy film that focuses on the mental and strategies than thrilling chases. Excellent performances. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Spy Among Friends — Limited Series

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Cast & Crew

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Damian Lewis

Nicholas Elliott

Guy Pearce

Kim Philby

Karel Roden

Sergei

Monika Gossmann

Galina

Jennifer Marsala

Iris

Lucy Akhurst

Elizabeth Elliott

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Dec 7, 2022 Boom-Ooh-Yatatatah Kim Philby's connection to the KGB and his recent defection to the USSR puts his close friend Nicholas Elliott in the crosshairs of MI5. Details Episode 2 Aired Dec 7, 2022 The Admiral's Glass Desperate for answers, MI5 investigator Lily Thomas adopts a hammer-and-tongs approach to grill Nicholas Elliott about Kim Philby's secret meeting at the Admiral's Glass. Details Episode 3 Aired Dec 7, 2022 Allegory of the Catholic Faith Lily Thomas learns everything about Erich Vermehren, a Catholic traditionalist who entered the Abwehr and played a crucial role in turning the tide of WWII. Details Episode 4 Aired Dec 7, 2022 Vodka When a crazy turn of events in Moscow reduces Kim Philby's years' worth of work to naught, a glass of vodka seems to be the only source of comfort left in his life. Details Episode 5 Aired Dec 7, 2022 Snow While Nicholas Elliott gets Lily Thomas to figure Sir Roger Hollis out, the walls seem to be closing in on Anthony Blunt. Back in Moscow, Kim Philby ends up unconscious in the snow. Details Episode 6 Aired Dec 7, 2022 No Man's Land Nicholas Elliott cleverly answers Sir Roger Hollis's questions related to the Beirut tapes. After all is said and done, certain things remain under wraps and a complicated friendship reaches its breaking point. Details

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A Spy Among Friends — Limited Series

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Season Info

Director
Nick Murphy
Executive Producer
Nick Murphy, Alexander Cary
Network
MGM+
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Dec 7, 2022