Original interpretation — not a still from the production
Le Carré relocated to the world's best addresses, and rather enjoying itself.
The Continental Verdict
Highly Recommended
Six hours of grand hotels, arms dealing and impeccable shirt collars. Bier's adaptation moves the novel forward thirty years and to Mallorca, which turns out to be the right instinct: the villa above Deià is as much a character as anyone in it. Hiddleston plays the hotelier-turned-agent as a man whose professional courtesy has become a weapon.
It is not le Carré's bleakest work and does not pretend to be. Treat it as the most luxurious thriller television has produced and it is very hard to fault.
Why Watch It
The Gentleman Factor
Pine's hospitality-trained composure under pressure is worth studying on its own.
Look Out For
- The Zermatt opening
- The Mallorca villa
- Laurie's smiling menace
The Locations
Cairo's Nile Hotel, the Hotel Nassauer Hof in Wiesbaden, Zermatt, and a villa outside Deià, Mallorca.
More from the travel pages →The Cars
Range Rovers and a Riva on the Mediterranean — the correct pairing.
More from motoring →The Wardrobe
Soft tailoring, open collars, a night manager's dinner suit worn as uniform then as costume.
More on style →The Soundtrack
Victor Reyes's Emmy-winning score.
Into the music room →Watch Next
Where to Watch
Prime Video.
For the Collection
Also in Espionage
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