5 Minutes
Hook: A divisive sophomore season and a simple fix
The Night Agent stormed into living rooms worldwide with a gripping first season that turned page-turner suspense into must-watch television. Season 2, however, polarized fans. While the Netflix spy thriller still delivered action and high-stakes set pieces, one storyline in particular became the target of criticism: Rose Larkin's arc. Fortunately, there is a straightforward, narratively honest solution that could restore the character to her former centrality as viewers wait for season 3.
Plot summary
Season 1 recap
In season 1, Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) emerges as an essential figure because of family ties, personal peril, and her on-the-run chemistry with federal agent Peter Sutherland. The success of the first season hinged on tense pacing, plausibility within the spy genre, and the believable way Rose's skills and vulnerabilities were woven into the thriller.
Season 2 recap
Season 2 escalates the stakes: a catastrophic terrorist plot threatens New York City and the UN building. Against that backdrop, audiences balked at the choice to position Rose — an untrained but clever computer-savvy woman — as a primary operator in a plot of global consequence. The problem wasn't Buchanan's performance; it was the lack of a clear, consistent motivation and a coherent trajectory for Rose. Her decisions sometimes flip-flopped week to week, making her feel alternately indispensable and out-of-place.
Cast and crew
The Night Agent remains anchored by its lead cast and a production team experienced in converting a political thriller novel into a bingeable TV adaptation. Luciane Buchanan's Rose is a touchstone for fans, while the ensemble around Peter Sutherland provides the procedural backbone. Behind the scenes, showrunners, writers, and producers now face the challenge of course-correcting character arcs while preserving the series' action thriller identity.
Production details
Filming for the third season has reportedly wrapped and the series is now in post-production, with an expected return likely in early 2026. The production values that made The Night Agent feel cinematic — tight location work in New York, believable set pieces involving the UN building, and fast-paced editing — remain strengths. Fixing narrative issues will be primarily a writers room task rather than a production one.
Critical reception
Critics and audiences agreed that season 2 had high-octane moments but also uneven character work. Many reviews praised the action and thematic ambition but flagged Rose's storyline as the season's weakest link. Social conversation on streaming and entertainment sites reflected disappointment that a fan-favorite from season 1 felt adrift rather than expanded.
The proven solution: give Rose a planned, believable arc
The cure is not to sideline Rose or blame the actor. Luciane Buchanan is demonstrably talented — witness her turn in Apple TV+ drama Chief of War — and the answer lies in smarter writing. Practical fixes include giving Rose a clear training montage or institutional support that explains how she becomes a credible player in a terror plot; a single, consistent personal objective that drives her decisions; and a standalone subplot that ties directly to the season’s central conspiracy rather than leaving her perpetually adjacent to Peter. Even a limited guest return in season 3, followed by a fully-formed comeback in season 4, would allow the writers to reintroduce Rose with integrity.
Personal take and outlook
For fans of cinematic TV and serialized spy dramas, The Night Agent still has the ingredients to rebound: a compelling premise, strong production design, and performers who can elevate even uneven scripts. If the creative team gives Rose Larkin a planned, believable trajectory that respects both genre logic and the actress’ capabilities, the show can win back skeptics and strengthen its long-term arc. With season 3 in post-production and an anticipated early 2026 return, now is the moment for the writers to chart a smarter course for one of the series' most important characters.
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