BRITISH THRILLER. “The Night Manager.” / “Steal.” / “Nightsleeper.”

“The Night Manager” (Amazon Prime) Season 2. British spy thriller based on the 1993 novel by John le Carré. Jonathan Pine is now working a mundane MI6 role as "Alex Goodwin," until a chance encounter with a former associate pulls him back into the dangerous world of international arms dealing, this time targeting a charismatic Colombian arms dealer.

       Unlike other spy/political thrillers on streaming these days, “Them Night Manager” stands out because it isn't indulgently replete with multiple back/side stories and pretentiously talky sequences yet it stays lucidly cerebral and easily navigated. And thrilling, of course. True with most LeCarre books. 

       Meanwhile the tour-de-force triumvirate of Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman is flawless and unfailing. Clearly, with the way Season 2 concluded, we are expecting a Season 3. 🎥💻📽

“Steal” (Amazon Prime) British crime thriller about a heist of a pension management company. But this is not a typical robbery flick, just saying. The lead star is Sophie Turner as Zara Dunne, a trade processor at the firm Lochmill Capital.

       This is an intense watch, punctuated by stellar acting and a tight script (intriguingly intelligent yet complex background premise). Although I again got distracted by the dim lighting in the final action sequence, I tolerated it. 

       Ms Turner's performance as Zara is both wily guilty perpetrator and trapped, hapless victim here. Projection of that contrasting emotional intensity requires craft and cunning, which Sophie delivered, sans high-strung dramatics or confused panic. 🎥💻📽

“Nightsleeper” (Britbox) British thriller. A real time drama, the series is set on the fictional Heart of Britain sleeper train travelling to London from Glasgow. Two people who have not met before must work together to try to save the lives of the passengers. 

       British critics aren't very nice about this series. Baffles me, LOL! Descriptions: “Fantastically dreadful,” “increasingly abysmal,” “rubber-necking.” To me, those are just blank words and stuff to validate their so-called “expertise.” 

       For all the flaws, which are not many (include cheesy dialogues), this series still got my ass plastered on the couch. I actually binge-watched it. An entertaining show, I must say. Not so bad. 

       Among other comparisons, Joe Cole's Joe Roag is pretty much like Keanu Reeves’ LAPD officer Jack Traven in 1994's “Speed.” Expressionless mostly but that's what made the fast-paced action thriller joint magnetic and effective. 

       Alexandra Roach as Abby Aysgarth looked more like the typical nerd than a Cate Blanchett or Julia Roberts sorta toughie on the job but Abby delivered the goods, nonetheless. 🎥💻📽