‘Perfect’ BBC thriller ‘better than The Night Manager’ now on Netflix

The BBC spy thriller stars Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh

The series is based on a best-selling novel (Image: BBC)

A BBC thriller hailed as “one of the best shows ever” has just made its way onto Netflix.

Originally premiering back in 2018, the series never quite received the recognition many felt it deserved. We are talking about The Little Drummer Girl, the gripping adaptation of John le Carré’s bestselling novel of the same name.

Set against the backdrop of the late 1970s, the six-episode drama follows British actress Charlie after she is enlisted by Israeli intelligence operatives to infiltrate a suspected terrorist organisation.

However, the spy soon finds herself entangled in complex relationships with both sides, making her perilous mission all the more treacherous.

Film enthusiasts will be delighted to learn that Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh takes the lead role as Charlie. She is supported by an equally impressive cast, including Primetime Emmy Award winner Alexander Skarsgård and two-time Oscar nominee Michael Shannon.

Florence Pugh plays lead character Charlie (Image: BBC)

Acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-wook helms the production, lending it a distinctly cinematic quality, reports the Mirror.

Despite many viewers feeling the series was largely overlooked upon release, it still managed to earn an impressive 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

One critic offered a glowing assessment, stating: “The six-part series brims with style and intrigue-and ranks among the best espionage TV dramas in recent memory.”

While one devoted viewer enthused: “One of the best shows I’ve seen in the past years. Perfect blend of suspense, romance and drama. Pugh, Skarsgård and Shannon are fantastic.”

Some fans think the series is better than The Night Manager (Image: BBC)

Another shared their thoughts on Reddit, writing: “I personally loved it and thought it deserved more praise and accolades than it got.

“I liked it more than The Night Manager and it was extremely stylistically filmed and one of the most beautiful looking TV shows ever, outside of Hannibal or Westworld.”

A second viewer chimed in: “I thought it was fantastic, one of the best spy thrillers I’ve ever seen. I chase the high of that show sometimes from other things but nothing ever quite scratches the itch.”

While another fan remarked: “Fantastic mini series with a killer cast and direction, it really is a shame that it flew so far under the radar.”

The Little Drummer Girl is streaming now on Netflix and its also available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer