The spy genre has produced some of television's most gripping dramas, from the high-octane action of Alias and 24 to the gritty wit of Slow Horses. But for every standout, there's a misfire that leaves viewers shaking their heads. Whether due to network interference, misguided reboots, or concepts that never found their footing, these shows are the low points of espionage TV.
6. Taken (2017-2018)
NBC's prequel to the Taken film trilogy attempted to explore the origins of Bryan Mills, but it made a baffling choice: setting the story in the present day. This decision stripped away any sense of connection to the franchise, leaving Clive Standen's Mills as a generic action hero. The pilot gives him a murdered sister to avenge, but the one-man war quickly morphs into a team-based procedural when he's recruited by a covert intelligence unit led by Jennifer Beals.
Showrunner Alexander Cary called it a "modern origin story," but it played more like a reimagining that added nothing new. The show's identity crisis was evident, and despite a second-season overhaul that brought in Person of Interest's Greg Plageman, it couldn't be saved. Taken deserved better than a formulaic spy drama that reduced a compelling character to just another team member.
5. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996)
Before Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie made the concept famous, CBS tried its hand with Scott Bakula and Maria Bello. This version had rival agents forced to pose as a married couple, but the chemistry felt forced and the missions repetitive. The creators aimed for a sophisticated blend of comedy and drama, but network meddling left it stuck in an awkward middle ground.
Only nine of the thirteen produced episodes aired, and CBS aired them out of order, adding to the confusion. The premise had potential, but this early attempt was a missed opportunity that the network mishandled from start to finish.
4. Secret Invasion (2023)
Marvel fans hoping for a faithful adaptation of the comic were disappointed, but the Disney+ series failed on its own terms. Nick Fury's return to Earth to stop a Skrull infiltration had all the ingredients for a paranoid thriller, yet it squandered them with a sluggish pace and a plot that revealed its hand too early. The show wasted talented actors like Emilia Clarke, Cobie Smulders, and Ben Mendelsohn, and the finale abandoned any pretense of grounded espionage for a CGI-heavy showdown.
Olivia Colman's MI6 agent was a bright spot, but she couldn't save a series that promised intrigue and delivered mediocrity. Secret Invasion is a cautionary tale of how even the MCU can stumble.
3. True Lies (2023)
Rebooting a beloved action movie is risky, and CBS's True Lies fell flat. The show quickly dispensed with the central premise of the film—Harry's secret life—by having Helen discover the truth in the pilot. What followed was a mission-of-the-week format that focused more on the couple's marital squabbles than on espionage.
Despite the chemistry between Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzaga, and a fun cameo from Tom Arnold, the series couldn't escape the shadow of James Cameron's original. It became just another failed TV adaptation of a hit movie, proving that some stories are best left on the big screen.
2. The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966-1967)
This spin-off of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was a misguided attempt to capitalize on the original's success. It lacked the charm and wit of its predecessor, and the lead character, April Dancer, was underwritten. The show was canceled after one season, and it's often cited as one of the worst spy shows of its era.
For a genre that has produced so many classics, these shows serve as reminders that not every mission is a success. If you're looking for quality spy television, you're better off checking out the best thriller TV shows of the past 50 years or the best action movies since 2020.
