Moviefone logo
Trending
'Wicked: For Good' Trailer
'Zootopia 2' Teaser Trailer
'Superman' Trailer
'Ironheart' Trailer
Buy TicketsHighlightsNew MoviesTV ShowsStreamingMovie ChartsVideosWhat to WatchIn TheatersMovie TheatersComing SoonMovie ReviewsMoviefone TVMade In HollywoodNewsCelebritiesNetflixPrime Video
SinnersSinnersA Hard PlaceA Hard PlaceHeads of StateHeads of StateA Knight's WarA Knight's War28 Days Later28 Days LaterBallardBallardThe BearThe BearStickStickDept. QDept. QCountdownCountdown
Lilo and Stitch - Spaceship Escape Clip
Lilo & Stitch
Ironheart - Official Trailer
Ironheart
Squid Game: Season 3 - Final Round Teaser Clip
Squid Game
The Long Walk - David Jonsson Character Poster
The Long Walk
Lilo & Stitch - Frog's POV Clip
Lilo & Stitch
EDEN - Official Poster
Eden
Cleaner - Daisy Ridley Exclusive Interview
Cleaner
Murderbot Season 1 - Alexander Skarsgård with a Weapon
Murderbot
Murderbot Season 1 - Teaser Clip
Murderbot
The Running Man - Official Poster
The Running Man
Elio - Freeze Frame Clip
Elio
My Life with the Walter Boys Season 2 - Ashby Gentry as Alex
My Life with the Walter Boys
Wednesday Season 2 - Teaser Trailer
Wednesday
Eddington - Luke Grimes at LA Premiere
Eddington
Elio - Communiverse Clip
Elio
Project Hail Mary - Official Teaser Poster
Project Hail Mary
  1. News

TV's 14 Best Spies, Ranked

Sharon Knolle
April 26, 2016 - 1 min read

By Sharon Knolle  We're loving The Night Manager." He plays a hotelier-turned-spy who's trying to take down a ruthless arms dealer. We're also excited about the return of TURN: Washington's Spies." But how do they stack up against some of TV's best spies, like Sydney Bristow and Peggy Carter? It was almost an impossible mission, but we ranked TV's espionage elite from the past 15 years... give or take a year.

14. Chuck Bartowski, 'Chuck'

Chuck (Zachary Levi) is killer at fixing your PC and playing Missile Command, but kinda new at saving the world. He accidentally became a walking CIA database, but was lacking in field know-how, until he was zapped with Intersect 2.0. and could say, like Keanu, "I know kung fu."

13. Martin Rauch, 'Deutchland 83'

At the height of the Cold War (and '80s New Wave!) naive East German Martin is forced to adopt a new identity and spy on his Western comrades. The spy newbie proves surprisingly adept, but fate has a way of tripping him up.

12. Ichabod Crane, 'Sleepy Hollow'

Among his many other talents, this long-lived Englishman spied for General Washington once he was convinced that his country was on the wrong side of history. And staying one step ahead of the Headless Horseman and the town's other ghouls requires quick wits and even quicker reflexes.

11. Jonathan Pine, 'The Night Manager'

Since it's early days so far in this mini-series, we've yet to see if this cool-under-the-collar hotelier can cut the mustard against the world's most ruthless gun dealer (Hugh Laurie). But we're not going to count out his expert crisis management or his compelling motive: Revenge!

10. Annie Walker, 'Covert Affairs'

An expert at languages -- she speaks 7 fluently and knows at least six others -- but less skilled at hand to hand combat. Good thing this trainee learns quickly.

9. Abraham Woodhull, 'TURN: Washington's Spies'

Beginning as a cabbage farmer and graduating to indispensable informant to none other than George Washington himself, Woodhull (based on the real-life spy) was unfortunately caught by a mercenary at the end of Season 2.

8. Kim Possible, 'Kim Possible'

Sure, she's just a high school student, but she's got mad spying skills, great hair, and fantastic gadgets (thanks to techie pal Wade). Weaknesses: Still has to do homework. and sometimes hampered by pal Ron Stoppable, unless he's in Mystical Monkey Power mode.

7. Carrie Mathison, 'Homeland'

So she's a bit unstable and has a tendency to fall for the wrong guys: Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) still has some of the best instincts in the business and an impressive talent for recruiting well-placed informants.

6. Lana Kane, 'Archer'

TV's most self-absorbed and clueless spy Archer is damn lucky he's got the highly proficient Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler) by his side in this hilarious, raunchy animated series.

5. Michael Weston, 'Burn Notice'

Although stuck in Miami after getting essentially banned from the game, Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) is still the same endlessly resourceful spy he always was, ably aided by IRA-trained Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) and well-connected buddy Sam (Bruce Campbell).

4. Elizabeth Jennings, 'The Americans'

It's hard to root for someone trying to undermine our country but when it's Keri Russell in a series of sexy disguises... just like all of her targets, she's even harder to say no to. All while maintaining a perfectly ordinary cover.

3. The Agents of 'MI-5'

The show's original line-up of Zoe Reynolds (Keeley Hawes), Tom Quinn (Matthew Macfadyen), and Danny Hunter (David Oyelowo) helped prevent bombings, assassinations, and government coups. Damn, they were good.

2. Peggy Carter, 'Agent Carter'

Here's an agent who's so capable, it's kind of scary, actually. She not only has to ferret out information and thwart evil, she also has to rise above her painfully sexist colleagues. Luckily, it's all in a day's work.

1. Sydney Bristow, 'Alias'

A master of disguise, numerous languages and, of course, kicking ass: Is there anything Sydney Bristow couldn't do? Her only weakness: Her effed-up family dynamic that reached Shakespearean levels.

chuckthe americansaliastom hiddlestonagent carter
Sharon Knolle
Article by Sharon Knolle
Freelance Writer

Sharon has been writing for Moviefone since 2009 and has also written for IMDB, USA Today, TV Guide and Forces of Geek.

Related News

'Tangled: The Series' Gets a New Title, Season 3 Renewal, and 'Chuck' Reunion
'Tangled: The Series' Gets a New Title, Season 3 Renewal, and 'Chuck' Reunion
Zachary Levi Cast as DC's 'Shazam,' aka the Other Captain Marvel
Zachary Levi Cast as DC's 'Shazam,' aka the Other Captain Marvel
Yvonne Strahovski's Toughest Roles Weren't as Demanding as 'The Handmaid's Tale'
Yvonne Strahovski's Toughest Roles Weren't as Demanding as 'The Handmaid's Tale'
The 16 Best TV Shows for When You Netflix and Chill
The 16 Best TV Shows for When You Netflix and Chill

More News on Moviefone

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ TV Spin-Off in Development
‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ TV Spin-Off in Development
Every Live Action Superman Movie and TV Show Ranked
Every Live Action Superman Movie and TV Show Ranked
Chris Pratt Returning for Sequel to ‘The Garfield Movie’
Chris Pratt Returning for Sequel to ‘The Garfield Movie’
TV Review: ‘Foundation’ Season 3
TV Review: ‘Foundation’ Season 3
'Very Young Frankenstein’ TV Series in the Works
'Very Young Frankenstein’ TV Series in the Works
David Dastmalchian to Play M. Bison in ‘Street Fighter’
David Dastmalchian to Play M. Bison in ‘Street Fighter’
  • New Movies
  • Movies In Theaters
  • Movies Coming Soon
  • Movies Streaming Now
  • TV Shows
  • Best Movies
  • Best TV Shows

Follow Moviefone

FacebookXInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTikTokRSS

Movie and TV Reviews

Superman poster
Superman
Movie Review
90
Ballard poster
Ballard
Season 1
TV Show Review
55
The Sandman poster
The Sandman
Season 2
TV Show Review
70

Top Movies

Sinners poster
Sinners
Dance with the devil.
76
A Hard Place poster
A Hard Place
Heads of State poster
Heads of State
Two heads are better than one.
70

Top Series

Ballard poster
Ballard
She's the last chance for lost hopes.
69
The Bear poster
The Bear
Back for seconds.
82
Stick poster
Stick
Take a big swing.
70

Latest Trailers

'Chief of War' Trailer3:01'Chief of War' Trailer
'The Morning Show' Season 4 Teaser Trailer1:16'The Morning Show' Season 4 Teaser Trailer
'The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants' Teaser Trailer1:01'The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants' Teaser Trailer
'Acapulco' Season 4 Trailer2:14'Acapulco' Season 4 Trailer
'Alice in Borderland' Season 3 Teaser Trailer1:34'Alice in Borderland' Season 3 Teaser Trailer
'Miss Governor' Trailer1:56'Miss Governor' Trailer
Moviefone logo

Join our Newsletter

Movies
Best Movies to WatchTop Movies Right NowWhat to Watch TodayMovies in Theaters This WeekUpcoming Movie Releases2025 Movie Release CalendarBrowse Movies by Keywords
TV Shows
Best TV Shows to BingeTop TV Shows Right NowNew TV Shows This WeekTrending TV ShowsTV Shows by KeywordsLatest TV Show TrailersExclusive TV Show Clips
Streaming
Streaming Now & UpcomingWhat's New on NetflixTop Picks on Prime VideoNew Releases on Disney+Popular Movies on HuluWhat to Watch on MaxStreaming Now on Apple TV+
Showtimes
Showtimes & TicketsMovie Showtimes in LAMovie Showtimes in DallasMovie Showtimes in New YorkAll U.S. Movie TheatersAMC Theatres ListingsCinemark Theatres Listings
Videos
Movie & TV Show VideosLatest Movie TrailersMoviefone TV EpisodesMade in Hollywood InterviewsExclusive Movie ClipsCelebrity InterviewsMade In Hollywood Teen
Movie GenresSummer MoviesHoliday MoviesMusic MoviesMystery MoviesComedy MoviesThriller Movies
TV GenresCrime TV ShowsDrama TV ShowsAction TV ShowsAdventure TV ShowsHorror TV ShowsMystery TV Shows
NewsMovie NewsTV NewsMovie PhotosBehind the ScenesBest Movies EverMarvel Cinematic Universe
CelebritiesAna de ArmasHenry CavillChris PrattNatalie PortmanCharlize TheronTom Holland
Movie ReviewsWickedRed OneGladiator IIWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most FowlHereticWe Live in Time
FacebookXInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTikTokRSS
AboutContact UsSitemapTerms of ServicePrivacy Policy
Copyright © 2025 Moviefone Media LLC
Asset 1This product uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb.