Saagar Kote
Created by Paul Coates, Netflix’s ‘Unfamiliar’ is the story of former German spies and a couple, Meret (Susanne Wolff) and Simon (Felix Kramer). They hold secrets from their daughter, who suspects that her parents are not who they say they are. As they lead a life of contemplation, running a safe house in Berlin, the past catches up to them. They are unexpectedly hunted down by dangerous individuals connected to their past. A man named Josef Koleev resurfaces, relentlessly threatening them. With their secrets and identities seemingly compromised, Meret and Simon must run from enemies, foreign agents, former lovers, and agents of their own country.
What follows is an unpredictable, adrenaline-fueled ride in which the couple must push their own limits to survive. However, as the line between friend and foe vanishes, they find that their own marriage is at risk of erasure. To save their family and their love, they may have to recall their deadly skills. The German action-drama series is an engaging exploration of the shadows of the spy world. These shows, like ‘Unfamiliar,’ take us to the deceptive world of spycraft and secrets, while also navigating layered relationships.
8. FUBAR (2023–2025)
‘FUBAR’ centers on the complex relationship between Luke (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his daughter, Emma Brunner (Monica Barbaro), who both secretly work for the CIA. The former is a seasoned agent nearing retirement, while Emma has kept her career with the agency hidden from him. Their clandestine lives are exposed when they unexpectedly cross paths during a mission abroad. Forced to confront the reality that their lives and careers have been built on deception, the two must navigate the treacherous world of espionage while also saving their precarious father-daughter relationship. Created by Nick Santora, the Netflix action-comedy series, akin to ‘Unfamiliar,’ explores the cost of bringing personal relationships into the world of spycraft and the meaning of family in a world where survival is the ultimate goal.
7. The Company You Keep (2023)
ABC’s ‘The Company You Keep’ follows a thief and heist expert named Charlie Nicoletti (Milo Ventimiglia), and Emma Hill (Catherine Haena Kim), an undercover CIA officer. Without knowing each other’s truths, they begin a passionate affair, which leads to unforeseen chaos in their personal and professional lives. Charlie aims to expand his family’s criminal enterprise, and Emma pursues a criminal named Daphne Finch, to whom Charlie’s family owes a debt.
Created by Julia Cohen, the drama series chronicles the adventures of the two unlikely lovers as they attempt to save their loved ones from danger. As they travel through treacherous paths, they may realise that the convergence of love and duty may not be an easy thing to handle. Based on the Korean show ‘My Fellow Citizens!’ directed by Kim Jung-hyun, the series, due to its portrayal of personal relationships in the spy world and the exploration of love in the shadow of danger, is connected to ‘Unfamiliar’ and its characters.
6. The Bureau (2015–2020)
‘The Bureau’ or ‘Le Bureau des Légendes’ tells the story of various agents of a clandestine group of people within the realm of the French Secret Service. This hidden bureau participates in dangerous missions owing to its specialized skills. The agents lead lives away from the limelight and serve the country in the shadows. Events unfold in an unexpected manner when an Algerian secret agent named Cyclone (Mehdi Nebbou) goes missing after being arrested for drunk driving.
Finding him proves difficult, and an agent named Malotru (Mathieu Kassovitz) takes charge of the case. As Malotru delves into the mission, he also finds himself responsible for the protection of a mysterious woman. Created by Eric Rochant and based on real accounts, the French thriller-drama series, like ‘Unfamiliar,’ is an examination of the twisted ways of the spy world and focuses on threats to personal relationships.
5. Undercover (2019-2022)
‘Undercover,’ inspired by real events, chronicles the ups and downs in the lives of Belgian agent Bob Lemmens (Tom Waes) and Dutch agent Kim De Rooij (Anna Drijver). The agencies of their countries team up to target the operation of drug kingpin Ferry Bouman. Bob and Kim are tasked with this difficult task, following which they pose as a couple. Bouman spends his weekends at a simple house on a campsite, so the fake couple pretends to be from the area.
The ultimate goal of this elaborate operation is to allow Bob to infiltrate Bouman’s criminal operation by gaining his trust. As Bob and Kim proceed with their mission, they find themselves in the middle of greater deceptions and schemes. Created by Nico Moolenaar, Piet Matthys, and Bart Uytdenhouwen, the Belgian-Dutch crime drama series is a haunting tale of uncertainty. The experiences of Bob and Kim in the narrative and the challenges they face spiritually reflect Meret and Simon’s journey in ‘Unfamiliar.’
4. The Family Man (2019–)
Prime Video’s ‘The Family Man’ chronicles the trials and tribulations of Srikant Tiwari (Manoj Bajpayee), a man working as an intelligence officer for a hidden branch of the National Investigation Agency of India. Besides being an agent, he is also a middle-class man facing financial burdens and challenges related to his relationship with his wife and kids. As a national security threat arises and dangerous individuals enter the equation, Srikant is forced to choose between family and country. Created by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna Dasarakothapalli, the Hindi-language thriller series is a raw exploration of the complexities of leading a double life. These themes in the Indian show, along with its focus on familial tensions, secrets, and deadly acts, forge a connection with ‘Unfamiliar’ and its world.
3. Black Doves (2024–)
Created by Joe Barton, Netflix’s ‘Black Doves’ tells the story of Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a former secret agent married to the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence. Her lover is killed by dangerous people with a connection to London’s crime world. Helen spends most of her time posing as a glorified housewife, hiding her truth from her family to keep them safe. With her lover’s death bringing her back into the game, she finds herself on the run from mysterious assassins. To uncover the reasons behind her lover’s death, she teams up with her former colleague and friend Sam Young (Ben Whishaw), who has his own secrets. The action thriller series, akin to ‘Unfamiliar,’ explores secret identities, familial relationships, loyalty, and survival skills in demanding situations.
2. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024–)
Created by Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover, Prime Video’s ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ centers on two individuals who are recruited as agents for a secretive organization. Their cover requires them to pose as a married couple, named John Smith (Donald Glover) and Jane Smith (Maya Erskine). Based on the eponymous film directed by Doug Liman, the thriller comedy show follows Michael and Alana as they tackle global spy missions while trying to protect their identities. Amidst navigating the world of espionage and employing their specialized skills, the fictional spouses develop a genuine bond that threatens to expose their weaknesses to those they hunt or those hunting them. On the lines of ‘Unfamiliar,’ the show explores the experience of a couple caught in danger, while also commenting on the cost of secrets and desires in a world where the truth is nothing but a trick.
1. The Americans (2013–2018)
FX’s ‘The Americans’ deals with the experiences of KGB spies Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) who live with fake identities in suburban Washington, DC, during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Although their marriage is arranged, it deepens over time. What challenges them most is the fact that their kids remain unaware of the truth. They run a travel agency, while secretly working to find information about America’s weapons and supply the same to their home country. As the Cold War rages on, the couple’s double life is threatened. Things take a turn for the worse when their neighbor, FBI agent Stan Beeman, is tasked to track foreign agents in the US.
As the personal and professional lives of Philip and Elizabeth enter dangerous, unexpected situations, they are forced to make difficult choices that may determine their future. Created by Joseph Weisberg, the thriller drama show resembles ‘Unfamiliar’ in its depiction of the convergence of family and spycraft. Both shows explore the parent-child relationship while also examining the sacrifices necessary to keep loved ones safe in a world of secrets.
Read More: Shows Like FUBAR You Must See
