April 10th is International Spy Day, and to mark the occasion we thought we’d highlight some of the best espionage-themed series in the expansive MHz Choice library. We’re focusing on shows that have an overall spy theme – otherwise the list would include individual episodes where, for example, Inspector Coliandro tangles with CIA and Mossad agents, or Swedish actress Charlotta Jonsson plays two similarly-named intelligence chiefs (Tina Sellstedt and Helena Rudfeldt) in Beck and Arne Dahl, respectively. (She’s really, really good at playing Swedish secret agents, actually.) We’re also focusing exclusively on shows which are currently streaming on MHz Choice – but we also can’t resist putting in a plug for upcoming titles Death of a Pilgrim and The Fourth Man, a pair of miniseries starring Rolf Lassgård as Lars Martin Johansson, the head of the Swedish Security Service who investigates all kinds of secret agent-style shenanigans from Cold Wars past and present. (These will premiere on MHz Choice later in 2018.) In the meantime, here’s our list of spy-themed goodies that you can stream right now:


The Weissensee Saga

DRAMA | GERMANY | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-PG

A sweeping, gripping family saga of conflicting loyalties, love and betrayal, set behind the Iron Curtain in 1980s East Berlin. Uwe Kockisch (Donna Leon’s Brunetti) stars as Hans Kupfer, a Stasi officer whose youngest son, Martin, falls in love with Julia, the daughter of a dissident singer. Their courtship threatens the safety of both families, and sets into motion tumultuous events which play out over the course of the subsequent decade. This acclaimed drama was filmed on location at the site of the actual Stasi headquarters (now a museum) in East Berlin. Well-researched, historically accurate and very, very compelling.

the weissensee saga production stills 13
The Weissensee Saga


Cenk Batu Undercover Agent

DRAMA – CRIME | GERMANY | GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14

Born in Germany to Turkish parents, Cenk Batu is an undercover agent with the State Bureau of Investigation (LKA) in Hamburg. His ability to analyze people and situations is put to good use as he works on a wide variety of cases ranging from industrial espionage and financial crimes to terror cells and political assassinations. He also wears fake mustaches and stuff and looks a bit like James Bond. Part of the Tatort series, Germany’s longest-running TV crime franchise.

CENBAT C 00000
Cenk Batu Undercover Agent

The Hamilton Collection

These four series are based on and inspired by the novels of Swedish author and journalist Jan Guillou, centering around the exploits of fictional Swedish super-spy Carl Hamilton. Guillou’s real-life espionage background provided the basis for his first Hamilton novel, published in 1986; eleven more Hamilton novels followed in the next two decades. Incidentally, Guillou was great friends with the late Henning Mankell and the two collaborated on the tongue-in-cheek, whole-lotta-fun series Talisman, in which they also appeared as themselves!

Enemy’s Enemy

DRAMA – CRIME | SCANDINAVIAN CRIME FICTION | SWEDISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14

Peter Haber (Beck) stars as Swedish super-spy Carl Hamilton in this adaptation of Guillou’s novel ‘Fiendens fiende’. Vintage Cold War drama circa 1990 (think John le Carré meets 007) shot on location in Moscow. Each episode features specially-filmed video introductions by the author.

eneys enemy 640x300
Peter Haber in Enemy's Enemy

Agent Hamilton

DRAMA – CRIME | SCANDINAVIAN CRIME FICTION | SWEDISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14

A contemporary take on the Swedish super-spy, starring Mikael Persbrandt (Beck, Medicine Man). More influenced by the Bourne movies than by Guillou’s original stories – but slickly-shot and a lot of fun.

Hamilton daughter 1920x1080
Mikael Persbrandt in Hamilton

Vendetta

DRAMA – CRIME | SCANDINAVIAN CRIME FICTION | SWEDISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14

Stefan Sauk stars in this Swedish-Italian co-production, which follows Hamilton as he takes on the Sicilian Mafia. If Peter Haber is the James Bond of the Hamilton series, and Persbrandt is the Jason Bourne, then Sauk’s is a ’70s-style Clint Eastwood/Charles Bronson vigilante portrayal. Gritty and intense. For more fun, check out Stefan Sauk’s guest star role as an overbearing, Hamilton-esque father-in-law in Season 1, Episode 5 of Thicker Than Water.

vendetta promo 640x300
Stefan Sauk in Vendetta

Commander Hamilton

DRAMA – CRIME | SCANDINAVIAN CRIME FICTION | SWEDISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES | TV-14

This 1997 production is a throwback to crazy ’80s action flicks, starring Peter Stormare (Fargo, John Wick: Chapter 2) as the most over-the-top Hamilton yet. Mark Hamill co-stars as Hamilton’s nemesis, a renegade ex-CIA agent who thinks he’s the Joker. Campy fun!

commander hamilton promo 640x300
Peter Stormare in Commander Hamilton