Extra Espionage
Have you finished streaming Tehran? Wondering what to watch next? Well, fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle of having to try and find something similar with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing. To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have. Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with. So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Tehran.
Mossad 101
Similarities – Mossad & Thriller
Israeli spy thriller Mossad 101 wastes no time getting right to the heart of its plot. Playing out as a dramatic version of a reality TV show, Mossad follows a dozen or so candidates. They’re put through their paces with a series of grueling mental and physical tasks in order to join the elite Israeli secret service. The second half of the series does switch things up though, turning much more serialized. As the true nature of what’s happening is revealed, there’s a slight undercurrent of comedy that bleeds through. However, the Mossad and thriller elements remain well written and are definitely the stand-out moments. You can read our thoughts on Mossad 101 in our full season review here!
The Spy
Similarities – Espionage & Mystery
Inspired by true events, The Spy is an interesting and methodically paced drama, one that does well to flesh out the tragic story of Israeli spy Eli Cohen. For those unaware, Eli spent years operating as a spy behind enemy lines and this mini-series serves as a dramatized recreation of this man’s life. Boasting a slick aesthetic, with muted colours and an abundance of long shots, a solid performance from Sacha Baron Cohen elevates this into a really compelling Israeli series worth watching. You can read our thoughts on The Spy in our full season review here!
Fauda
Similarities – Tension & Same Writer
Fauda is a highly entertaining, brutally realistic series depicting the bitter feud between Palestinian terrorists and Israeli authorities. Sharing an equal amount of screen time, terrorist ringleader Abu Ahmad and special operative Doron engage in a game of cat and mouse through the first season’s 12 episodes. From here the show then grows across its subsequent two seasons that follow, producing a thrilling, high-octane ride. It’s also written by Moshe Zonder who worked on Tehran so the similarities between the two shows can definitely be felt. You can read our thoughts on Fauda in our full season review here!
When Heroes Fly
Similarities – Setting & Action
Israeli Netflix Original Series When Heroes Fly may play with a simple storyline but its deeply profound message around PTSD make it a surprisingly moving drama. Jumping between different time periods and locations around the world, the show does well to mix things up throughout its 10 episodes. Despite a slow start, When Heroes Fly soon opens up and becomes much more action orientated. This is where the show is at its strongest, delivering a really well written second half to this one. You can read our thoughts on When Heroes Fly in our full season review here!
Manhunt: Unabomber
Similarities – Thriller Elements & Tension
Based on true events, Manhunt: Unabomber blurs the line between fact and fiction in this dramatized reconstruction of the Unabomber case in 1995. The story follows an FBI case into a notorious killer, dubbed the Unabomber, who mails packages containing bombs to people across America which blow up the unsuspecting victims. Tasked with tracking down the killer through increasingly ingenious methods, Jim “Fitz” leads an investigation to hunt down the killer before more lives are lost. It’s a bit of a slow burn but the show definitely hits the right level of tension making for an engaging watch. You can read our thoughts on Manhunt: Unabomber in our full season review here!
Vagabond
Similarities – Action & Drama
This action-orientated Korean drama is exciting, suspenseful and manages to carry quite the punch across its run-time. The story does end with a really unsatisfying finish and multiple plot threads left dangling but the ride there is worth experiencing if you’re a fan of Tehran. The story resolves around stuntman Cha Dal-Geon. With a close relationship with his nephew keeping him going through tough moments in his career, Cha’s world is turned upside down when the plane his nephew is on crashes to the ground. With suspicions surrounding a mysterious man on the flight and coded messages with the co-pilot, the plot thickens and it soon becomes apparent that this crash was no accident. It’s not perfect but it still makes for a compelling watch worth checking out if you fancy something a bit different. You can read our thoughts on Vagabond in our full season review here!
Homeland
Similarities – Mystery & Drama
Running for 8 seasons, Homeland had quite the following when it dropped on our screens back in 2011. 9 years later, the show bows out with a decent finale that makes for a satisfying and compelling watch. The story here revolves around a bipolar CIA operative who becomes convinced that a prisoner of war has been turned by Al-Qaeda. Believing they’re planning to carry out a terrorist attack on American soil, this simple premise soon grows and evolves over time as relationships evolve and the true nature of what’s happening comes to the foreground.
Treadstone
Similarities – Agents & Espionage Missions
Serving as a prequel to the Jason Bourne movies, Treadstone is an action thriller that focuses on its big set pieces over the quality of its script. Treadstone isn’t the best choice on the list, and certainly suffers from some continuity issues, but has a decent enough plot that unfolds over time. The story here revolves around the Treadstone Project, who start to develop a new protocol to develop unstoppable superhuman assassins. It’s not as good as the Bourne movies (the original trilogy at least) but has enough here to enjoy nonetheless.
24
Similarities – Tension & Drama
Alongside Lost, 24 is arguably one of the founding Fathers of the serialized TV show format. With each season split across 24 hours (1 hour per episode), this real-time drama depicts a larger conspiratorial plot across each of its 8 seasons. While the first tackles an assassination attempt on a US Senator, each subsequent follow-up depicts a separate story that sees Jack Bauer descending deeper down the rabbit hole. Familial drama is added to bolster out the episodes and the expository shots neatly split the screen to show characters doing different tasks at the same time. This thriller is definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.
Nikita
Similarities – Strong female & espionage
Much like Tehran, Nikita features a strong female as its central protagonist. The story itself does feel a little similar too, depicting a rogue assassin returning to take down the secret organization that trained her. Where Nikita stands out though is with its action and there’s more than enough tension here to keep you watching through. With 4 seasons and lots of twists and turns along the way, this is definitely one of the more under-rated options out there. So there we have it, our 10 TV show picks to keep you busy while you await a possible second season of Tehran. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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