Emilia Clarke’s Thrilling New Spy Series Wows Critics With Near Flawless Rotten Tomatoes Debut

Alright, here’s one that caught my eye: Emilia Clarke, who you probably still picture with dragons, is back on TV and apparently crushing it with critics. Her new spy series, Ponies, might sound like a show about adorable animals, but it is totally a globe-trotting espionage thriller. Let’s break down why everyone’s buzzing about this one—and what makes it more than your typical spy caper.

So, Who’s Behind the Curtain?

Ponies isn’t random—it’s got some serious TV and movie pedigree backing it up. Susanna Fogel is directing; she’s the brains behind Booksmart (as a co-writer) and The Spy Who Dumped Me (director). Showrunner duties go to David Iserson, who’s spent time on heavy hitters Mad Men and Mr. Robot. That’s a lineup you don’t see every day. Score-wise, they even brought in Jung Jae-il, the composer who did the music for Squid Game and Parasite. So if you’re into tense, finely-tuned atmospherics, you’re covered.

This Cast Has Range

• Emilia Clarke (obviously, and yes, she gets to do more than just look worried about dragons)
• Haley Lu Richardson (her dynamic with Clarke is apparently top-notch)
• Nicholas Podany
• Andrew Richardson
• Adrian Lester
• Artjom Gilz

The Critical Take: What’s the Hype?

The critics aren’t holding back: Ponies snagged a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes—so yeah, people like it. On Metacritic, it landed a 73, which translates to a solid ‘generally favorable’. Not much to complain about there.

Everyone seems to agree that the show’s writing and chemistry between Clarke and Richardson are what make it pop. Tania Hussain from Collider described it as having 'compelling writing and striking performances', and she even called it one of, if not the, most impressive new shows of 2026. Hussain specifically pointed out that it feels refreshingly focused on the characters, not just the usual spy shenanigans.

Abe Friedtanzer at Awards Buzz took a slightly different angle. He called Ponies a fun 'fish-out-of-water' story that doesn’t slide too far into high drama or goofy comedy—it just sits in this sweet spot in the middle. Easy to watch, nothing too heavy, but not totally lightweight either.

CBR’s Martin Carr dialed up the retro love, labeling Ponies an 'homage to the golden age of 70s spy thrillers.' He admitted it follows a lot of classic spy tropes, but says there’s enough depth (and again, Clarke and Richardson’s partnership) to make it stand out.

Final Thoughts

Maybe 'Ponies' could have used a more exciting title, but the early word is it’s that rare spy series mixing sharp writing, actual character work, and a perfectly moody score. Emilia Clarke’s career post-Thrones always draws extra attention, but this one might be the real deal. At least, if you trust the critics. I’d say this is one of those ‘worth checking out, even if you think you’ve seen every spy show’ situations.