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Six great espionage series...

Alias

Once upon a time, a disguiseswapping Jennifer Garner was the very watchable star of a J.J. Abrams–created spy series with a supporting cast that included a young Bradley Cooper. The year was 2001, and the riveting pilot might just be enough to hook you. Amazon Prime

Queen Sono

The freshest feature of this season-old series is that it’s the first Netflix production from Africa. Pearl Thusi plays a tough, gorgeous spy in an elite South African intelligence unit, and for once, formula action drama seems enough. Netflix

The Spy

Elsewhere, Sacha Baron Cohen is doing broad comedy again. But the Borat star also makes a compelling spy in this historical drama about a real-life Mossad agent who went undercover in Syria in the 1960s. Netflix

The Prisoner

In this classic 1960s British series, a former spy wakes up in a strange seaside village where his captors want information from him that he won’t give up. Boy, does it stand up—enough to slip into any lineup in this golden age of TV. Amazon Prime

The Little Drummer Girl

Most adaptations of John le Carré deserve attention. This slow-burning drama also has the singular touch of director Park Chan-Wook ( Oldboy) and a superior cast featuring Florence Pugh, Alexander Skarsgard, and Michael Shannon. Sundance Now

Chuck

Get Smart remains the definitive spy spoof, but this late-2000s series, starring Shazam’s Zachary Levi as a computer geek who becomes an unlikely spy after he accidentally opens an email loaded with government secrets, gets high marks for its mix of suspense, humor, and charm. Amazon Prime