The way of adapting novels has shifted to television format, as is the case for most new stories in today’s world. John Le Carre’s The Night Manager was one in particular that though would’ve worked fine as movie, was much better suited for a one off series. Solely directed by Susanne Bier and starring Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager hit the small screen in 2016 to mostly positive reception and was even accredited during award season. The show currently has a home on Prime Video in some areas, where others will have to buy or rent it online.
The Night Manager is a thrilling ride from start to finish, packed with suspense with each episode that passes. It begins in Cairo where hotel night manager Jonathan Pine is approached by a beautiful but mysterious woman. She requests his help in copying some confidential documents but Pine soon sees that said documents relate to illegal arms dealing. Now involved too intimately, the woman confides in him that the arms dealer is none other than billionaire Richard Roper and soon, Pine enters the criminal kingpin’s world wherein he becomes a major player in the attempt to bring him down for good.
The Night Manager stretches these events to maximum effect, detailing Pine’s journey from hotel employee to undercover asset in an epic demonstration
The series is more plot driven than it is character driven even though the main characters manage to show out when given a chance. Tom Hiddleston is given a rare chance to headline and he makes the most out of his opportunity. His character is provided a background, though much of it is vague and leaves Hiddleston very little to work off of. Even still he manages to make Pine a person of interest and overall, Hiddleston is able to carry the show with enough charisma to make the audience care. Hugh Laurie is no doubt the crown jewel however, playing the menacing international crime lord with an unusual charm. His take on Roper is a mixture of authority and benevolence. Laurie portrays Roper as a man who seems easy to get along with be it in a social setting or business meeting; that is, until he’s forced to show his bad side. The two leads make David Farr’s adaptation a game of wits, constantly leaving the audience guessing as to who is going to blink first.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is an over the top action packed series or even an overly dramatic piece. There is enough of everything to keep The Night Manager as balanced as possible, never leaning too far one way and at no moment does it lag on aimlessly. It is a shame that it’s only long enough to have had one season, but any attempt at stretching it past that would almost make it a completely different show. On the plus side, it not being very long means it can be repeated every now and again without exhausting too much time.
