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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

1979Show1 season7 episodes

DramaWar & Politics
92
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.4Rotten Tomatoes100%92%

A gripping, intricate war & politics series about politics and history, with standout performances and direction.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

Set your services

Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

1 season · 7 episodes · best: S1E7 "Flushing Out the Mole" 8.4

Episodes

8.1

Story

One of Britain's master spies is working for the enemy. Can George Smiley beat him at his deadly game?

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a seven-part BBC2 spy drama written by Arthur Hopcraft, adapted from John le Carré's eponymous 1974 novel. The serial, which stars Alec Guinness, Alexander Knox, Ian Richardson, Michael Jayston, Bernard Hepton, Anthony Bate, Ian Bannen, George Sewell and Michael Aldridge, was broadcast from 10 September to 22 October 1979. George Smiley, the ageing master spy of the Cold War and once heir-apparent to Control, is brought back out of retirement to flush out a top level mole within the Circus. Smiley must travel back through his life and murky workings of the Circus to unravel the net spun by his nemesis Karla 'The Sandman' of the KGB and reveal the identity of the mole before he disappears.

Feels like

  • Cold War Espionage
  • Intricate Spy Thriller
  • Psychological Drama
  • Slow Burn Mystery
  • British Intelligence
  • Masterful Adaptation
  • Character Study
  • Political Deceit
  • Bleak Atmosphere

Cast

24 of 27 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
John Irvin
Written by
John le Carré, Arthur Hopcraft
Produced by
Jonathan Powell
Music by
Geoffrey Burgon

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 10, 1979 · October 22, 1979 · Ended

First aired
September 10, 1979
Last aired
October 22, 1979
Status
Ended
Length
1 season · 7 episodes
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
War & Politics, Drama, Mystery
Original language
English
Also spoken
Czech, Russian
Made in
United Kingdom
Available in
9 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Actually Pretty Funny, Adaptational Attractiveness, Adaptational Location Change +9

  • Actually Pretty Funny
  • Adaptational Attractiveness
  • Adaptational Location Change
  • Animated Credits Opening
  • Arc Words
  • As You Know
  • Batman Gambit
  • Battle Butler
  • The Casanova
  • Not Actually the Ultimate Question
  • Jerkass Has a Point
  • Spy Speak

12 of 37 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?"

Questions about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?

It streams in 5 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy worth watching?

92
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 92 (IMDb 8.4 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (88).

How long does it take to watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?

6 h

About 6 hours: 7 episodes in 1 season of about 50 minutes each, aired from 1979 to 1979.

Can I half-watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 10 of 10 for complexity and 7 for ambiguity.

Will I feel good after watching Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

What tropes does Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy use?

Actually Pretty FunnyAdaptational AttractivenessAdaptational Location ChangeAnimated Credits OpeningArc WordsAs You KnowBatman GambitBattle ButlerThe CasanovaNot Actually the Ultimate QuestionJerkass Has a PointSpy Speakand 25 more

TV Tropes lists 37 tropes for it, including Actually Pretty Funny, Adaptational Attractiveness, and Adaptational Location Change.