SOME OF THE BEST AND FAVORITE SPIES FROM FILM AND TV

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Through the years, TV shows have showed us many a favorite spy and certainly feature films have been a favorite place to meet them. As the Internet tells us, chic spy day (it’s October fifth to be precise should you wish to celebrate) is approaching which made me think about favorite or best fictional spy characters. It made question if very many characters I liked fit this moniker. Together we’re going to discover the answer to this!

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SOME OF THE BEST AND FAVORITE SPIES FROM FILM AND TV. To celebrate chic spy day, we're spotlighting favorite spies! Who do you love best? #Spies #Spy #CharacterList #TVCharacters #MovieCharacters Share on X

From suave British intelligence to recruited college students who train to be a spy, these are some of the more famous spies from film and TV shows. Read on and see who these names are – and tell me how many I missed.

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BEST FICTIONAL SPY CHARACTERS

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AGENT 99 from GET SMART

I haven’t met 99 from the original series, but in the 2008 comedy with Anne Hathaway she’s a fun character. One I quite enjoy hanging out with over the course of the movie. (PG-13)

Stream, at publication, Get Smart on Max; or digitally purchase on places like Amazon

CHUCK BARTOWSKI from CHUCK

Sarah is the one we perhaps think of most from this former NBC comedy, but I loved Chuck. I don’t think I finished the whole series, but in the seasons I watched, he was such a cool guy and his evolution was (so far) well written and also caring even if that isn’t an ideal quality for a spy. He’s even on a list I wrote (but never published) about male characters I really like. He’s just good and noble, and it’s these that, in part, make him so memorable. This show, like Get Smart is one of the sillier (which I mean only as a compliment!) spy stories and I love that. (TVPG / TV-14)

Stream, at publication, Chuck on places like Max or Prime

JAMES BOND from JAMES BOND

According to IanFleming.com Bond originated in a series of twelve novels, penned by Fleming, starting with Casino Royale which published in 1953. The story has Bond’s mission as bankrupting a “ruthless Russian agent.” Since then of course the stories and series have been not just serving as inspiration for more modern spy stories or film but also for many James Bond films in which many different British actors took on the role. The last man to play the role was Daniel Craig who’s time as the iconic character is done meaning news of who next will be the big-screen face of Bond has much speculation. (PG-13)

You can stream, at publication, many of the James Bond films on Paramount+ or Amazon Prime

JASON BOURNE from THE BOURNE IDENTITY

This is an interesting character to me because it’s about a man struggling with the “what” of his past and finding out, after having amnesia, not just about conspiracies but also that he perhaps doesn’t like the past that he has. It’s an interesting character study and I quite liked him. (PG-13)

Stream, at publication, The Bourne Identity on Starz; or digitally purchase on places like Amazon

SYDNEY BRISTOW from ALIAS

Recruited in college to become a spy, Sydney’s journey as a spy is one of many ups and downs, loss and danger. It’s also a role embodied by Jennifer Garner who plays the strong heroine in this former ABC drama that follows Sydney not just through her perilous journey as a spy (one that has her playing for dual teams!), but also trying to find personal peace. She’s also probably one of my favorite aka best fictional spy characters. (TV-14)

You can digitally purchase Alias, at publication, on places like Amazon

ANNIE from COVERT AFFAIRS

Once a part of the lineup airing on USA Network, Piper Perabo is a newly minted spy who must adjust to a new life as a spy and wanting to do her job well. (TVPG, but should be TV-14)

Stream, at publication, Covert Affairs on Peacock; or digitally purchase on places like Amazon

NIKITA from NIKITA

An older CW show, this Maggie Q vehicle is really quite entertaining. It’s about a woman fooled by an agency that is quite evil. In order to exact revenge, she inserts a spy of her own all while trying to maintain smart and strategic control… even as her lover remains inside. (TV-14)

Stream, at publication, Nikita on Roku or Tubi; or digitally purchase on places like Amazon

EVELYN SALT from SALT

I think this character interesting. We’re never quite sure who she is and are constantly wondering what her moral compass is. Even by the end, though we do understand her motivation more than at the start, we still wonder, who is Evelyn Salt? Appropriate since that’s a tagline for the film. (PG-13)

Stream, at publication, Salt on Starz; or digitally purchase on places like Amazon

JOHN and JANE SMITH from MR. and MRS. SMITH

This film is kind of iconic in its own way. It follows Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as the titular characters who are lovers. Only as they build a six-year life together they learn that they are the same but also quite different. The film is entertaining if you like action films only don’t expect this one to be full on action. It’s actually surprisingly slow in places. (PG-13)

You can stream Mr. and Mrs. Smith, at publication, with Netflix; or digitally purchase on places like Amazon

NAPOLEON SOLO from THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Recently I rewatched the feature film inspired by the 60s-era TV show, and find I do quite like Henry Cavill’s American spy. He’s very ambitious and polished and interested in doing the job no matter what, so long as it leads to success. Surprisingly, even with this, he’s always a character that realizes there are lines one shouldn’t cross and I respect this. (PG-13)

Stream, at publication, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on Netflix; or digitally purchase on places like Amazon

MICHAEL WESTEN from BURN NOTICE

I was OBSESSED with this show once upon a time. It was part of the USA Network line up that was under the “blue skies” of TV dramas. It became increasingly “darker” in the latter seasons and fell into an annoying trope of co-depending on every episode to tell a story rather than a case of the week scenario, but still I watched the whole series and found Michael equal parts interesting (always so willing to sacrifice for his loved ones) and flaws. (TV-14)

Stream, at publication, Burn Notice on Hulu; or digitally purchase on places like Amazon

MORE SPIES we LOVE or LOATHE

have you met any of these best fictional spy characters?

Ethan Hunt from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

Illya Kuryakin from THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Carrie Mathison from HOMELAND

Alex Rider from ALEX RIDER

Jack Ryan from JACK RYAN

M from JAMES BOND

Maxwell Smart from GET SMART

Sarah Walker from CHUCK

Clayton Webb from JAG

How many of these best fictional spy characters have you met? Who would make your favorite fictional spy characters? Which ones did we miss? Comment all of your thoughts below. Let’s chat.

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