Stylish and Fun, Peacock’s 'Ponies' Is Your Next Bingeable Series

Reel Perspectives

January 15, 2026

Peacock

Peacock's latest espionage thriller, Ponies, enters a crowded landscape of thrillers and still manages to feel sleek and emotionally grounded.

Created by Susanna Fogel and David Iserson (Mr. Robot, New Girl), the series premiered on January 15 with all 8 episodes starring  Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson as two PONIES (persons of no interest in intelligence speak). Set in 1977 Moscow, the two work anonymously as secretaries in the American Embassy. That is, until their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances in the USSR, and the pair become CIA operatives. Bea (Emilia Clarke) is an over-educated, Russian-speaking child of Soviet immigrants. Her cohort, Twila (Haley Lu Richardson), is a small-town girl who is as abrasive as she is fearless. Together, they work to uncover a vast Cold War conspiracy and solve the mystery that made them widows in the first place.

It's slim pickings for a series headlined by two women, and Clarke and Richardson deliver magnetic performances set against the backdrop of the Cold War's heightened tensions between the United States and Russia. The series prioritizes the atmosphere and music of Fleetwood Mac over a fast-paced plot, with less emphasis on explosive action and more on coded conversations, glances, and the constant sense that every character is operating with only part of the truth.

Clarke and Richardson are perfectly cast, each bringing a distinct energy that keeps their dynamic compelling. Clarke is calm and controlled, while Richardson is more spirited and overconfident, with a touch of vulnerability, making every scene feel entertainingly unpredictable. Together, they create a partnership defined by necessity and offbeat humor, which becomes the emotional engine of the series.

Peacock

In addition to Clarke (Game of Thrones, Me Before You), who also serves as executive producer, and Haley Lu Richardson (The White Lotus), the series adds Adrian Lester (The Sandman, The Day After Tomorrow); Artjom Gilz (Tár, Das Boot); Nicholas Podany (Saturday Night, Hello Tomorrow!); Petro Ninovskyi (Shttl, The Silence); and Vic Michaelis (Very Important People, Upload) .

Ponies is a solid, understated thriller. It's not trying to reinvent the genre or overwhelm you with twists. Instead, it settles into a steady, easy rhythm and lets the story unfold at its own pace.

What makes Ponies especially engaging is its thematic focus.  A more serious series might explore what it truly means for women to exist on the margins - politically, socially, and personally - in that era, but the series is just as clever as its title. By the end of the season, which ends with a major cliffhanger, you realize that these two women were never Ponies, they're actually POIs (Persons of Interest) with their highly entertaining super sleuthing.

All episodes of Ponies are streaming now on Peacock.