‘Game of Thrones’ Star Leads New Peacock Series, and Critics Are Raving About It
Given the popularity of Game of Thrones, it would have been easy for the fans to box the actors into the show characters that they play in perpetuity. However, a number of the actors who helped bring George R. R. Martin’s masterpiece to life on HBO have proven they have more depth in their talent, capable of portraying superheroes, starring in blockbuster films, and lending their abilities to Oscar-winning productions.
With all that being said, Emilia Clarke is making another stride beyond her days as Daenerys Targaryen, aka the "Mother of Dragons." On January 15, she debuted alongside Haley Lu Richardson in the brand-new spy thriller, Ponies.
'Ponies' Is Now Streaming on Peacock
Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
All eight episodes of the debut season of Ponies are available to stream on Peacock as of January 15th. Here is an in-depth synopsis of the show from the streamer:
"Set in Moscow in 1977, two 'PONIES,’ ‘persons of no interest’ in intelligence speak, 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 (Clarke) is an over-educated, Russian-speaking child of Soviet immigrants. Her cohort, Twila (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."
The drama is the brainchild of David Iserson (Mr. Robot) and Susanna Fogel (The Flight Attendant). Check out this trailer for the series.
Critics Love 'Ponies'
As of publication, Ponies has an impressive 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Rendy Jones of Roger Ebert says of the show, "It is a well-made and entertaining period espionage show that, despite the numerous broad strokes it fires, hits its target with solid, entertaining precision."
Over at Variety, Alison Herman finds herself particularly wowed by Clarke. The writer states, "Emilia Clarke leaves Daenerys behind with Peacock’s endearing spy caper." That's quite the compliment, given how many people will always want to see Clarke as the silver-haired queen.
Again, Ponies Season 1 can be streamed in its entirety on Peacock.
Related: One Question Has HBO Fans Arguing about the Best Show to Watch Beyond ‘Game of Thrones’