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The Little Drummer Girl

The Little Drummer Girl

Seduction. Manipulation. Betrayal. Never trust a spy.

2018Miniseries1 season6 episodes~57 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

Brilliant young actress Charlie strikes up an acquaintance with an intriguing stranger while on holiday in Greece, but it rapidly becomes apparent that his intentions are far from romantic.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Little Drummer Girl?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Little Drummer Girl to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about The Little Drummer Girl?

The Little Drummer Girl earns 7 badges, led by Visual feast and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Cast

Reception

Is The Little Drummer Girl worth watching?

The Little Drummer Girl's Midcredits score is the 68th percentile of all shows, from 18K ratings across 2 sources. 80% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

68th percentile

Better received than 68% of shows

66th percentile among Drama66th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)61st
Approval (how many liked it)72nd

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

73 /100

61st percentile of all shows

61st percentile among Drama59th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.4 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

80% liked it

72nd percentile of all shows

68th percentile among Drama70th percentile among 2010s
80% rated it 7–1020% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

89th percentile

18K ratings across platforms

85th percentile among Drama89th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 2% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The series is a deliberately slow-burn, character-driven espionage drama that prioritizes psychological nuance over action spectacle.

Fans praised

  • Florence Pugh's layered performance as Charlie
  • Park Chan-wook's elegant direction and visual style
  • Faithful adaptation capturing Le Carré's psychological depth

Detractors panned

  • Excruciatingly slow pacing with little momentum
  • Unconvincing lead chemistry and wooden performances from Skarsgård and Shannon
  • Implausible plot and unmotivated character choices

What stands out

Cinematography85

Visually stunning with meticulous period detail and beautiful compositions

AtmosphereDivisive80

Immersive 1970s period recreation with strong sense of place and paranoia

ActingDivisive72

Pugh praised as revelation; Shannon and Skarsgård divisive—some call them wooden or miscast

DialogueDivisive65

Faithful to Le Carré's literate style; some find it stilted or frustrating

CharactersDivisive62

Deep psychological complexity for fans; poorly motivated and unsympathetic for detractors

TensionDivisive60

Gradually builds psychological suspense for fans; too slow to generate thrills for detractors

Plot and storyDivisive55

Intricate and rewarding for patient viewers; convoluted and implausible for others

PacingDivisive30

Deliberate slow burn appreciated by some; overwhelmingly criticized as tediously slow

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 10 points higher than women.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 10 points higher than under-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 30 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Episodes

1 season

Miniseries · 2018 · 6 episodes · 7.1 average across 6 rated episodes

  • S1E1

    Episode 1

    Oct 28, 201856 minTMDB rating 6.6
  • S1E2

    Episode 2

    Nov 4, 201855 minTMDB rating 7.9Season best
  • S1E3

    Episode 3

    Nov 11, 201857 minTMDB rating 6.6
  • S1E4

    Episode 4

    Nov 18, 201858 minTMDB rating 6.8
  • S1E5

    Episode 5

    Nov 25, 201858 minTMDB rating 7.8
  • S1E6

    Episode 6

    Dec 2, 201858 minTMDB rating 6.8Finale

Watch experience

What is The Little Drummer Girl like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you unsettled.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseDreadCold
Heaviest: late
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Cold and cerebral · 6% of shows: Detached and precise; keeps the viewer at arm's length.
Told as
SerializedSingle-season story
ToneThe material is played straight with a serious, brooding atmosphere; the filmmaking is stylized but never ironic, treating its espionage plot with grave sincerity.
The rideSustained suspense with a cold, paranoid atmosphere, building toward a climax that carries the most weight.
StructureTold in a conventional linear order with no structural gimmicks; the story unfolds in chronological sequence across the six episodes.
Episode formatThe six episodes form one continuous story, each chapter advancing the infiltration plot without standalone cases.
Season formatThe series tells a complete story in one season and is a limited series with no further seasons.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
UnsettlingThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe morally ambiguous ending and the film's refusal to take a clear side leave the viewer uneasy and still debating the questions of loyalty, deception, and the cost of the conflict.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestRescue
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% (this title) · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Rescue: Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).

6% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series follows a double-agent plot where the protagonist is recruited to infiltrate a Palestinian terrorist cell, with the overarching goal of stopping attacks and bringing down the cell; the serialized structure makes this a single arc rather than a typical episode archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7% (this title)
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6% (this title)
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

IdentityDeception · 6% of showsLoyalty · 7% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe actress must blur the line between her real self and her constructed persona, raising questions about who she becomes undercover.
StanceThe primary theme of identity is held up for examination; the film neither celebrates nor condemns the protagonist's transformation.

The world

Late 20th centuryUrbanIn transitRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Cho Young-wuk
SettingEuropean cities and Middle Eastern locations in the world of Israeli-Palestinian espionage
MusicA brooding score that amplifies tension and the psychological dimensions of espionage.

Content guide

Is The Little Drummer Girl okay for kids?

TV-MA

The Little Drummer Girl is rated TV-MA. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (55/100), sexual content at moderate (44/100), language at moderate (51/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (42/100) and frightening material at intense (60/100). Overall it is heavier than 19% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 19 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada18+
  • Germany18
  • France18
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • Czechia18+
  • Hungary16
  • LTN-14
  • MexicoD
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway12
  • Poland16
  • Portugal12AP
  • RO15
  • Spain18
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 48% of all showsHeavier than 19% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 35%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 35%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 20%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 34%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 50%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The Little Drummer Girl have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Little Drummer Girl?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Simona Brown
as Rachel
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Gennady Fleyscher
as Schwilli
Clare Holman
as Miss Bach
Daniel Litman
as Daniel
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Michael Moshonov
as Shimon Litvak
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Florence Pugh
as Charlie
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Michael Shannon
as Martin Kurtz
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Alexander Skarsgård
as Gadi Becker
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kate Sumpter
as Rose
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Alessandro Piavani
as Mario Rossino
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

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What are shows like The Little Drummer Girl?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The Little Drummer Girl include The Spy (2019), A Spy Among Friends (2022) and Traitors (2019).

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