PONIES
Review Scores (how we rate) Watch trailer →
Ponies drops two very different women into 1970s Moscow and lets the Cold War paranoia, gender politics, and spy chaos do the rest.
He Said / She Said
“I liked this show. Bea and Twila make a fun contrast right away, and the whole idea of these women becoming spies because no one sees them as a threat is smart. It has drama, tension, and enough humor to keep it from feeling too heavy. It’s not life-changing television, but it’s definitely entertaining and easy to keep watching.”
“This has a lot going for it. The 1970s Moscow setting is strong, the Cold War tension works, and the show mixes spy drama with feminism in a way that feels interesting instead of forced. Emilia Clarke is good, but Twila is the bigger wildcard and the more immediately compelling character. The pacing builds steadily, and by episode three it feels very bingeable.”
Critical reception (so far)
- Strong performances (especially Clarke + Richardson).
- Great chemistry and tone.
- Some tonal inconsistency / not super deep.
What it’s about
Set in Moscow in 1976, Ponies follows two newly widowed women whose husbands were involved in U.S. intelligence work. When those men disappear from the picture, the wives are pulled into the same dangerous world in hopes of uncovering what really happened.
What starts as grief and confusion quickly becomes a crash course in espionage. As they take on missions, and make uneasy alliances, they have to learn who they can trust in a deeply misogynistic system, women are often underestimated until it is too late.
Overall vibe
Stylish, tense, and a little offbeat. This is a Cold War spy drama with a steady pace, some sharp humor, and an undercurrent of feminist energy running through it. It is not slick in a modern action-thriller way. It is more interested in atmosphere, suspicion, and personality.
Episode-by-episode (1-3)
Two CIA agents stationed in Russia disappear, and their wives decide to enter into the world of espionage to figure out what happened. The episode establishes the 1970s Moscow setting, the danger of the mission, and the very different personalities of Bea and Twila.
Bea and Twila start learning the ropes as spies and begin getting real assignments while having to figure out who can actually be trusted.
The pressure rises as both women make sacrifices and tougher choices in their new roles.
Content warnings
- Violence
- Sexual content
- Mature themes
Who will love it / who should skip it
Will love it if:
- You like spy stories with strong female leads
- You enjoy Cold War settings and period detail
- You like tension and intrigue with some humor mixed in
- You are into character contrast and uneasy partnerships
- You do not need constant action to stay engaged
Should probably skip it:
- You want a fast, explosive action thriller right away
- You struggle to connect with period pieces
- You are not interested in 1970s political or social context
- You want big emotional breakthroughs in the first few episodes
- You prefer spy stories that feel slicker and more modern