25 Shows To Watch If You Like Netflix's Bodyguard (2024)

Bodyguard was a massive hit when it was originally broadcast by the BBC in the UK, where it achieved the highest viewing figures of any new drama in the multichannel era and created interest for other shows like Bodyguard. It was hailed as the drama of the decade by many viewers, and while it has been over five years since its first season, the second has still yet to arrive. When it was released internationally on Netflix the success kept growing, with US audiences becoming hooked on its heart-pounding political thriller story.

Bodyguard follows a war veteran turned Specialist Protection Officer (played by Richard Madden) tasked with protecting a controversial Home Secretary (Keeley Hawes), whose politics stand for everything he despises. The show received several awards and great acclaim, with Madden winning the Golden Globes Award for his performance and the big twist halfway through the first season picking up the British Academy Television Awards "Must-See Moment." With the second season reportedly in development, there are plenty of shows like Bodyguard for fans to watch in the meantime.

25 The Night Agent (2023-)

A Thriller About A Skilled Young Agent Pulled Into A Massive Plot

The Night Agent

Cast

Gabriel Basso , Luciane Buchanan , Hong Chau , Sarah Desjardins , Fola Evans-Akingbola , Eve Harlow , Enrique Murciano , Phoenix Raei , DB Woodside

Release Date

March 23, 2023

Seasons

1

A thriller that will grip fans of Bodyguard is the Netflix series The Night Agent. The series follows Peter Sutherland, a lowly member of the FBI who takes a night shift working in the bowls of the White House sitting in a room with a phone that is never supposed to ring.

When it does ring, it sends Peter on a high-stakes adventure as he digs deeper into a vast conspiracy while trying to keep himself alive. As a sign of the similarities to Bodyguard, The Night Agent also begins with a tense scene on a train in which the hero proves his bravery and catches the attention of some powerful people.

Peter proves himself to be as formidable of a hero as Bodyguard's Budd, displaying a natural desire to do the right things, a fierce protective nature for the people who are counting on him, and a fearlessness to get to the bottom of the plot he finds himself in.

24 Treason (2022)

Charlie Cox Plays A Complex Protagonist In This Twisty Spy Story

Treason

TV-MA

Cast

Charlie Cox , Olga Kurylenko , Oona Chaplin , Ciarán Hinds , Tracy Ifeachor , Danila Kozlovsky

Release Date

December 26, 2022

Seasons

1

Number of Episodes

5

After starring as Daredevil in the Netflix series, Charlie Cox returned to the streamer for a much different role. The thriller Treason sees him playing Cox playing a member of MI6 who has to step up when there is an attempt on the life of the sitting director of the agency.

However, things become complicated when he realizes that his former lover is involved in the plot and that he is being pulled into it as well. While David Budd is a soldier and a man of action in Bodyguard, Cox's character of Adam in Treason is more someone who is working behind the scenes.

He is also a complex hero in ways that differ from Budd with him holding his own painful secrets. However, when it comes to a conspiracy that could threaten not just his country, but his family, Adam shows that he is willing to fight back against those who are pulling the strings.

23 The Recruit (2022-)

A Thrilling And Funny Netflix Gem

The Recruit

Cast

Noah Centineo , Laura Haddock , Aarti Mann , Colton Dunn , Fivel Stewart , Daniel Quincy Annoh , Vondie Curtis Hall , Byron Mann , Angel Parker , Kaylah Zander

Release Date

December 16, 2022

Seasons

1

Another series about a young protagonist brought into the world of spies and intrigue only to find themselves in over their heads is The Recruit. Noah Centineo stars as Owen, a young lawyer working for the CIA who becomes entangled in a high-stakes political game between some powerful players with some big secrets to hide.

Owen is a more relatable hero than the stoic yet brooding David Budd from Bodyguard. He is not afraid to show his fear and admit that he is in over his head and that makes him likable. It also adds a bit of comedic energy to the series as Owen finds himself dodging one dangerous situation after another. However, the lighter tone doesn't take away from the high-stakes plot that similarly puts an underdog hero in the middle of a complex world of intrigue, treachery, and corruption.

22 The Old Man (2022-)

Jeff Bridges Leads A Gripping Man-On-The-Run Thriller

The Old Man

Cast

Jeff Bridges , Amy Brenneman

Release Date

September 28, 2022

Seasons

1

Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges made the leap into television with the thrilling series The Old Man. Based on the novel by Thomas Perry, Bridges plays Dan, a retired operative who is living a quiet life but must return to his deadly skills and go on the run when the people he used to work with begin targeting him.

Accompanied by his loyal and formidable dogs, Dan fights his former friends while also reckoning with his dark past. Clearly, the protagonists of The Old Man and Bodyguard differ in terms of their ages. Bridges' character of Dan is also perhaps better suited to blending into everyday life compared to David Budd's struggles to turn off his soldier persona.

However, in the flashbacks to Dan's time as an operative and the trauma it caused him, it is clear to see the similarities in the characters. The Old Man is also interesting in its conspiracy thriller story as it gives a more nuanced glimpse at the enemies of the story compared to other shows.

21 Reacher (2022-)

Alan Ritchson Creates A New Fan-Favorite Action Hero

Reacher

Cast

Malcolm Goodwin , Maria Sten , Willa Fitzgerald , Bruce McGill , Chris Webster , Alan Ritchson , Anthony Michael Hall , Brian Tee , Johnny Berchtold , Daniel David Stewart

Release Date

February 4, 2022

Seasons

3

Based on the character created by Lee Child, Reacher has become one of the most popular new shows over its first two seasons with an exciting new action hero for the small screen. Alan Ritchson stars as Jack Reacher, an imposing and destructive former military police officer who uses his sleuthing skills to investigate cases by his own means and without answering to anyone.

Reacher doesn't take itself as seriously as Bodyguard with a fun and energetic tone that is elevated by Ritchson's charismatic performance. However, Reacher season 2 offered the closest similarities to Bodyguard with a storyline involving Reacher investigating the deaths of his former military colleagues.

Those looking for something to match the grittiness of Bodyguard and its troubled protagonist might want to look elsewhere, but for those interested in watching a capable hero get to the bottom of a fiendish plot, Reacher is the right show.

20 The Terminal List (2022-)

A Deep But Important Action-Thriller Chris Pratt

The Terminal List

The Terminal List is an action-thriller television series based on the novel that follows James Reece, a Navy SEAL whose mission saw his entire platoon ambushed. When he returns home, he tries to figure out what happened, but his memories are out of order and, in some cases, incorrect. However, it isn't long before Reece finds evidence of something that calls the entire mission into question, and he must figure out who is behind the ambush to protect the people he loves in his life before they are put in the crossfire.

Cast

Jared Shaw , Arlo Mertz , JD Pardo , Patrick Schwarzenegger , ​Chris Pratt2 , Tyner Rushing , Constance Wu , Christina Vidal , Matthew Rauch , Alexis Louder , Jai Courtney , Stephen Bishop , Taylor Kitsch , Jeanne Tripplehorn , Warren Kole , Nick Chinlund , Riley Keough , LaMonica Garrett , Sean Gunn

Release Date

July 1, 2022

Seasons

1

Network

Amazon Prime Video

One of the big themes explored in Bodyguard is protagonist David Budd dealing with PTSD from his time in the war. The trauma inflicted on soldiers who return home from battle is also explored in the thrilling action series The Terminal List, based on the novels by Jack Carr.

Chris Pratt stars in the series as a Navy SEAL who goes on a mission of revenge when his family and former comrades are targeted as part of a government cover-up. Along with the same heavy themes of the trauma of soldiers, The Terminal List displays similar brutal action sequences as seen in Bodyguard.

Pratt's James Reece is a relentless warrior whose intense focus on the mission at hand mirrors Richard Madden's acclaimed performance in Bodyguard. The show was a huge hit for Prime Video in its first season, leading to The Terminal List season 2 and a Terminal List spinoff being in development.

19 Slow Horses (2022-)

Gary Oldman's Slow-Burn Apple Intelligence Drama Is A Must-Watch

Slow Horses

Slow Horses is an adaptation of CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning Mick Herron’s first novel in the "Slow Horses" series, which follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 – Slough House. Gary Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but irascible leader of the spies who end up in Slough House due to their career-ending mistakes.

Cast

Jonathan Pryce , Kristin Scott Thomas , Jack Lowden , Gary Oldman , Saskia Reeves , Chris Reilly , Rosalind Eleazar , Christopher Chung , Olivia Cooke

Release Date

April 1, 2022

Seasons

3

Streaming Service(s)

Apple TV+

Bodyguard is a thrilling look at the murky and complex modern spy world. While many shows explore this topic as well, few do it as well as Slow Horses, which combines the grounded and smart spy story with some unexpected humor.

Slow Horses follows agents of an infamous house that is home to the disappointing and burned-out operatives of MI6. However, when they find themselves stumbling upon a real threat, they have a chance at redemption. While Bodyguard features almost none of the humor that makes Slow Horses so enjoyable, both are smart, exciting, and clever in their spy stories.

Slow Horses' Jack Lowden plays a hero who feels like a more lighthearted take on David Budd as a once-promising agent trying to prove himself again. They also both deal with the idea of heroes being made up of discarded soldiers who those in power see as easy scapegoats.

18 The Americans (2013-2018)

One Of The Most Underseen But Critically Lauded Series In US History

The Americans

In the midst of the Cold War, Elizabeth and Phillip Jennings appear to be an average American couple, living out the American dream in their house in the suburbs with their two children, Paige and Henry. In truth, though, Elizabeth and Phillip are Soviet agents, working under deep cover for the KGB.

Cast

Keidrich Sellati , Richard Thomas , Holly Taylor , Annet Mahendru , Matthew Rhys , Keri Russell , Noah Emmerich , Maximiliano Hernández

Release Date

January 30, 2013

Seasons

6

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Disney+

The relationship that emerges between David Budd and Julia Montague in Bodyguard takes the show into another intriguing territory as it mixes an intense romance amid the spy thrills. This is an approach that was expertly done by The Americans for six seasons.

The show stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as two Russian spies posing as a married couple while attempting to avoid detection in the paranoia of 1980s America. The series begins with the tense relationship between the two characters, forced into a relationship as strangers. However, over the course of the show, they find genuine love for each other.

The complication between love and duty is a theme wonderfully explored in both shows, but it helped to make The Americans one of the best spy series. Both shows wonderfully enhance the thrills of the genre with some sexy aspects of the central relationships, which are often filled with distrust due to the dangerous world they are in.

17 The Night Manager (2016)

Tom Hiddleston's Hugely Impressive John Le Carre Adaptation

The Night Manager (2016)

The Night Manager is a drama thriller miniseries based on John le Carré’s novel, featuring Tom Hiddleston as a former British soldier who infiltrates the inner circle of an arms dealer, played by Hugh Laurie. The series covers an ever-increasing game of cat and mouse where one false move could spell disaster for either party.

Cast

Tom Hiddleston , Hugh Laurie , Olivia Colman , Tom Hollander , Elizabeth Debicki , David Harewood

Release Date

February 21, 2016

Seasons

1

Bodyguard and many other projects in the spy genre owe so much to the writing of author John le Carré, who defined the genre with his novels over the years. One of the best adaptations of his work was the thrilling spy miniseries The Night Manager. It stars Tom Hiddleston as a manager of a Cairo hotel who is recruited to infiltrate the inner circle of an arms dealer (Hugh Laurie).

The series is a pulse-pounding ride, much like Bodyguard, as Hiddleston's hero goes undercover and risks being found out at any moment. However, there are more similarities in the central love story. As in Bodyguard, The Night Manager explores the danger of passion and romance within the spy world as Hiddleston develops a forbidden affair for Laurie's wife (Elizabeth Debicki). The tension this relationship adds to the story mirrors the complexity of Budd and Montague's risky affair.

16 The Diplomat (2023)

A Smash Hit For Netflix With Politics In Its Blood

The Diplomat

The Diplomat is a Netflix drama/thriller series that tells the story of a career diplomat named Laura Simmonds as she wrestles with the complexities of her new job as ambassador to the U.K. As Laura attempts to acclimate to her high-profile, high-stress job, her marriage, and personal life begin to suffer in the midst of an international crisis.

Cast

Keri Russell , David Gyasi , Rufus Sewell , Rory Kinnear , Ato Essandoh , Ali Ahn , Jon Moore , Adam Silver

Release Date

April 20, 2023

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Keri Russell stars in another political thriller show like Bodyguard which has become a smash for Netflix. The Diplomat stars Russell as a lower-level political figure who is assigned to be the United States' new ambassador to the United Kingdom amid a turbulent political time.

Though underqualified for the role, she must do her best to fix the endless issues surrounding her. Like Slow Horses, The Diplomat injects a bit of humor into its political story but plays things grounded and with high stakes.

Russell excels in the lead role and her character of Kate Wyler shares similarities to Madden's Budd as they are both people who have been plucked for an unexpected assignment only to find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy that grows more and more dangerous. Despite the fact that they are in over their heads, both protagonists prove to be more formidable than those pulling the strings anticipated and risk revealing the truth.

15 Doctor Foster (2015-2017)

A Rabbit Hole Mystery Unfolds As Britain Turns Into A Nightmare

Doctor Foster stars Suranne Jones in the titular role of Dr. Gemma Foster, a notable general practitioner who lives a picturesque life, or so she thinks. The mystery drama follows Gemma after she begins to believe that her husband is having an affair, and she begins investigating further. Unfortunately, in the process, Gemma uncovers a whole host of other mysterious secrets that trigger a train reaction that affects her world and everyone in it.

Like Bodyguard, the series brings audiences deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole of conspiracies and intrigue with each new episode while following a protagonist trying to make sense of it all. It is another series in which the protagonist is someone with a troubled home life who finds themselves dragged along on this mystery with no control only to fight back and start uncovering things for themselves.

14 Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

The Sprawling Epic Tragedy Of Tommy Shelby's Family In 1920s Birmingham, UK

Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders is a historical crime drama created and written by Steven Knight and starring Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, and Helen McCrory. The television show is based on the gang, Peaky Blinders, a group that banded together after the end of World War I.

Cast

Annabelle Wallis , Ian Peck , Helen McCrory , Paul Anderson , Cillian Murphy , Ned Dennehy , Aimee-Ffion Edwards , Sam Neill , Sophie Rundle , Tony Pitts , Joe Cole

Release Date

September 12, 2013

Seasons

6

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Peaky Blinders is a crime drama series that stars Cillian Murphy and features guest stars like Tom Hardy. It is set after the Great War in 1919 Britain when soldiers and criminal gangs are fighting it out for control in the streets after catastrophic economic crises.

The Peaky Blinders is a notorious gang run by Thomas Shelby and the Shelby crime family. However, Thomas wants more in life than simply running a gang. Unfortunately, he soon realizes that it won't be easy to change his path. Both shows have characters with wartime experiences who can't fit into society as a whole and are drawn into a violent and chaotic life that feels more familiar.

Tommy Shelby's spiral into a dark and more violent path is reminiscent of the one Bodyguard's David Budd finds himself struggling against in the first season. The period setting and the saga set in the crime world make for a very different show to Bodyguard in many ways, but the intensity in the performances of Murphy and Richard Madden are enough to please fans of both series.

13 Medici (2016-2019)

Richard Madden's Other (Non-Fantasy) Starring Role

Medici: Masters of Florence is substantially different from shows like Bodyguard in tone, but is a worthy series that features actor Richard Madden. The series tells the story of the real Medici family and their rise to power in medieval Italy. Madden played Cosmo de Medici in season 1, and it charted his journey as he moved to succeed his father as head of the family.

Following his time as Robb Stark on Game of Thrones, this role, along with Bodyguard, cemented that Madden was an exciting and versatile acting talent in television. Though set centuries apart, Medici does also include the political intrigue that fuels Bodyguard. There are three seasons in total and each is about a different chapter in the Medici saga, although Madden is only in the first season. Interestingly, Madden's Game of Thrones father Sean Bean stars in the second season.

12 Unforgotten (2015- )

Another British Crime Drama Stacked With Talent

Unforgotten is a compelling crime drama that follows DCI Cassie Stuart and DS Sunny Khan as they try to solve a murder that happened 39 years ago. The case is opened after the bones of their victim are discovered beneath a newly-demolished house.

Solving the murder won't be easy and as the detectives begin digging around in the decades-old case, they uncover dark secrets, sinister suspects, and a conspiracy that may have been better off if it remained buried for good. That level of intrigue makes it a gripping mystery that offers the same sort of thrills Bodyguard did.

Both shows highlight the era of British television that offers dark, brutal, and grim stories with complicated characters haunted by the work that they do. The procedural aspect of Unforgotten is very different from the expansive overall story of Bodyguard, but those looking for a show that embraces its bleakness will be pleased.

11 Ozark (2017-2022)

Netflix's Crime Drama That Improved Each Season

Ozark

Ozark is a drama-thriller that follows the Byrde family’s journey from their everyday, suburban Chicago life to their dangerous criminal enterprise in the Ozarks, Missouri. When financial advisor Marty Byrde sees a money-laundering scheme for a prolific Mexican drug cartel go wrong, he is forced to launder $500 million in five years to keep himself and his family safe. The series explores capitalism, family dynamics, and survival through the eyes of (anything but) ordinary Americans.

Cast

Julia Garner , Katrina Lenk , Damian Young , Felix Solis , Joseph Sikora , Sofia Hublitz , John Bedford Lloyd , Charlie Tahan , Jessica Frances Dukes , Ali Stroker , Lisa Emery , Adam Rothenberg , Laura Linney , Skylar Gaertner , CC Castillo , Jason Bateman , Bruno Bichir , Alfonso Herrera

Release Date

July 21, 2017

Seasons

4

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Netflix's four seasons of Ozark offered some of the most intense and pulse-pounding moments in television in recent memory. The show stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney as a couple that gets wrapped up in the world of money laundering.

Family patriarch, Marty Byrd, forces his family to relocate after the scheme goes wrong but finds that he can't escape the criminal life, even in his new home in the Ozarks. It doesn't take long for Marty to become embroiled with more dangerous criminals and crime families.

Much like shows like Bodyguard, Ozark uses action to enhance the tension and both build to almost unbearable levels. These moments of suspense are often punctuated by shocking violence that also feels similar to the bloody conflicts that arise in Bodyguard. However, it also offers a much different dynamic with the dysfunctional family aspect of the story further complicating things.

10 Line Of Duty (2012–2021)

A Modern Claim To Britain's Greatest Crime Drama

Fans of the intricate plotting and sweaty-palmed tension of shows like Bodyguard should love Line Of Duty, which was also created by writer Jed Mercurio. Over the course of its time on the air it has become one of the most popular BBC dramas around. The show follows the AC-12, a police anti-corruption unit headed up by Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), and DC Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure).

The first series featured The Walking Dead actor Lennie James, and subsequent seasons saw Thandiwe Newton (Westworld) and Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire) join the cast, along with Bodyguard's own Keeley Hawes. It is another show that focuses on the serious and dedicated work of its stoic main characters. Those looking for laughs and some light-hearted moments will not find it with either of these shows as they deal with the heavy burden these characters carry.

9 Luther (2010-2019)

Idris Elba's Effortlessly Cool, Broken Cop Is On The Case

Luther

Modern-day Sherlock Holmes John Luther, played by Idris Elba, uses his brilliant detective skills to solve murder cases with the unlikely help of murderer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson). The BBC crime thriller aired for five seasons and continued with the 2023 feature film Luther: The Fallen Sun.

Cast

Idris Elba , Ruth Wilson , Steven Mackintosh , Indira Varma , Paul McGann , Saskia Reeves , Warren Brown , Dermot Crowley , Nikki Amuka-Bird , Aimee-Ffion Edwards

Release Date

May 4, 2010

Seasons

5

Streaming Service(s)

Apple TV+ , Prime Video

For anyone who likes British cop thrillers that embrace their pulpy nature more than the likes of shows like Bodyguard, Luther is the perfect option. It stars Idris Elba as DCI John Luther, a troubled London detective who is almost impossibly brilliant, with an unrivaled deductive mind, and the adversaries he goes up against are exaggerated to almost comic book-level villains.

It makes the show devilishly dark, brooding, and, above all, wildly entertaining. Perhaps what really puts the show over the top, though, is Luther's relationship with brilliant psychopath Alice Morgan (The Affair's Ruth Wilson), who functions as the Catwoman to his Batman. Elba and Madden both excel in their respective series as troubled yet effective heroes whose determination to see justice done may destroy them. The popularity of the show led to a Netflix Luther movie.

8 Jack Ryan (2018-2023)

John Krasinski Impresses As Tom Clancy's Most Famous Creation

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan

A new adaptation of the popular book series, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan follows the titular character as he goes from CIA analyst to being thrust into the middle of a conspiracy that threatens to uproot the world and its status quo. When Jack stumbles upon strange bank transfers during routine analysis, he's tossed from the comfort of his desk job into the world of action, espionage, and political intrigue to investigate. But, unfortunately, Jack's search for answers will take him to the heart of a dangerous terrorist ring that seeks to destabilize the U.S. and its allies.

Cast

John Krasinski , Wendell Pierce , Abbie Cornish , Ali Suliman , Dina Shihabi , John Hoogenakker , Noomi Rapace , Jordi Molla , Francisco Denis , Cristina Umaña

Release Date

August 31, 2018

Seasons

4

Network

Amazon Prime Video

Bodyguard offers terrific grounded spy thrills which is also reflected in Jack Ryan which brings Tom Clancy's iconic hero to the small screen. John Krasinski becomes the fifth actor to play Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst-turned-action-hero, alongside his gruff-but-with-a-heart-of-gold boss James Greer (played by The Wire actor Wendell Pierce). The show captures the smart look at the modern intelligence world as seen in Clancy's novels with each season sending Ryan on a new globe-trotting adventure.

While Kransinki's Ryan is a more typical hero compared to the troubled Budd from Bodyguard, both are former soldiers trying to make a difference in the modern complex world. They are drawn into dilemmas bigger than themselves but are relentless in their fight against the villains. Jack Ryan also offers a bigger-scale action-oriented show for those looking for the blockbuster feel on the small screen.

7 Homeland (2011-2020)

A Tense, Political Drama That Reinvented Itself Successfully

Homeland

Homeland is a Showtime original series starring Claire Danes, Mandy Patinkin, and Damian Lewis. The TV show ran for eight seasons on the network and focused on Danes' characterCarrie Mathison, a bipolar CIA operative that believes a terrorist attack is imminent after a prisoner of war is returned home.

Cast

Claire Danes , Mandy Patinkin , Damian Lewis , Rupert Friend , Maury Sterling , F. Murray Abraham , Morena Baccarin

Release Date

October 2, 2013

Seasons

8

Network

Showtime

Homeland aired its eighth and final season in 2020 and was one of the best shows to hit Showtime in that network's history. The first two seasons were particularly strong, receiving universal critical acclaim and racking up several Emmy Awards.

Claire Danes stars as Carrie Mathison, a CIA officer with bipolar disorder who becomes convinced that Damian Lewis' US Marine Nicholas Brody has been 'turned' by Al-Qaeda, who had held him captive as a prisoner of war. Like Bodyguard, the series takes a tense and thrilling look at the world of national security with threats popping up endlessly while also questioning the responses to those threats.

Carrie makes for a compelling protagonist that feels very similar to Bodyguard's Budd. Both of these characters are excellent at their jobs and can save the day with their strategic thinking and determination, but their personal lives are in shambles. Homeland also includes another intense romance that blurs professional lines and shows the characters' recklessness.

6 24 (2001-2014)

The Original Event TV Show That Reinvented The Episodic Format

24

24 follows CTU (Counter-Terrorism Unit) agent Jack Bauer as he contends with various threats to national and international security by any means necessary. With each season comprised of 24 episodes telling Bauer's story in real-time, 24 brings the action to life one day at a time. Racing against the clock, Bauer is forced to make impossible decisions in the name of public service, bending his personal morals to get the job done.

Cast

Kiefer Sutherland , Carlos Bernard , Mary Lynn Rajskub , Elisha Cuthbert , Dennis Haysbert

Release Date

November 6, 2001

Seasons

8

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

Kiefer Sutherland's 24 ran for eight seasons, had a TV movie and a revival season, and then introduced a short-lived spin-off, cementing it as a beloved show in the spy action genre. For fans looking for shows like Bodyguard, this is the longest-running US espionage/counter-terrorism-themed drama ever.

It gave Kiefer Sutherland both a late-career renaissance and a career-defining character in CTU Agent Jack Bauer. 24 was truly groundbreaking, with each episode taking place in 'real-time' and each season showing audiences 24 hours in the lives of Bauer and his CTU colleagues.

Bauer is another complicated television hero who seems more like a weapon than a human who is willing to bend any rule if he thinks the threat is high enough. He and Budd make for efficient and sometimes reckless operators who seem to be out of their elements in the real world, feeling more comfortable in the high-stakes arena of modern war. The ticking clock aspect of 24 makes it a pulse-pounding thrill ride for Bodyguard fans to enjoy.