Khaleesi Becomes a Spy

Emilia Clarke has officially shaken off the Targaryen shadow. Her new series, Ponies, has premiered on Peacock to a stunning 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Co-starring the effervescent Haley Lu Richardson (The White Lotus), the show is a fresh take on the spy genre, blending historical drama with dark comedy.

What is 'Ponies' About?

Set in Moscow during the height of the Cold War, Clarke and Richardson play two American embassy secretaries ("Ponies" was slang for low-level female staff). When their husbands die under mysterious circumstances, they are recruited by the CIA to become unlikely operatives.

Think The Americans meets 9 to 5, but with more cyanide.

Why Critics Love It

• Chemistry: The banter between Clarke's uptight character and Richardson's chaotic energy is electric.
• Aesthetic: The 1970s fashion is to die for (sometimes literally).
• Tone: It manages to be genuinely suspenseful while finding humor in the absurdity of bureaucracy.

A Hit for Peacock

This is exactly the prestige hit Peacock needed. After finding success with Poker Face and The Traitors, Ponies cements the streamer as a home for female-led, character-driven mysteries.

If you haven't started watching yet, catch up before the secrets get out.

Ponies is streaming exclusively on Peacock.