Smiley's People: Miniseries | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

Smiley's People — Miniseries

What to Know

Critics Reviews

Dennis Pryor The Age (Australia) Designed to make the customer feel that he is too dumb to understand this sophisticated stuff. Take heart, baffled viewers, all of Smiley's people are the same -- there's less to them than meets the eye. Oct 13, 2021 Full Review Michael Shmith The Age (Australia) By sheer virtue of its ingenious plot and exacting characterizations it becomes entertainment; but disturbing entertainment. Oct 13, 2021 Full Review Brian Courtis The Age (Australia) The television equivalent of the 'Times' crossword puzzle. It's splendid... as long as you know the rules. Oct 13, 2021 Full Review Jennifer Selway Observer (UK) Alec Guinness has this way of making it all seem serious and believable again. Oct 13, 2021 Full Review Martin Amis Observer (UK) At once champion and victim of the le Carré myth, the production glowed with an omniscience far too smug for syntax. Oct 13, 2021 Full Review Julian Barnes Observer (UK) Smiley's People had all the virtues of "Tinker Tailor," and then some: frequent humour, a wider variety of action and milieu, and a less baffling plot. Oct 13, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 20, 1982 Mme Ostrakova was desperate to believe the sweating Russian who promised the return of her daughter; then there was the Paris letter which rang old bells for General Vladimir; these two events summoned master spy George Smiley from retirement. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 27, 1982 After Vladimir's death, Smiley makes inquiries among a number of Russian exiles in London, and uncovers the negative of an astonishing photograph. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 4, 1982 Vladimir has two proofs, but Smiley has only found one; it was an erotic photograph of Otto Leipzig, the General's lieutenant; now aware that Vladimir has quarreled with his postman Toby Esterhase, Smiley plans to visit old friends. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 11, 1982 Smiley gets into trouble with his superiors, who want the investigation closed, but he finally encounters the woman and gets her account. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 18, 1982 Otto Leipzig is dead, but after Kirov's confession, the trail becomes clearer, and Smiley finds himself traveling to Switzerland. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 25, 1982 With information gained from Russian ambassador Grigoriev and a meeting with the elusive Alexandra, the scene is set for Smiley's final confrontation with his arch enemy, Karla. Details

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