Emilia Clarke’s ‘Ponies’ Gallops to a 91% Rotten Tomatoes Score
Redemption in Moscow: Emilia Clarke’s ‘Ponies’ Gallops to a 91% Rotten Tomatoes Score
The "Mother of Dragons" has officially conquered the Cold War. Emilia Clarke, whose first foray into the spy genre with Marvel’s Secret Invasion left critics cold, has found her redemption in the Soviet Union. Her new Peacock original series, "Ponies," premiered today to a staggering 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics hailing it as the definitive "must-watch" thriller of the new year.
The series, which dropped all eight episodes this morning, is being described as a masterful blend of Slow Horses grit and The Americans tension, infused with a rare, biting humor.
Not Your Average Spies
The title Ponies is a play on intelligence slang for "Persons of No Interest"—those overlooked individuals who move through the world unseen. Set in 1977 Moscow, the show follows two American embassy secretaries whose lives are upended when their husbands, both CIA operatives, die under mysterious circumstances.
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Emilia Clarke plays Bea, an over-educated, Russian-speaking child of Soviet immigrants who has spent her life trying to blend in.
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Haley Lu Richardson (The White Lotus) co-stars as Twila, a fearless, abrasive small-town firecracker who isn't afraid to kick down doors that Bea would rather pick.
Critics have singled out the "electric" chemistry between Clarke and Richardson as the show's secret weapon. The A.V. Club noted in its review that the duo "balances heavy emotional stakes with a buddy-cop energy that feels entirely fresh for the genre."
A Cold War Masterclass
Created by Susanna Fogel (The Flight Attendant) and David Iserson, the series has been praised for its 1970s production design and its refusal to rely on typical spy tropes. Instead of high-tech gadgets, Ponies relies on tradecraft, intuition, and the "invisible" status of women in the 1970s workforce.
"It’s a show about people who are underestimated using that very fact as their greatest superpower," Clarke said in a featurette released ahead of the premiere. "Bea and Twila aren't trained assassins; they're just two women who refuse to accept the official story of their husbands' deaths."
The Road to a 91%
While the score may fluctuate as more reviews pour in over the weekend, the early consensus is overwhelmingly positive:
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The "Slow Burn" Success: Critics are applauding the pacing, which rewards viewers who stick through the "tense and claustrophobic" middle chapters.
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Redemption Arc: For Clarke, the high score marks a significant professional win following a string of project cancellations and divisive reviews post-Game of Thrones.
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The Cliffhanger: Fans who have already binged the series are already calling for a Season 2, following a finale that Screen Rant called "a wild ride with a propulsive ending."
With its near-perfect score and "Certified Fresh" status looming, Ponies has successfully positioned itself as Peacock’s crown jewel for 2026. For those looking to brave the January chill, the 1977 Moscow of Ponies is the perfect place to get lost.
Ponies Releases Today 15th January 2026 on Peacock
