Watch Spies Must Die

Spies Must Die is a fascinating and thought-provoking documentary series produced by Janson Media that explores the murky world of espionage and the extraordinary lengths that governments will go to in order to prevent their secrets from falling into the wrong hands. The series is a five-part look at some of the most significant intelligence scandals of recent times, featuring interviews with former spies, experts in the field, and journalists who have covered these cases as they have unfolded.

The first episode of Spies Must Die focuses on the case of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian FSB officer who defected to the UK and became a vocal critic of the Russian government. In 2006, Litvinenko was poisoned with a radioactive substance in a central London hotel, and the UK authorities quickly pointed the finger at the Kremlin. The documentary examines the circumstances leading up to Litvinenko's death, the aftermath of the poisoning, and the complex international and diplomatic fallout from this case.

The second episode shifts the focus to the United States, exploring the activities of the National Security Agency (NSA) and the revelations made by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The documentary examines how the NSA became embroiled in the mass surveillance of US citizens, the legal and moral implications of this behavior, and the fallout from Snowden's decision to leak classified documents to a group of journalists.

The third episode takes viewers to the Middle East, with a deep dive into the Iranian nuclear program and the role that Israeli intelligence played in trying to undermine it. The documentary explores the Stuxnet virus, a sophisticated piece of malware that was developed by the US and Israel and unleashed on Iranian nuclear facilities, causing extensive damage. Through interviews with intelligence experts and others, the documentary analyzes the broader geopolitical context of this operation and the implications of this new era of cyberwarfare.

The fourth episode returns to Russia, examining the case of Sergei Skripal, a former GRU agent who was living in the UK and was poisoned by a nerve agent in 2018. The documentary examines the possible motives behind this attack, the government responses from both the UK and Russia, and the long-term implications for international relations in the wake of this deliberate act.

The final episode, which centers on China, explores the role of espionage in the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China. The documentary examines the activities of Chinese intelligence agencies, the US responses to these actions, and the potential consequences of this escalating conflict.

Throughout the entire series, the filmmakers raise fundamental questions about the nature of espionage, the appropriate limits of government surveillance, and the complex geopolitics that underpin these shadowy activities. They interview a wide range of sources, from intelligence agents and analysts to journalists and academics, to provide a multifaceted perspective on each of the cases they explore.

Overall, Spies Must Die is an engrossing and deeply informative series that sheds light on some of the most consequential intelligence scandals of our time. The series is highly recommended for anyone interested in the complicated and often murky world of global intelligence and espionage. While the series can be intense and challenging at times, it is ultimately a gripping and rewarding experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Spies Must Die is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between October 7, 2011 and on Janson Media