'PONIES' Reviews: Critics Are Raving About Emilia Clarke & Haley Lu Richardson Peacock Drama

PONIES is here!

The drama series just premiered on Peacock on Thursday (January 15).

Here’s a synopsis: “Moscow, 1977. Two ‘PONIES’ (‘persons of no interest’ in intelligence speak) work anonymously as secretaries in the American Embassy. That is until their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances in the USSR, and the pair become CIA operatives. Bea (Emilia Clarke) is an over-educated, Russian-speaking child of Soviet immigrants. Her cohort, Twila (Haley Lu Richardson), is a small-town girl who is as abrasive as she is fearless. Together, they work to uncover a vast Cold War conspiracy and solve the mystery that made them widows in the first place.”

But what do people think of the show so far?

Keep reading to find out more…

PONIES currently has a 92% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

RogerEbert.com says: “It is a well-made and entertaining period espionage show that, despite the numerous broad strokes it fires, hits its target with solid, entertaining precision.”

AV Club gave it a B+, writing: “Luckily, Clarke and Richardson are more than capable of carrying and balancing all that weight and emotion without letting things feel too trite or forced.”

Vulture says: “Ponies creates a world in which a woman can stand up and assert her right to exist, and that’s very much of interest.”

Collider gives it an 8 out of 10, writing: “With compelling writing and striking performances, Ponies never loses sight of the grounded chemistry between its leads, making it one of the most impressive new shows of 2026.”

Nerdspin gives it a B, writing: “Starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, it’s not only a solid spy series, but also an elaborate story about friendship, sacrifice, loss, and lies.”

Decider says: “Ponies is exactly the kind of hilarious and heart-racing thriller the world needs now.”

CBR gives it an 8 out of 10, writing: “Ponies is a by the numbers spy thriller, but there is undeniable depth to the storytelling.”

THR says: “Ponies, starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, has moments of dazzle. But with neither enough depth to leave a lasting impression nor enough entertainment to make up for that, the drama winds up little more than a forgettable distraction.”

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