Review: AMC's 'The Little Drummer Girl' is a gorgeous spy thriller

Kelly Lawler | USA TODAY

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Spies never go out of style, even if the wars they're fighting do.

On the heels of 2016's "The Night Manager," AMC has bet on another John le Carre adaptation with "The Little Drummer Girl," a caper set amid the 1970s Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Like "Night Manager," it features A-list stars – Alexander Skarsgard, Michael Shannon and brilliant up-and-comer Florence Pugh – beautiful locations and cinematic direction, this time from director Park Chan-wook ("Stoker"), making his television debut.

But "Night Manager" was a simpler story with a cackling villain and clear moral boundaries, while "Drummer Girl" (Monday through Wednesday, 9 EST/PST, ★★★ out of four) is its near polar opposite, a tale of mixed loyalties, gray morality and futile fighting.

There's far more context and complexity to the Middle Eastern conflict than "Drummer Girl" can address in six episodes that focus mostly on a white woman. The series' piecemeal approach to explaining the grievances of both the Israelis and Palestinians feels like lip service, and it's a frequent weakness. But thanks to Pugh's fantastic performance and the offbeat style of Park's direction, "Drummer Girl" mostly glosses over those flaws and marches to a thrilling beat.

Pugh stars as Charlie, a young, struggling actress with a penchant for lying and a flirtation with the radical left. Her talents on stage and a chance encounter with Michel, a Palestinian terrorist, makes her the perfect target for Israeli intelligence officer Gadi (Skarsgard), who's part of a plan masterminded by Mossad spymaster Kurtz (Shannon) to take the terrorists down.

Gadi and Kurtz recruit Charlie to pose as Michel's lover and infiltrate his organization while they follow the leads she unearths. The deeper Charlie gets into the Palestinians' cause, the less sure she is that she's on the right side.

The success of the series hinges on Pugh's performance, and she delivers effortlessly. She has become one of Hollywood's most in-demand new stars after a breakout role in the indie "Lady Macbeth," and it's easy to see why. Pugh has a magnetic screen presence, given yet another starmaking turn among many (you can also catch her in "Outlaw King," now streaming on Netflix). She joyfully embodies Charlie, a woman made of contradictions who slides far too easily into the dangerous world offered by Gadi. The 22-year-old actress conveys maturity beyond her years, deftly conveying Charlie's shifting emotions and loyalties.

Shannon, too, is as strong as ever as the gruff intelligence mastermind, frustrated by his superiors' dated approach to the clandestine services. Shannon isn't physically intimidating, and he's made less so by an almost comically bushy mustache and curly wig, but he conveys power and gravitas as Kurtz. Skarsgard is the weakest link of the headlining trio, offering a somber, largely one-note performance as a moody handler who's pulled back into the game by Kurtz's grand scheme but quickly regrets bringing Charlie into the fold.

"Drummer Girl" makes a concerted effort to give voice to both Israelis and Palestinians with whom Charlie crosses paths, and we're frequently reminded of atrocities on both sides of the conflict. As much as this may keep "Drummer Girl" in the political neutral zone, it also prevents the series from having a distinct point of view. It's hard to decipher what, exactly, the miniseries is trying to say, given the lengths it goes to avoid taking sides. Confusion seeps into the storytelling as well, and some elements of the plot are nonsensical. The details of Charlie's recruitment and mission seem to get murkier the further she dives into the world of espionage.

Park's direction adds a surrealism that helps gloss over some of the less-streamlined elements. In stark contrast with most dark and dreary espionage tales, "Drummer Girl" is shot mostly in startling daylight, with its characters clad in bright colors, an aesthetically gorgeous choice. This style only emphasizes Charlie's exposure and vulnerability and helps keep the series light despite its serious subject matter.

The weak moments in "Drummer Girl" come and go, but the beautiful scenery, transfixing acting and tense action remain throughout, and those are worth tuning in for. You may be confused at times watching Charlie, but you'll never take your eyes off her.