The new season of Netflix‘s action-packed series The Night Agent arrived on February 19, and it brought with it a wave of intense moments, high-stakes action, and one particular shock that left viewers reeling. In the world of political thrillers, not everyone makes it out alive, and Season 3 proved this rule in its very first episodes by saying goodbye to a key character.
Amanda Warren, who played the no-nonsense Night Action supervisor Catherine Weaver, was killed off in a devastating explosion just two episodes into the ten-episode season. The moment was a gut punch for fans who had come to rely on Catherine’s steady hand and mentorship of Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso). Now, the show’s creator, Shawn Ryan, is opening up about the difficult decision, explaining the long conversations in the writers’ room that led to this fateful choice and how it was all part of a bigger plan for Peter’s journey.
The Creative Reason Behind Catherine’s Death
For any series, killing off a beloved character is a risk. But for Ryan and his team, it was a risk they felt was necessary to push the story—and its hero—forward. In an interview following the season’s premiere, Ryan addressed the creative reasoning behind the move, confirming it was a story choice made to benefit the narrative, not due to any behind-the-scenes drama.
Ryan explained that the decision was made to accelerate Peter’s evolution as a night agent. After spending Season 1 as an outsider and Season 2 as a rookie learning the ropes from a mentor, the writers wanted Season 3 to show Peter stepping into a new level of responsibility and leadership. Catherine’s sudden absence was the catalyst for that change.
“We spent a lot of time talking about a lot of different permutations in the writers room,” Ryan told Deadline. “Peter having to do everything he does in the course of Season 3 without Catherine, without her mentorship and leadership, forces him to grow a little bit more into that role.”
The loss of Catherine, especially at the hands of the elusive broker Jacob Monroe (Louis Herthum), wasn’t just about creating shock value. It was designed to be a critical failure that Peter had to learn from and carry with him throughout the rest of the season. This mistake, and the subsequent loss of his mentor, forces him to become more self-sufficient and take charge in ways he never had to before.
Amanda Warren’s Reaction to the News
When a showrunner decides to write a character out of a series, the conversation with the actor is never easy. This was especially complicated in Warren’s case, as her contract didn’t specify that she would only appear in a couple of episodes. Ryan knew he had to make a personal call to explain the creative vision.
The conversation could have gone many ways, but Ryan reports that Warren was incredibly professional and supportive of the direction the writers wanted to take.
“I called Amanda because actors are waiting for, am I going to get picked up for this next season or not? We had an option on her, but we had this thing where, well, we don’t need her for the whole season, but we do really want her for the first two episodes, and that wasn’t a contingent that’s in the contract,” Ryan explained. “So you’ve got to call the actress and explain creatively what you’re trying to do. And to her credit, she really embraced the storyline. I thought she did a fantastic job in the two episodes she was in, and she totally understood how this could benefit the show and benefit Peter’s character. So she was a real, true team player in that regard.”
Ryan also noted that the landscape of television storytelling has changed. In the past, a character’s departure might have signaled conflict or a desire to leave the show. Today, it’s more commonly a narrative decision aimed at keeping the story dynamic and unpredictable. While he acknowledged that not every fan will agree with the choice, he emphasized that the writers’ room is focused on one thing: telling the best story they possibly can.
A Look at the Major Deaths in Season 3
While Catherine’s death is the most impactful for Peter’s personal story, she is far from the only casualty in the show’s third installment. The Night Agent Season 3 weaves a complex web of political corruption, dark money, and terrorism, and the body count reflects the high stakes. The season kicks off with a terrorist attack on Flight Pima 12, setting a grim tone early on.
Other notable deaths include Mike Fonseca, a journalist poisoned by the assassin known as “The Father” (Stephen Moyer); Brian Mott, a White House caterer killed for his role in the conspiracy; and eventually, Jacob Monroe himself, who is killed by Adam (David Lyons) just as he is about to cooperate with the FBI. The season finale also sees the demise of the villainous banker Freya Myers (Michaela Watkins), poisoned by The Father in a quiet act of revenge, proving that in this world, consequences are always lurking.
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What This Means for Peter and a Potential Season 4
By the end of Season 3, Peter is in a noticeably different place. He has survived, exposed the corrupt President Hagan (Ward Horton) and the First Lady (Jennifer Morrison), and even earned a moment of peace, symbolized by him finally finding the “Razzmatazz” ice cream bar from his childhood.
However, he is also a changed agent. He has lost his direct supervisor, been betrayed by the highest office in the land, and operated largely on instinct without a safety net. In the finale, Peter tells Deputy Director Mosley (Albert Jones) that he needs a break to find some balance. Mosley agrees but hints that when Peter is ready to return, a new partner will be waiting for him. Ryan has confirmed that this partner will be a new character that audiences have never met before, shutting down speculation that it might be a returning face like Chelsea.
As for the future, a writers’ room for a potential Season 4 is already underway, with a renewal decision expected soon. If the show does return, it will be set in Los Angeles, exploring a world that Ryan says “exists at a much bigger level than New York”—and he has confirmed it is not about the Hollywood film industry. With Peter more isolated but more capable than ever, the next chapter promises to test him in entirely new ways, forcing him to confront whether a life of balance is even possible for a night agent.
Also Read: Where Was ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ Filmed? A Tour of the Apple TV+ Thriller’s Key Locations
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