Patriot (2015)
A darkly comic spy drama about an intelligence officer living a double life — one folk song at a time.
Patriot - Series Information
- Original Title: Patriot
- First Air Year: 2015
- Last Air Year: 2018
- Created by: Steven Conrad
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 18
- Status: Canceled
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: November 3, 2015 (United States - TV-MA), November 3, 2015 (Canada - 18+), November 3, 2015 (United Kingdom - 15), November 3, 2015 (Germany - 18), November 3, 2015 (France - 18), November 3, 2015 (India - U), November 3, 2015 (Mexico - C), November 3, 2015 (Spain - 18)
- Networks: Prime Video
- Production Companies: Amazon Studios, Zaftig Films, Elephant Pictures, Parriott, Picrow
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: แพทริออต (TH), पैट्रियट (IN), パトリオット (JP)
Patriot - Plot
To prevent Iran from going nuclear, intelligence officer John Tavner must forgo all safety nets and assume a perilous "non-official cover" -- that of a mid-level employee at a Midwestern industrial piping firm.
Patriot - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get your first look at Patriot:
Unlikely hero. Unlucky spy.
Where to Watch Patriot
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Patriot - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Steven Conrad
Main Cast
- Michael Dorman
- Terry O'Quinn
- Kurtwood Smith
- Michael Chernus
- Kathleen Munroe
- Chris Conrad
- Julian Richings
- Gil Bellows
- Aliette Opheim
- Hana Mae Lee
Writers
- Steven Conrad
Executive Producers
- Steven Conrad
- Charlie Gogolak
- Glenn Ficarra
- John Requa
- James D. Parriott
Patriot - FAQs
Where can you stream Patriot online?
Patriot is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, included with a standard Prime membership. It's also accessible via Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and through Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads for those who prefer a no-cost option. All 18 episodes across both seasons are available.
Why was Patriot cancelled after two seasons?
Amazon cancelled Patriot in 2018 after two seasons without a definitive public explanation. The show had a devoted cult following but never broke through to mainstream audiences. Creator Steven Conrad had reportedly planned additional seasons, making the cancellation a disappointment for fans who considered it one of TV's most underrated gems.
What is Patriot the TV series about?
Patriot follows John Tavner, a deeply conflicted intelligence officer tasked with preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. To do so without official cover, he goes undercover as an ordinary employee at a Midwestern pipe-fitting company — a mundane disguise that collides hilariously and tragically with the brutal demands of espionage.
Is Patriot worth watching for fans of dark comedy?
Absolutely. Patriot is one of the most inventive dark comedies in recent television history. It blends deadpan absurdist humor with genuine emotional weight, earning strong critical praise. Michael Dorman's performance is quietly extraordinary, and the show's unique tone — melancholy, funny, and tense all at once — is unlike anything else on TV.
Who plays John Tavner in Patriot?
Michael Dorman plays John Tavner, the show's beleaguered spy protagonist. The Australian actor delivers a career-defining performance, portraying John as a folk-singing, emotionally exhausted operative trapped between duty and despair. The supporting cast includes Terry O'Quinn, Kurtwood Smith, Michael Chernus, Kathleen Munroe, and Gil Bellows.
How many seasons and episodes does Patriot have?
Patriot ran for two seasons totaling 18 episodes. Season 1 consists of 10 episodes and Season 2 contains 8 episodes. The series premiered on November 3, 2015, and concluded in 2018 following its cancellation by Amazon Prime Video.
What makes Patriot's tone so unique among spy shows?
Unlike glossy action-driven spy thrillers, Patriot leans into existential dread and wry absurdism. John Tavner processes his trauma through folk songs he performs at open-mic nights, and the show treats bureaucratic incompetence and moral compromise with equal parts comedy and heartbreak — a combination that feels genuinely original.
What are shows similar to Patriot worth watching?
If Patriot's dark, offbeat tone appeals to you, try Weeds for its suburban crime comedy, or The Gentlemen for stylish criminal absurdism. Garth Marenghi's Darkplace and Nighty Night share Patriot's taste for deadpan British-style humor, while Painkiller explores similarly bleak American institutional dysfunction.
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