Peacock's January 2026 original centres on Ponies, premiering January 15th and starring Emilia Clarke. Set in 1977 Moscow, the series follows two American women — embassy secretaries whose husbands die under suspicious circumstances in the USSR — who are subsequently recruited by the CIA. What begins as a quest for answers evolves into a gripping Cold War spy thriller about grief, resilience, and the transformation from underestimated staff to resourceful operatives navigating double agents and political intrigue.

The show's distinctive quality is its outsider perspective on espionage. These are not career intelligence officers — they're women thrust into a world that wasn't designed for them, navigating trade craft through necessity rather than training. Combined with the period setting and Emilia Clarke's presence, it establishes Ponies as one of the most atmospheric and character-grounded spy dramas of the new year.

If you want one new series on Peacock this January, Ponies is the answer. It's the rare spy thriller that leads with emotional stakes rather than action, making it compelling for viewers who usually don't reach for the genre. Emilia Clarke's performance alone makes it worth your time.