Whenever it comes to a show set in the past, there is usually one big question: is it based on a true story? That’s especially the case as we get more and more fictionalized tellings of real events. Ponies is the latest series on Peacock, a streamer that loves to release shows that are based on truth, but what about this one?
All eight episodes of Ponies is now available to stream on Peacock. Yes, it dropped as a binge-watch, and you will find that you are sucked in from start to finish. It follows two wives of CIA agents who end up becoming spies themselves as they go on the hunt to figure out what happened to their husbands when they’re killed on a secret mission.
Set in the 1970s in Moscow, Russia, naturally, people want to know how much of it is based on truth? Well, this isn’t one of those stories.
Ponies draws some inspiration from fact, but it’s a fictional story
There are certainly some elements of the show that are based on truth. We have the early days of the CIA and the use of bugging equipment throughout the Cold War. The term PONIs is even something that is based on truth, as it was the acronym for Persons of No Interest, those who authorities believed were just everyday people.
However, the story of the two women going undercover to get information about their husbands is completely fictional. Sure, there may have been stories that were like this, but this particular story doesn’t retell anything. Showrunner David Iserson and EP Susanna Fogel have talked about how the inspiration came from spy thrillers and the love of the Cold War, and that’s where the research began.
This is one of those stories that could be told in any time setting. The technology and clothing would just need to be changed. In fact, it could be told in a fantastical world if the creators wanted it to be, but there is something fascinating about the Cold War, even today.
What is Ponies about?
The new spy thriller is a must-watch for those who love the genre. However, it’s more than just a spy thriller. This is a story about two women who become best friends. They may come from different backgrounds, but they have much in common other than just the fact that they want to find out what happened to their husbands.
As PONIs, they’re able to get into places and ask questions that others wouldn’t without raising too many suspicions. At the same time, they haven’t been trained in espionage, which could put them in more danger than anyone else. Yet, they’re willing to do it if it means getting answers they need. And now you can binge-watch all eight one-hour episodes.
Ponies is available to stream on Peacock.