“The Father” is one of the most compelling characters in The Night Agent Season 3: we investigate the psychology of the ‘responsible assassin,’ his bond with his son, and how Peter’s own story is mirrored in his figure.
The arrival of The Night Agent Season 3 on Netflix has delivered several twists that have sparked widespread discussion: from the absence of Rose to the shocking death of Catherine; from the intriguing role of Jacob ‘The Broker,’ who suddenly reveals a less villainous side, to a finale that seems to favor the ‘good guys’ so much that it leaves us wondering if the story could even continue into a potential Season 4.
However, one of the most well-developed characters of the third season is ‘The Father’—the nameless assassin who balances his ruthless work with the education of his son, who travels alongside him. This figure of the ‘responsible killer’ has been one of the most analyzed aspects of The Night Agent Season 3, particularly regarding how his story intersects with that of Peter Sutherland: two professionals working in the world of secret missions on opposite sides, yet sharing a very personal connection through their relationship with parental roles.
The interrogation that lays bare Peter’s heart, the reflection of the protagonist’s personal history on the father-son bond between the assassin and the boy, the moment of ‘revelation’ where ‘The Father’ steps out of the game, and the final scene with Freya: in this article, we will analyze every aspect of this mysterious and fascinating figure in The Night Agent Season 3.
Who is “The Father” in The Night Agent Season 3? The Appeal of Stephen Moyer’s Character
He is introduced as an expert assassin brought in when others have failed. Played by Stephen Moyer (True Blood’s Bill Compton), the character has been aptly dubbed “The Father” by the audience. He is not merely a mercenary hired for high-stakes jobs; he is shown as a devoted father and educator to his young son, who travels by his side.
His role as a parent seems to be his highest priority. “The Father” goes to great lengths to provide The Son with a quality education. Since the boy doesn’t attend school, it is up to his father to ensure he is properly taught. The Father carefully selects books to teach him about life and reading skills, limits screen time and video games to protect his focus, and spends meaningful quality time with him through play.
However, the high-stakes nature of his work begins to jeopardize his parental role. The Father is forced to leave his son alone more often than intended and finds himself lying more frequently to hide the truth of his profession. He is even compelled to bring him a PlayStation to occupy the boy’s time while he is working.
As a result, we witness a growing internal conflict: his work demands more effort, and disorganized instructions from clients make his missions increasingly chaotic, which takes a toll on his son. The turning point occurs when the assassin realizes he has placed his son in danger. Driven by suspicion over his father’s lies, the son follows him to Peter’s interrogation and ends up alone with a man who is essentially an enemy.
This is the most emotionally resonant moment of The Night Agent Season 3, after which the plot moves at a breakneck pace.
The Moment of Revelation: Peter’s Interrogation and the Mirror of the Absent Father
When the assassin captures Peter with the goal of discovering the whereabouts of Jay, Isabel, and Jacob, the “responsible” side of The Father truly emerges. The killer does not resort to physical torture to extract information; instead, he utilizes a potent drug called Blue 88—a truth serum that transforms the interrogation into a deep psychological analysis of Peter, who is left vulnerable and forced into a state of unshielded honesty.
It is here that The Father forces Peter to open up, bringing all his weaknesses to the surface. The initial objective is to make Peter believe the assassin is on his side, coaxing him into revealing the necessary information. However, the way The Father conducts this interrogation feels like something more than a job: his questions probe the shadow of Peter Sutherland Sr., the absent father who left his son plagued by doubts regarding his true nature.
A strange symbiosis takes shape between Peter and The Father in this pivotal scene of The Night Agent Season 3. When Peter discovers that the boy is right there with him while his father is away on duty, Peter’s personal history re-emerges as a mirror to the bond between the child and the assassin. The weight of an absent father has always pressed heavily on Peter’s shoulders, and it is through this psychological lever that Peter manages to extricate himself from the situation once The Father returns for the boy.
The moment of revelation for The Father comes when he sees The Son standing directly in front of Peter—a terrifying shield between his gun and his target. It is at this point that the assassin’s sense of responsibility takes full command: he realizes his profession is destroying everything good he had built for his son, who is now in immediate danger, caught between the killer and his marks.
Peter leverages the assassin’s paternal instincts to save himself. The Father realizes he is treading a dangerous path, one that threatens to lead him toward the same mistake made by Peter’s own father. He recognizes the risk that his relationship with his son could ultimately be defined by the very secrets and lies his profession demands. This is not the father he aspired to be—an epiphany triggered by seeing firsthand, through Peter, the haunting legacy left by a ‘ghost father’.
By the time The Father receives the call from the banker, Freya, ordering him to finish the job and kill Isabel, the assassin has already moved on. The effect of the revelation is confirmed in that final phone call: The Father is out of the game. He is no longer working in the sector, has refunded the payment for the contract, and officially abandons the mission. From that moment forward, he is simply a father taking care of his son.
The Truth About The Son, the “Orion” Identity, and the Final Scene with Freya
In one of the introductory flashbacks of The Night Agent Season 3, a shocking truth is revealed regarding the origins of the boy: he is not the assassin’s biological son. Instead, “The Father” found him in a crib during one of his most ruthless assignments.
After orphaning the child as part of his “work,” the man made a life-altering decision to adopt him, promising to provide him with a dignified life and an elite education. By embracing the role of “The Father,” the nameless assassin attempts to reconcile two conflicting needs: a desperate desire to atone for the guilt of his actions and a psychological necessity to find a purpose beyond being a cold-blooded killer.
The name chosen by The Father when he assigns his son his new ‘secret identity’ is particularly interesting: Orion. In Greek mythology, Orion is a giant huntsman placed among the stars by the gods. Given the character’s intellectual and literary depth, it is clear that he sees the boy as a “purer” version of himself. While the father hunts humans in the shadows, he wants his Son to transcends the mud of the material world to become something eternal and bright, like a constellation.
Peter, too, is in some ways the son of a hunter: his father had worked for the secret services and was later accused of high treason, and the details of what truly happened will still remain a mystery to him. But while Peter has been left alone in the world, on a mission to rebuild his identity from the ashes of a parent who disappeared under humiliating circumstances, Orion still has the chance to thrive in life with the help of a present and dedicated father.
The last time we see The Father is in the final scene of The Night Agent Season 3, the only one that raises doubts about what we have witnessed: we see him at a bar next to the banker Freya, who doesn’t realize she is sitting next to the assassin she had paid in the past to kill her enemies. Feigning a British accent to ensure he isn’t recognized, The Father pulls out the vial with which he will poison her.
This leaves us with the doubt of whether The Father is actually still active in the business, having now been hired by the President to eliminate the primary threat to his reputation, or if that scene represents a private initiative by The Father to prevent Freya’s future revelations from putting him at risk. What is certain is that the assassin played by Stephen Moyer is now firmly focused on his relationship with his Son, while his work finally takes a back seat. Now, it only remains to be seen if a fourth season of The Night Agent will arrive and if we will see him again in the future.
