: For years, MI5 dismissed the existence of these agents as a myth.
The "Cicada" program is a clandestine espionage operation established by the Soviets during the Cold War. Like the periodical insects that remain underground for years before emerging in massive swarms, these agents were planted to live unremarkable lives until "activated" decades later.
: The plot reveals that Nikolai Katinsky, an ex-KGB agent thought to be harmless, was actually the spymaster behind the program. Narrative Analysis of "Cicada" (Season 2, Episode 4)
: The investigation begins when an old colleague of Jackson Lamb, Richard Bough, dies after leaving the message "cicadas" on his phone.
The second season of the Apple TV+ series , titled " Dead Lions " (2022), revolves around the titular "Cicada" program—a Cold War-era Soviet operation involving "sleeper agents" embedded in British society. The Cicada Program: Conceptual Overview