Atomic Blonde (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The List is a microfilm hidden inside a wristwatch that contains the identities of every active Soviet field agent. It was stolen from MI6 agent James Gasciogne by KGB agent Yuri Bakhtin. Because it exposes Soviet intelligence operatives across multiple agencies, the List is worth billions on the black market and could prolong the Cold War for another 40 years if used strategically.

Foreshadowing: The List is mentioned from the opening scene, establishing it as the central MacGuffin driving all the competing factions.

• the list
• microfilm
• double agents
• Soviet agents
• Cold War

Satchel is a notorious double agent who has been leaking MI6 intelligence to the Soviets for years. In the film's final twist, it's revealed that Lorraine Broughton herself is Satchel. She was working as a triple agent, using her MI6 position as cover while actually serving the CIA.

Foreshadowing: MI6 sends Lorraine to Berlin specifically to find and eliminate Satchel, never suspecting she's hunting herself.

• satchel
• double agent
• Lorraine Broughton
• CIA
• betrayal

Percival kills Spyglass because he wants to keep the List's contents secret and prevent any verification of its authenticity. As MI6's chief in Berlin, Percival has been corrupted and is working his own agenda. Killing Spyglass eliminates the only person who has memorized the List's contents and could verify it.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Percival refuses to acknowledge Spyglass when he tries to report the List's delivery, showing his intent to distance himself from the informant.

• percival
• spyglass
• murder
• betrayal
• MI6

Percival kills Delphine because she discovers his betrayal after she confronts him. Delphine finds evidence that Percival killed Spyglass and was planning to frame Lorraine. When she tries to expose him, Percival murders her. Lorraine arrives too late to save her, finding her body and the proof of Percival's treachery.

Foreshadowing: Percival orders Delphine to confront him, suggesting he already planned to eliminate her once she learned the truth.

• delphine lasalle
• percival
• murder
• death
• betrayal

Yes, Lorraine is revealed to be a double agent working for the CIA. Throughout the film, she appears to be an MI6 agent on a mission, but in the final scenes, she meets with CIA agent Kurzfeld and returns to Langley with him. She used her MI6 assignment as cover for her real CIA operation.

Foreshadowing: Lorraine is unusually resourceful and seems to have her own agenda beyond her stated mission, hinting at divided loyalties.

• lorraine broughton
• CIA
• double agent
• MI6
• Langley

Lorraine lies about the List's location during her debriefing because she needs to protect her CIA operation and maintain her cover. She claims not to know where the List is, even though she has it, preventing MI6 from discovering her true allegiance or interfering with her ongoing mission.

Foreshadowing: Lorraine has been manipulating both MI6 and the CIA throughout the mission, so misleading her superiors fits her deceptive pattern.

• lorraine
• MI6
• list
• deception
• debriefing

The photo shows James Gasciogne and David Percival together, suggesting they knew each other personally. This discovery raises Lorraine's suspicions about Percival's loyalty, as Gasciogne was killed while holding the List, and Percival may have been involved in the betrayal or leak.

Foreshadowing: This revelation comes after Lorraine has already begun questioning Percival's trustworthiness during her ambush.

• gasciogne
• percival
• photo
• betrayal
• MI6

Lorraine meets arms dealer Aleksander Bremovych in Paris to complete her CIA mission. She reveals her identity as Satchel, provides him with a fake List, and kills his henchmen. This meeting proves she was playing everyone from the start, using her supposed MI6 assignment to get close to Soviet contacts.

Foreshadowing: Bremovych was already established as a KGB collaborator who wanted the List, making him a valuable target for intelligence gathering.

• bremovych
• paris
• satchel
• fake list
• CIA mission

After discovering Percival's betrayal and finding Delphine's body, Lorraine hunts Percival through Berlin. In the final confrontation, she kills him and reclaims the List. She also reveals that Percival had planned to turn the KGB against her, using Spyglass as a pawn in his scheme.

Foreshadowing: Percival's pattern of eliminating anyone who learns the truth about his treachery sets up his final confrontation with Lorraine.

• percival
• final fight
• list
• Lorraine
• Berlin

Spyglass is a Stasi officer who informant to MI6, offering information about the List in exchange for immunity. He contacts Percival to report that the List was being delivered to Gasciogne, but Percival dismisses him. Spyglass is later killed during an escort to West Berlin when Percival betrays him.

Foreshadowing: Percival's refusal to acknowledge Spyglass early on hints at his intention to silence the informant.

• spyglass
• stasi
• informant
• MI6
• percival

In the ending, Lorraine returns to MI6 for debriefing but lies about the List's location. She then meets Bremovych in Paris, reveals she's Satchel, and gives him a fake List while eliminating his men. Finally, she meets with CIA agent Kurzfeld, discloses her true allegiance, and returns to Langley with him, completing her mission as a triple agent.

Foreshadowing: The non-linear structure foreshadows that events may not be as they initially appear, with Lorraine's true motives hidden throughout.

• ending
• CIA
• Langley
• triple agent
• resolution