Jack Ryan

In this day and age, we have no shortage of shows like these. Stuff like "Reacher", "Shooter", "Taken", "Punisher" and "Terminal List" all roughly scratch the same itch for a grounded gun guy vs government goons TV series. It becomes increasingly difficult to stand out when the series is based on books written roughly 30 years ago. I mean Tom Clancy has been dead for 10 years now. That might explain why so many of his stories involve some spark that will make the Cold War escalate to World War III between America and Russia. Most of Clancy's material has been mined in other films and even video games that anything now seems derivative. Similar to Jane Austen with romantic comedies, so it is with Clancy and political thrillers.

Well then, the difference has to come from the character. What makes Jack Ryan different than Jack Bauer? What made him a charming protagonist was the fact that he didn't have, as Bryan Mills would say, "a particular set of skills." Ryan is an analyst, a desk jockey. He was the everyman thrown into difficult situations outside his control.

I feel that edge is where "Jack Ryan" misses the mark. This Jack Ryan, particularly by the third season, is just the same type of action tough guy as every other political thriller show. It's not bad, just every change they make to Jack Ryan makes him more generic. They are making him out to be more like John Karasinki's character from "16 Hours".

That being said, they do an excellent job with the action in this show. The music, cinematography and acting are all top-notch. The political intrigue and stories are well done. I just wish it would appeal more to the everyman angle that makes Jack Ryan so unique.

Clancy's range of books have stood the test of time.

Go back and reread Hunt for Red October and understand this is a first time published author... who was so ahead of the curve most publishers didn't want to publish him! Insane in hindsight. Just goes to show marketing people aren't the brightest kettle of fish.

Although this series doesn't quite perfectly get it, it's certainly a lot better than the car crash of Rings of Power - at least the writers of this have obviously read at least some of the books and understand the characters. So yes, it's a bit more kiss kiss bang bang than the books but that is the medium.

Krasinski is a bit more gymbod than I always imagine Ryan but you know Krasinski will make anything work - and Krasinski's personality like Alec Baldwins and Harrison Fords is a bit more accurate - no offence to others but it's a personality thing)

Why John Clarke is called Mike November here is anyone's guess, but Michael Kelly is perfect for the role, as much as Dafoe was years ago. (Yes, I like the Without Remorse film, but that isn't the John Clarke from the books and this isn't a skin tone thing it's a personality thing.

Casting throughout the entire series has been great tho, Pierce, Cornish, Gabriel, and all the series co-stars...

A fair few other US Showrunners should learn a fair bit from this: Respect the source and don't insert your crappy untalented ego - you are not a better writer than these Authors.

But I do not get why they had to bring up the annoyingly whimsy drone pilot.

That is the only chringe path, everything else is awesome. The plots aren't hard to understand, but they aren't built for morons like in most series nowadays.

And you maybe have to check twice the Executive Producer Michael Bay is really THE Michael Bay of fame, because it is definitly not overloaded with explosions and lame gags.

Some people dislike the second season and I'm not one of them. It is different, but the continuity of the main story is great and imo spans flawless between season one and two.

I am a huge fan of all the Jack Ryan movies and Krasinski is without doubt level with Harrison Ford.

You cannot go wrong with something based on Tom Clancy's stuff. I am also an avid fan of Reacher. So the premise for this series and the main plot points are super entertaining, everything has great pace, beautiful establishing shots all around the world.

My only big problem is the silly little decisions that constantly challenge our suspension of disbelief. I will just give vague references without mentioning seasons, episodes or characters so you will not be able to see them coming if you watch the show.

But I find it preposterous that they expect us to swallow somebody snapping a neck from a rear naked choke. Or a father trying to reestablish a bond with his son taking him "on the field" when the father knows for a fact his life is in danger. Or the bad guys missing their first shots when they have the element of surprise. I understand you need to get to a shoot out, but they should have set up the situations better.

Other than these details, AWESOME stuff.

Jack Ryan is an action packed thriller that will keep you entertained throughout the entire series and wanting more! John Krasinski has become such an amazing actor and is GREAT (as usual) as Jack Ryan! There have been a few actors that have already portrayed Jack Ryan and I have to say Krasinski is earth best so far. He really is such an underrated actor. Most people think of him as Jim from The Office but he's done so much more since then from action, drama, comedy, etc.! Even though some seasons were a little stronger than others, they're all definitely worth watching. I have really enjoyed the entire series and going to miss it now that it's gone.