REVIEW: Jack Ryan Returns Better Than Ever in Season 2 of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Jack Ryan, in season 1 of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, was pulled from his analyst desk at the CIA to the Middle East where he was tasked with the job of stopping an assassination attempt on the President of the United States. With the help of his new boss, James Greer, the two worked together to prevent the potentially catastrophic event. Amazon Prime Video is set to release the show’s second season and, unlike the first, there is nothing slow about this season.
In the first episode back, Ryan (John Krasinski) is back at Langley living a “normal” life. He is teaching classes while also continuing his work as an analyst, but his “normal” life is, once again, about to get crazy. When Ryan receives intel a suspicious cargo ship has docked in Caracas, he jets to the city where he reunites with his former boss, Greer (Wendell Pierce). Greer is also in Caracas investigating the ship and the two begin to unravel a trail that takes them all over the world and into a heart racing second season.
The second season is fast paced from start to finish. This season’s storyline is extremely compelling and will have you looking to finish the series in one night. Krasinski finally found his groove as Ryan and shows just how comfortable he is with this character. Jack Ryan is not a superhero, but Krasinski plays him as one. Krasinski is joined this season by Jordi Molla, who plays Venezuelan tyrant, Nicolas Reyes. Reyes is a great addition to the show and the perfect choice for this season’s villain. Molla does a great job showcasing the nicer side of the character, while also highlighting how manipulative and calculating the character is, as well. Pierce, as usual, brings a commanding presence as Greer and is great to watch alongside Krasinski’s Ryan. The two characters are so different, but really fun to watch in scenes together.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is a must watch for political thriller fans. It’s filled with interesting characters, fun action scenes, and political intrigue. If you missed the first season, go back and watch it. However, you do not need to watch the first season to understand what is going on in the second season. The second season has its own feel to it and the characters feel more fleshed out, leading to an interesting story and season.
Grade: A-