Jack Ryan is back in action for its second season on Amazon Prime. The streaming network’s hit show was a pleasant surprise during its freshman season, offering solid storytelling, strong performances, especially from its lead, and action sequences worthy of the silver screen. How does this second season fare? Unfortunately, our hero has fallen victim to the sophomore slump and has made a lackluster return to our screens.
Following the events of season one, Jack is headed to Venezuela to investigate murky transactions between the country and other world powers in addition to its President, played by Jordi Mallà. Fortunately, he’s reunited with his friend James Greer (Wendell Pierce) to assist in uncovering what the country’s President is hiding beneath his flimsy facade.
A Bigger Scope
Amazon spared few pennies when producing the first season of the show and this second installment looks no less expensive. The cinematography and direction remain strong, the locations remain vast, and the action sequences continue to be explosive and sizable. Jack Ryan looks and feels cinematic each episode, delivering a series that feels large-scale and expansive. This helps the show become incredibly immersive, especially when the plot begins to come to a crawl.
John Krasinski remains perfect as our titular character. He proved that he was not only capable of being believable as an action hero and analyst in the show’s debut season, but he also proved to be a highly watchable and charming leading man. He continues to impress here, showcasing his infectious charm while also injecting our hero with a pathos that isn’t on the page. More often than not, the script lets him down this season, but Krasinski carries the show on his shoulders with ease, keeping the proceedings engrossing when episodes begin to stall or lack punch.
Struggling To Focus
The main issue I have with the show’s second season is its complete and utter lack of narrative focus. From episode one onward, we’re told our main conflict is in Venezuela and more specifically with its President. However, the show rarely narrows in on its main storyline, branching off into different threads that go virtually nowhere and lack any storytelling propulsion.
A heavy amount of screen time is given to the murky President of Venezuela (Jordi Mallà), and his competitor in an upcoming election, played by Cristina Umaña. These two characters eat up a considerable chunk of season two, but we learn next to nothing about either of them. This screen time should’ve been used to flesh out these characters, but instead we’re given developments for each that lack any true significance to the overall narrative and contain zero emotional value. As a result, we’re given two one-note characters that are uninteresting to watch and cause the pacing to come to a screeching halt.
Our main character is given very little focus as well. Something I loved about the show’s first season was the thorough peek into Jack’s past and how it informed his present mentality and analytical acuity. We were given haunting glimpses into his time in the military, particularly his time in battle and the physical and emotional scars it seared into him. His development was due in large part to the relationship he develops with Cathy Mueller (Abbie Cornish) in season one. She isn’t seen or mentioned once throughout the entire second season, a true misfire and oversight on the show’s part. This relationship was crucial to Jack’s evolution and emotional maturity, but instead we’re introduced to another female lead, a spy played by Noomi Rapace. Her character is meant to be complicated and alluring, but fails to be the latter. She brings with her a subplot involving an old flame and assassin, played by Game of Thrones’ Tom Wlaschiha. This thread provides very limited entertainment and storytelling value aside from a few engrossing action sequences.
Another thread this second season could’ve stood to cut early on involves a rescue mission to retrieve a soldier left behind in the jungles of Venezuela. This mission is stretched for more than a handful of episodes and feels completely extraneous and unnecessary. It provides a few action beats that are solid, but could’ve easily been wrapped up within an episode or two. This thread has little to no momentum and often hinders the few episodes of the season where the pacing is smooth and effective.
Final Thoughts
Jack Ryan has the potential to be a terrific and highly addictive action series. Its first season proved it was ripe with promise and potential, but this second season failed to follow through on it. It feels as if the series is having an identity crisis, unwilling to embrace its own unique persona and instead is opting to emulate shows like 24 or Homeland with a more politically driven narrative. This Amazon series works best when its focus is narrowed in on one singular threat and on the emotional underbelly of our haunted hero. Simplicity is the name of the game so let’s hope the show learns from its sophomore blunders and firmly bounces back on its feet when it returns for round three.
Have you watched the new season? Are you on the fence about watching the show? Let us know in the comment box below!
Jack Ryan is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
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