Jack Ryan: Compelling show when showing turmoil of war

Jack Ryan offers an adventurous new TV series, but is at its best when showing the plight of of those effected by war and turmoil.

Jack Ryan is a character created by Tom Clancy that has been used a number of times for movies and television series. With Amazon jumping into the pool with its updated version, it’s time to look at how it pulled it off.

John Krasinski was a fine Jack Ryan. He was tough when he needed to be, adept at using a gun, smart, and a little bit of a charmer. Yet, he didn’t have many flaws, which was actually a glaring flaw of the show itself.

Ryan figured out every issue, seeing things before anyone else, putting pieces of the puzzle together that no one else would have been able to do. He was the smartest man in the room every time. It got to be a little eye rolling at times.

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The one time he would have faced negative consequences because the woman he was building a relationship with realized he lied to her, all it took was a wink and a smile to get Cathy back.

Having said that, it wasn’t a bad show. It was when we followed the story of Hanin (Dina Shihabi), the villain’s wife as she tried to escape Syria with her daughters. Her realization of what awful things would happen in their home and then the resolve to get her and her children away from her husband, was full of emotion. Her harrowing story featured everything the show needed to keep it compelling.

Juxtaposed against Ryan who was stone faced nearly the whole time, the difference in their stories was so pronounced. The only emotion he really ever showed was anger when dealing with a man in Syria who was helping him and his boss James Greer find Hanin. Otherwise, he was the stereotypical reluctant hero.

Ryan’s former boss had it right when he called him self-righteous because that’s exactly how he came across.

Generally, short-episode seasons are good because they don’t pack unnecessary parts into it. But in this case, the show could have benefited from an extra episode or two – or maybe leaving out the storyline of the drone pilot. More could have been done in regards to Greer who had a compelling backstory story, but was only there as a way to elevate Ryan.

Greer was actually the more interesting character of the two, but we didn’t get enough of his story and then he was shipped off to Moscow before we get to learn more about him. Of course, that’s what Season 2 is for, which the show has already been renewed for.

But I’m being a bit harsh here because I did like Jack Ryan more than that. There were good elements. I just liked it better when it was 24.

Jack Ryan is streaming on Amazon now.