If you’re seeking out a genuinely captivating show with high stakes and good performances, you should binge Prime Video’s Jack Ryan. The series premiered on the streaming platform in 2018 and quickly cemented itself as one of the service’s most exciting action thrillers.
Fivemovies featuring the character were released between 1990 and 2014, and several A-list actors have portrayed Jack Ryan. The premise of a CIA analyst traveling the world, fighting battles, learning secrets, and becoming a hero is inherently captivating, and it’s no wonder it was adapted into a TV show.
There’s no doubt that it’s John Krasinski’s starring role that made Jack Ryan a huge hit, and his talents will make the show appealing to anyone, even if you’re not usually an action fan.
Jack Ryan Is An Almost Perfect Thriller Series Anchored By John Krasinski
John Krasinski standing in front of a private jet in Jack Ryan season 4
Jack Ryan rarely hits a wrong note or has a boring scene, and that’s largely because of John Krasinski. Without a genuinely captivating performance or a smart character to follow along with, you’re going to turn off an action show and feel unsatisfied.
You expect big explosions, fight sequences, and flashy moments on every action show. The hero should hang from a helicopter or be involved in a high-stakes chase scene. But you might not expect a main character whom you genuinely love and want to see more of.
Every season of Jack Ryan is intense, but at its heart, the seriesis a compelling character study. You’re genuinely drawn into Jack Ryan’s exciting and, more often than not, unsettling new life.
As Jack leaves behind his comfortable life as an analyst for the CIA, he also has an important love story with Cathy Mueller (Abbie Kornish). This relationship humanizes him and makes him feel more real. None of us may relate to his action hero status, but we all have people in our lives whom we care about.
Since Cathy is missing in some Jack Ryan seasons, you love it when you do get to see her. She’s also given her own intelligent career in the field of medicine, which helps her become more than just a random love interest or boring side character.
While few TV shows are 100% flawless, and many fans might be more interested in some parts of Jack’s journey rather than others, Jack Ryan remains fairly consistent. That’s something to celebrate in an age where there are often large gaps between seasons of streaming shows, and sometimes shows become less engaging in seasons 2 or 3.
Although a story should always start with the most exciting part instead of unnecessary exposition or explanation, Jack Ryan does a fantastic job of setting up Jack’s regular life and then shaking it up. If he had been working in this unique industry for years, it wouldn’t feel as bingeworthy.
Jack Ryan’s Very Distinct & Different Seasons Make It The Perfect Binge-Watch
John Krasinski wearing a suit and looking serious as Jack Ryan on Jack Ryan
Since all four seasons of Jack Ryan are unique, you’ll have a great time binge-watching it, and you won’t want to turn it off. A lesser quality show might keep the main character in the same setting for every single episode, but that’s not the case here.
Each location in Jack Ryan is an integral part of the protagonist’s journey. In season 1, he starts off in Yemen and goes to Turkey, working with James Greer (Wendell Pierce), his manager who runs Terror Finance and Arms Division, or T-FAD. Season 2 takes place in Venezuela, Jack travels to the Czech Republic in season 3, and season 4 features a few locations like Myanmar and Croatia.
Jack advances in his career in the movies and TV show, and his arc is particularly clear and memorable on the series. Jack Ryan’s four seasons remain compelling because you cheer him on and know he deserves each promotion.
An upcoming Jack Ryan movie starring John Krasinski will continue the story. Though no release date has been set, filming wrapped in late July 2025.
By the fourth and final season, he’s the Deputy Director, and it’s a result of all the hard work and life-or-death situations. You see him learn more about himself and how to do this unnerving and dangerous job. Watching him fight for his life in one solitary location wouldn’t be as fun, and each new setting in Jack Ryan raises the stakes, making it an incredible binge-watch.
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