When Jack Ryan’s first season premiered in 2018, I primarily watched it because hey, I really like John Krasinski. I was interested in watching his career moves after The Office and was happy that he proved to be more than Jim Halpert. Season one was good, but season two was better. Better writing, better action, better flow. Season two gripped me and didn’t let go. I was hooked with season two, so season three had a lot to live up to in my eyes.
Like with the first two seasons, season three takes place in a different country and flies close to real life’s geopolitical turmoil. This season we’re involved with Russia, which is pretty on the nose, considering everything that’s going on with Russia in real life. Jack Ryan definitely isn’t afraid to make commentary on real-life situations. This show can feel both political and far from politics at the same time, which helps immerse you into the mindset of a CIA agent.
Where Are We in Season Three?
In this season, Jack Ryan is a pariah. I don’t want to spoil anything, but we see Jack going through obstacles in this season that has him removed from his support system and those he trusts. Just like with any good spy story, you don’t know who exactly to trust and well…when you’re dealing with Soviet-era secret operations, many people aren’t going to be who they seem.
It’s been three years since the second season of Jack Ryan, and while we know that COVID had a lot to do with many shows being delayed for a long time, the time in between each season feels ever present. If you haven’t rewatched the show, you may feel almost out of touch with these characters. You may find yourself not remembering that feeling of closeness with these characters and may forget aspects of who they are. I highly suggest rewatching the last two seasons or at least season two before watching season three.
A Lot of Time Has Passed
While watching this season, I found myself feeling disconnected. It didn’t help that the first three or four episodes feel a little…slow-paced. Of course, I can always respect a show taking its time to tell its story, but when there are only eight episodes in a season, you want things to feel a little more exciting. Having long extended periods of time in multiple episodes where there’s only talking happening may work in shows like Criminal Minds or Law & Order due to the number of episodes they have, but I wanted Jack Ryan to get a little more to the point much of the time.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a compelling story and even during some dull parts there will be a random person getting shot or someone revealing to be someone else that brings you back into the story. It’s a quieter and slower paced season, but it makes sure to have quite the explosive ending to its first episode. It lets you know that things are going to get crazy this season – it’s just going to take some time.
It’s Still a Good Jack Ryan Season
When the season decides to go for high-energy, it really goes for it. I don’t want my previous couple of paragraphs to convey a feeling of disinterest in this season. It’s a worthy contender in the Jack Ryan storytelling – I just haven’t decided if maybe it’s the kind of season that needs a rewatch to enjoy it more. This review comes after only one watch-through, so I have to digest it and watch it again to be more into it, possibly. I am glad to see the cast return for this show and to see Krasinski still playing Jack Ryan. There was a moment during COVID that I was afraid that this show would be abandoned, so I’m glad regardless that there’s a third season.
Does it live up to season two? In my eyes, no. Then again, I know people who enjoyed season one more, so they may not feel the way I do. Just know that things go a little slow this season, but it’s the kind of show that you have to make sure you’re paying attention to. It’s not a background noise kind of show – blink and look away and you might miss something. That may take you out of it, so the name of the game here is: pay attention. It can be an intense season, it just needs time to get there.
The newest season of Jack Ryan premieres on Prime Video on December 21, 2022.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan season three has a lot going for it but it does not live up to the first two seasons
-
GVN Rating 7
-
User Ratings (0 Votes)
0