‘Man on Fire’ Season 1 Review: Gripping And Intense, If Flawed

Netflix’s Man on Fire is the third adaptation of A. J. Quinnell’s popular novel of the same name. Both previous film versions, the 1987 iteration starring Scott Glenn and the more widely known 2004 film starring Denzel Washington, received poor critical reception. However, audiences ultimately decide what endures, and the latter has since gained a strong following.

In fact, its influence is evident today, as revenge thrillers continue to thrive on streaming. Now, with Watchmen’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II taking up the mantle for a third installment, the story finally finds a platform perfectly suited to source material that feels tailor-made for streaming. Abdul-Mateen II, so underrated as a performer, is a perfect fit for a role tailor-made for his talents: physical, emotional, and layered with depth.

The result is a series with notable plot holes and familiar genre tropes (if I hear one more line like, “You really don’t know, do you?”). Yet it remains wildly entertaining and rich in emotional resonance, gripping and intense, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats through seven blistering episodes. Fans of series like Reacher, The Terminal List, and Shooter will enjoy it for what it is: a quick shot of adrenaline-fueled vengeance.

The story follows John Creasy (Wonder Man’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a former Special Forces mercenary. Creasy is a shell of himself after losing his team and suffering from a crippling case of PTSD. Well-respected, he has resisted offers to return to the field. That is, of course, until his old boss, Paul Rayburn (Emmy Award winner Bobby Cannavale), invites him to his home in Brazil to offer him a job.

The position? A well-paid hired gun in Rayburn’s ever-growing security firm, protecting politicians like Brazilian President Carmo (Billy Blanco Jr.). Creasy initially botches an interview with a high-paying client but ultimately proves his worth. He begins to find a sense of community with Paul, his wife, Regina, his two young sons, and Rayburn’s teenage daughter, Poe (A Small Light’s Billie Boullet), whom he hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.

However, the act of kindness, something he hasn’t experienced in a while, vanishes in an instant. If you’ve seen the trailer, read the source material, or watched any of the adaptations, you know what happens next. He then sets out to seek revenge while protecting Paul’s strong-willed daughter, Poe. Helping him is a rideshare driver, Valeria (Alice Braga). Also, his former peer in the CIA, Henry Tappan (Scoot McNairy).

Man on Fire comes from Kyle Killen, known for the acclaimed, short-lived series Lone Star, helping revive Halo for Paramount+, and writing the script for the weirdly entertaining and moving Jodie Foster’s The Beaver. Whatever you think of the genre, it is hard not to be entertained by the series he put together here. From the shocking pilot to the moving finale, everything is meant to keep you on the edge of your seat.

That being said, the series leans on familiar clichés. For example, like a recognizable actor in a small role who inevitably turns out to be the villain. It also relies on predictable twists. Then there are the casual plot holes that are easy to overlook. You’re asked to accept that one man can fight his way out of a prison. Or, even just stroll through a riot in a narrow hallway without being attacked.

However, that is besides the point. Man on Fire was not made for critics but for fans of the genre, and it does well. The production value and set pieces are spectacular. Abdul-Mateen II and Boullet share a genuine bond that does not feel forced. In other words, this allows the audience to buy the fact that he would risk (and hand over) his life for the daughter of a friend. That means all the viewer has to do is sit back and immerse themselves in this visceral ride.

You can stream the entire season of Man on Fire exclusively on Netflix starting April 30th!