Chris Pratt is compelling, powerful—you might even say possessed—and imminently watchable in The Terminal List. His portrayal of Lt. Cmdr. James Reece resonates with fans of the 2013 Jack Carr novel of the same name, as Pratt brings something to the role that illuminates the grim, relentless hero in his first appearance.
Carr knows his material. A former Lt. Cmdr. SEAL team leader, Carr’s first-hand knowledge of that world is what makes the books such heavy-hitting page-turners. The level of detail imbues his writing with vibrancy and power, and it’s challenging to capture a complex literary action hero as well as Pratt has.
Reece is a haunted, vengeful revenant who has lost everything that defined the boundaries of his accomplished life. The sole survivor of his platoon, he returns home from a failed mission with only wounds and a fractured recollection of the event.
Though the details are hazy, there is enough to convince him of treachery—and he is soon proved right in the most devastating way. Reece spends eight episodes uncovering clues that lead him to become a fugitive nemesis, stalking the parties who so wronged him and those he loved.
Anyone who has already binged the first season is doubtless wondering when season two will air. Details surrounding that are as blurry as Reece’s memory, but Amazon’s Terminal is a hit with fans, and (unlike rival Netflix), Amazon is not in the practice of canceling hit shows.
Critics gotta criticize, and the series has a puzzlingly low 36 percent Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The pundits must be as confused as Reece was in the first episode, as the series has a 93 percent audience approval rating—leading many to believe a second season is inevitable.
There’s nothing for fans to do but hurry up and wait. With mystery and lurking menace inherent reminiscent of The Terminal List, the motion picture, book, and podcast offerings in the following list should make the downtime easier to bear.
Analyst’s Notebook (read)
1. Lions of Lucerne, Brad Thor
Named one of the “Ten Best Political Thrillers Ever” by Barnes and Noble, this was Thor’s debut novel and the first in the Scot Harvath series. The tale now comprises twenty-one books in total, the most recent having just been published.In addition to having the most badass last name in the industry, Thor was best
2. American Assassin, Vince Flynn
Though it was the twelfth book to be released in the Mitch Rapp series, the story takes place first in the arc. The 2017 film adaptation isn’t as terrible as its reviews (Michael Keaton is perennially underrated), but it’s not Flynn’s story. Significant deviations from the book change much of what makes the tale such a
3. The Comedians, Graham Greene
I recommend Graham Greene’s work to fans of this genre whenever I can—with the caveat that this is considered capital-L Literature and might be a bit carefully paced for modern tastes. There’s even a Penguin Classics edition of it, and if that hasn’t put you off, you might find this smoldering, intense roman a clef the
4. Sierra Six, Mark Greaney
The eleventh book in the Gray Man series is, like American Assassin, a prequel in the action of a familiar story. The first novel in this series is the basis of the 2022 Ryan Gosling vehicle, but Sierra Six is where that protagonist’s story starts.The titular Gray Man wasn’t always as stonily cold and unknowable. Readers of
5. Memory Man, David Baldacci
The details James Reece can’t remember clearly make the beginnings of his story haunting. In David Baldacci’s entrée into a series that would be a bit of a departure for this established author, it is what cannot be forgotten that torments.Older fans may remember Baldacci’s ’96 tome Absolute Power and the film Clint
Video Audits (watch)
1. Memento (2000)
Though it doesn’t have political intrigue and espionage themes, this lesser-known tale is driven by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance obstructed by a profound and abiding defect of memory. This was director Christopher Nolan’s second film, and though he would revisit the themes of shifting realities and
2. The Conversation (1974)
Director Francis Ford Coppola singles this film out as his favorite of all his movies—that’s got to grab your attention, even if you’re not a Coppola fan.Gene Hackman is brilliant as surveillance expert Harry Caul, whose services are contracted by a mysterious client acting through a gruff and sinister aide. You’ll
3. Three Days of the Condor (1975)
Though working in intelligence, Joe Turner lives a quiet, tranquil life “in the rear with the gear” as an erudite and bookish codebreaker for the CIA. That all changes when he shows up —fashionably late—at his workplace in an anonymous New York City brownstone to find unknown shooters have gunned
4. Bridge of Spies (2015)
When the Soviet Union shoots down a U2 spy plane on a high-altitude reconnaissance mission and captures its pilot Francis Gary Powers, the CIA calls on former Nuremberg prosecutor-turned-negotiator James Donovan, played with stately confidence by Tom Hanks. As gorgeous as it is tense, this intelligent
5. The Blacklist (2013-Present)
Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield is based on the true story of one of America’s most gruesome killers, and it’s sure to send shivers down your spine. Ed Gein was responsible for a string of murders in the late 1950s that left his rural Wisconsin town, and the rest of America, in shock. He was nicknamed “The
VoiceRT Intercepts (listen)
1. The Terminal List Podcast with Jack Carr, IRONCLAD
We had to include this. The former Navy SEAL and the best-selling author provides insider information and exclusive backstage access to the Amazon series. Carr is joined by guests like showrunner David DiGilio and former SEAL and technical advisor Jared Shaw for a riveting look at everything that makes
2. No Limits: The Thriller Podcast, ThrillerPod.com
This podcast focuses on the titans of the thriller genre whose work appears throughout this list. Through multiple seasons, creators and superfans Chris and Mike take a close and loving look at the works of Jack Carr, Mark Greany, Brad Thor, and Vince Flynn. This podcast is for fans, by fans, and will leave even die-
3. Danger Close with Jack Carr, Apple Podcasts
Another “how could we not” inclusion, this podcast by The Terminal List author is fascinating, entertaining, and full of the kind of gritty “been there, done that” details that only a former operator would know. Carr was a Navy SEAL for twenty years, and the former sniper-turned-Task Unit Commander is candid, honest,
4. The Live Drop, Mark Valley
Fans of the genre who want more intel on the real-world operations that inspired their favorite fiction will want to check out this podcast, which recounts stories from the shadowy world of espionage, intelligence, and spycraft. From initial assessment to after-action debrief, this podcast offers the sort of details that will
5. The Black Spy Podcast, Carlton King
Another brilliant offering for anyone interested in what goes on in the intelligence world, The Black Spy makes the clandestine accessible with insight and analysis into every aspect of the secret world of covert operations, black budgets, PsyOps, and everything that goes into the work. Carlton is an ex-officer and
