Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse. Spoilers will be included in this review.
Jack Ryan season 2 is being reviewed as a whole due to the show having more akin to a long film than a TV show.
Jack Ryan season 2: Is the sophomore season of the Amazon original series, that premiered last summer. Starring John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce, this season finds Jack Ryan and James Greer making there way to Venezuela after finding a trail of money and weapons leading to mysterious dig sites in the jungle. After a close friend of Jack’s is assassinated Ryan pledges to not stop until the parties responsible are brought to justice.
Under The Lens: Emotional Beats and Cathy Mueller
Cathy Mueller: A weakness of this season was the total absence of Cathy Mueller played by Abbie Cornish, Cathy was Jack’s love interest in the first season and by the end, the two were dating and headed towards what seemed to be a long relationship (Seeing as in the books she marries Jack Ryan). Now Jack spends most of his time out of the country, however, not a single mention is made of Cathy and in the first episode, Jack sleeps with another woman and says he is single. It is odd, as her character was very important in the first season, and the events of the first season get mentioned frequently. This was a narrative misstep as the audience is left wondering what happened to her and why they broke up.
Emotional Beats: This season even more than the first carries a way more emotional narrative core as Jack is seeking vengeance and justice for his mentors killer. Another emotional moment was the death of fan-favorite special ops leader Matice, who was seemingly filling the role of John Clark. His death is very sad and hammers home the idea that no one is safe, and just because you love a character does not mean they will survive the season.
Highlights
Like the first season, this set of episodes retains is tight editing and pace.
The interaction between Jack and South African merc Jost Van Der Byl (Played by the ever wonderful Arnold Vosloo) was fun and I can only hope their paths cross again.
James Greer got a bit more to do this season, and we got to learn a little more about him.
Something to think about
Are nations like the United States right to get involved in the politics of another nation-state even for the greater good?
Conclusion
Jack Ryan season 2 is a superbly made TV drama, that being said its narrative is at times choppy and convoluted, and a viewer stands at risk to get lots if even one conversation is missed. A few narrative missteps happen like the exclusion of Jack’s girlfriend Cathy with no explanation and the killing off early of excellent villain Max Schenkel. In the end, Jack Ryan season 2 is still a thrilling ride that will leave you breathless, yet its fault lays perhaps in the fact that it followed such a near-perfect first season. Its villains a bit weaker and its story more complicated however it is still a
