“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” exceeds all expectations

Did you catch the latest Amazon Prime original series? Becoming available to subscribers yesterday. “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” is arguably one of the best productions you will see this year.

Even though there is only eight episodes in the first season, there is something that can be said for quality over quantity. The quality of the acting, coupled with a superb writing team, breathes new life into Tom Clancy’s characters.

John Krasinski

The title character, played by John Krasinski, should be familiar to anyone that has watched the films “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games,” “Clean and Present Danger,” “The Sum of All Fears” and “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.”

Krasinski, having added new depth to the title character, has brought to life for a new generation a character many readers and moviegoers are well-acquainted with.

First appearing in the 1984 Clancy written novel “The Hunt for Red October,” Ryan has been the focus of no fewer than 21 well-crafted novels with the most recent installments being the 2018 published “Line of Sight” and “Oath of Office.”

Six years after Ryan was introduced to his reading fans, the character was brought to life in the 1990 John McTiernan directed big screen adaptation of “The Hunt for Red October.”

With a screenplay co-written by Larry Ferguson and Donald E. Stewart, Ryan is played by Alec Baldwin.

Even though Baldwin turned in a marginally convincing performance as Ryan, critics of the production typically view it poorly in comparison with other actors that have since played the character.

Even though Ryan was supposed to have been a CIA intelligence analyst, an author and a professor of naval history at the United States Naval Academy when events of the first novel transpired, Baldwin’s interpretation of the character didn’t really fit with what Clancy had penned.

Sean Connery

Sean Connery, best known for playing Ian Fleming’s James Bond, was tasked with playing Rank Marko Aleksandrovich Ramius of the Red October. Even though Connery had a licence to thrill Bond fans in at least six big screen adaptations of Fleming’s work, the performance the Scottish actor created for “The Hunt for Red October” was dreadful.

If an actor is tasked with playing Ramius for the second season of the Amazon Prime production, it should be someone that can convincingly do a Russian accent. Preferably someone Russian.

Baldwin is to Ryan what George Lazenby was to Bond. Not surprisingly, “The Hunt for Red October” was the only film Baldwin played the character. Since the first film was released, Ryan has been played twice by Harrison Ford, and once by both Ben Affleck and Chris Pine.

While the last two films of the Jack Ryan franchise were nowhere near as successful as either the second and third installments, “Patriot Games” or “Clean and Present Danger,” both productions were poorly advertised. Subsequently, neither film received the recognition they deserved.

Krasinski, the latest actor to play Ryan, is the first person to play the character in a serialised production.

Even though Ryan is by no means the first serious character Krasinski has played in his career, the Massachusetts born actor is best known for playing Jim Halpert in the American version of “The Office.”

Created by English actor Ricky Gervais, both the British and American versions of “The Office” are considered mockumentary sitcoms. A mockumentary sitcom, if you are not familiar with the terminology, is better known as a docucomedy.

Since “The Office” ended in 2013, Krasinski has gone on to bigger and greater things in the shape of such productions as “Monsters University,” “The Prophet,” “Animal Crackers” and “A Quiet Place.”

Wendell Pierce

In the first three installments of the Jack Ryan franchise, “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games” and “Clean and Present Danger,” James Earl Jones was seen playing James Greer.

Stepping in to Jones’ shoes for the Amazon Prime production is accomplished actor Wendell Pierce.

Pierce, better known for playing Robert Zane in USA Network’s popular dramedy “Suits,” has an extensive resume of acting credits to his name.

Pierce and Krasinski in a still taken from the “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” episode ‘French Connection.’

If there is any doubts Pierce is up to the task of playing Greer, in a career spanning 32 years, the Louisiana born actor has proven the strength of his metal in both film and television productions.

While the premiere date for “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” season two remains unknown, you can rest assured the next time we see Greer and Ryan working together, there is a good chance much of the story will be set on a Russian submarine.

Harsh Light News

Shain E. Thomas, M.Sc.

Written by

With an M.Sc. from the University of North Texas, I’m a freelance journalist and a social historian. #APStylebook #BBCStyleGuide linkedin.com/in/shainthomas

Harsh Light News

Harsh Light News revolves around entertainment news, social and political commentary. Harsh Light News is now available on the News360 website and app.

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