Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Season Two

“After tracking a potentially suspicious shipment of illegal arms in the Venezuelan jungle, CIA Officer Jack Ryan, portrayed by John Krasinski (A Quiet Place), heads down to South America to investigate. There he joins forces with his former boss James Greer (Wendell Pierce, The Wire) and CIA Station Chief Mike November (Michael Kelly, House of Cards). As Jack’s investigation threatens to uncover a far-reaching conspiracy, the President of Venezuela launches a counter-attack that hits home for Jack, leading him and his fellow operatives on a global mission spanning the United States, UK, Russia, and Venezuela to unravel the President’s nefarious plot and bring stability to a country on the brink of chaos.”

I’ve never read a Tom Clancy novel, but I’ve been a big fan of the character on-screen since I first watched Alec Baldwin play the character. Although I think Harrison Ford did a much better job, mainly given the fact he’s been the only one to have two films worth of development, there’s always been something about the character I identified with that I thought set it apart from other espionage stories. The character of Jack Ryan is very intelligent, not having to rely on gadgets or womanizing, but most of all extremely loyal and just, to the point he risks his own life over and over for those he cares about. The first season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan perfectly set up the character in his younger years, giving him an origin you don’t necessarily hear much about in the films, but one that the audience is able to get on board with.

John Krasinski doesn’t miss a beat stepping back into the shoes of Tom Clancy’s most recognizable character. Season One had Jack Ryan making a big splash in the espionage community with his theory on the mystery terrorist which proved correct, and almost single-handedly taking him down. With his friend Jim Greer posted to Moscow, who offered him a post there himself, we find Ryan in a position we wouldn’t have guessed in Season Two, as an aide to a Congressman and friend whom he served in the military with. Just as in the first season, things quickly escalate that thrusts the story forward into a multi-national mystery of the intentions of the President of Venezuela.

The story in Season Two seems much larger compared to the last, spanning several countries and introducing a lot of good characters. While Ryan is dedicated to discovering who is responsible for a tragedy that occurs in the first episode, there are also many subplots that are equally as interesting. The corruption within the Venezuelan government and its upcoming election, the President’s opponent and her family, the assassin always a step ahead, and the mystery woman Harriet Baumann, played by Noomi Rapace. Rapace brings a lot to the show, not only with her fantastic acting ability, but the character she plays and the mystery behind her every action. She’s a great addition to the show, and hope to see her again in future seasons.

Here’s an episode breakdown on this set:

Disc One

1. Cargo – Jack Ryan searches for the truth behind Venezuela’s transactions with various World Powers. James Greer, about to get sidelined from his new post in Russia, joins Jack in Venezuela and the two find themselves in the midst of a Venezuelan leader’s re-election effort.
2. Tertia Optio – Jack is granted permission from Senator Chapin to stay in Venezuela. President Reyes denies involvement in the events that are keeping Jack in country. Meanwhile, Jack and Harry team up to follow a lead that could create dissension within the ranks.
3. Orinoco – The U.S. Special Activities team lands in Venezuela where Jack’s intel leads them to a militia guarded compound. Deep in the jungle, Jack’s search for answers puts the whole team in danger. President Reyes’ opponent, Gloria Bonalde, proves to be a real contender in the upcoming election.
4. Dressed to Kill – Relieved of duty in Venezuela, Jack follows a new trail to London and seeks the help of MI5, only to discover the man he’s after is also after him. Back in Venezuela, Reyes makes Gloria an offer.

Disc Two

5. Blue Gold – Using Max’s daughter as bait, Jack and Harry convince Max to meet face to face. Stranded in the jungle, Marcus stumbles across a prisoner camp. Greer visits Gloria hoping to draw a connection between Reyes and her missing husband.
6. Persona Non Grata – Reyes accuses the U.S. of tampering with the election. The U.S. Embassy is evacuated. Jack, Greer and Mike November must decide whether to follow orders or go off the grid. Reyes’ men pursue Matice and the American soldiers in the jungle.
7. Dios y Federación – The election in Venezuela is moved up. Stranded in a hostile country, Jack and Mike fight for their lives, while Greer is interrogated. The Ubarri family must decide to flee or face Reyes.
8. Strongman – Jack heads to the Presidential Palace to retrieve Greer. When the polls are shutdown, violent protests erupt outside the palace, and Jack must make a decision that could determine his future.

Video

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Season Two is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.00:1. The series looks superb on Blu-ray, very detailed and clear. The different locations we visit throughout the series is able to highlight the very vibrant and bright colors the disc provides.

Audio

The audio is provided in Dolby Atmos, and is perhaps the best thing about this set. There are no shortages of action sequences, which sound absolutely fantastic in this mix. Balance between surrounds and the center channel is good, with the surrounds and atmos speakers provided a nice range of sound, especially in those tense gun-fights and chase scenes.

Special Features

This set features quite a few deleted scenes for select episodes. A nice bonus for picking up the Blu-ray versus streaming.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Season Two does everything right as it comes back for eight more episodes. It contains all the best parts of the first season, but is different enough to add quite a bit of excitement that will easily have you binging the entire 368 minutes in no time.