Review: Meet the New Jack Ryan, Same as the Old Jack Ryan

Aug 30, 2018 · 14 comments
A (Seattle)
Harrison Ford is the Ryan I grew up with, so I was never able to get into Pine or Affleck. I look forward to checking this out, particularly on the strength of the show runners' decision to bring in Omer Mozaffar to consult on the religious and cultural aspects of the show (unlike, say, Homeland). Check out Mozaffar's article on Roger Ebert's (RIP) website to get his take on working on the series.
Tony (NYC)
We need more good guys with properly calibrated moral compasses. Recognizing right from wrong and doing what is right can never be outdated. Perhaps we need to go back to find our future.
Ron (Sagamore Hills, OH)
Jack Ryan was an ARMY MP Officer.
db carter (Columbus MS)
@Ron I believe you mean Jack Reacher. Jack Ryan was a naval officer.
David (Albany)
It took a lot of will power for me to continue reading after your elevation of Chris Pine as the best feature depiction of Jack Ryan.
The Poet McTeagle (California)
A formulaic play-it-safe production at least produced a delightfully amusing and pointed review. "But in the key moments, he’s still the Boy Scout, which is to say the godlike, morally superior American, stretching out his hand to the rest of the world. Some things can’t be rebooted, apparently, no matter how outdated they get." Thank you, Mr. Hale.
James Devlin (Montana)
It needs better writing. Too many holes, especially in the opening action sequences. No ex-marine in a fight to the death would allow an enemy to keep possession of a knife after repeatedly beating his head against a wall; he'd make darn sure the guy never got up again, ever, before walking away from him. Sure, we need all the characters to survive otherwise the season would have ended right there. But com'on, do it better. It's rushed writing, outdated, not remotely realistic, and cheapens the show. And not one of the enemy's technicals was damaged during a five-minute firefight with US SF - who were standing in the open like Red Shirts from Star Trek? I hope it gets better. It needs to.
fz1 (MASS)
So it's not the same? The title makes me think it is the same old but then the article states he is a great Jack Ryan.
Pine Cone (Oregon)
Yeah, but is it any good?
Mary A (Sunnyvale CA)
Harrison Ford is Jack Ryan. Period.
PJT (S. Cali)
"Some things can’t be rebooted", in Hollywood either. There's a big battle, hundreds of bullets flying back and forth, and the attackers drive away in four trucks that don't seem to have a scratch on them, let alone a bullet hole.
Patrick (Portland)
@PJT I noticed that last night. All those trucks facing the gate drove away with intact headlights and radiators? Nahh.
RP Smith (Marshfield, Ma)
The Wall Street past isn't new for this series. Jack Ryan was assigned to work on Wall Street in the 'Shadow Recruit' movie.
Jim D. (NY)
I'm sorry but calling Chris Pine the best Jack Ryan is disqualifying. Alec Baldwin c. 1990 is Jack Ryan. Always wish he'd come back for more. Russia wasn't always the source of trouble in the novels. Several of them center on Middle East actors. The new incarnation of Jack Ryan doesn't "now" have a past on Wall Street; the character always has, from its inception in print in 1986. And who says that's "a sign of questionable morality"? "Having read the book" is an oft-contended step for screen reviewers. But how about "getting the facts right"?