Because the early days of the platform’s Jack Ryan adaptation, Prime Video has develop into top-of-the-line properties for militaristic motion reveals, significantly these primarily based on a ebook sequence. When the Chris Pratt-led Terminal Record got here alongside in 2022, it was type of shocking that the streamer’s profitable streak was damaged by the underwhelming adaptation of Jack Carr’s first novel within the sequence.
However not solely was it renewed for season 2, the streamer ordered a derivative prequel with The Terminal List: Dark Wolf. Not a direct adaptation of Carr’s books, the sequence facilities on Taylor Kitsch’s Ben Edwards and is about years earlier than the unique present as he is dishonorably discharged from the Navy SEALs.
Earlier than he can return dwelling, Ben and fellow SEAL Raife Hastings are recruited by the mysterious CIA member Jed Haverforth to hitch his group working in Europe to cease Iran from getting a tool that may make them a nuclear energy. Alongside the best way, he learns the darkish aspect of covert operations and begins to query who he can really belief.
Joined by Umbrella Academy alum Tom Hopper, The Covenant‘s Dar Salim, and a returning Chris Pratt, Kitsch’s Terminal Record sequence suffers from lots of its predecessor’s points. It is fairly grim in locations, and the plot begins to get misplaced when it tries to throw in some twists and political conspiracies.
However the place the unique failed to beat a few of these missteps, Darkish Wolf really course corrects the franchise. Carr and David DiGilio discover methods to infuse some levity alongside the twists and turns, and a few strong motion to make it a greater watch.
Darkish Wolf’s Plot Takes A Whereas To Really feel Wanted For The Terminal Record Universe
The Terminal List season 1 underscored how fascinating Kitsch’s Ben Edwards was, significantly after the bombshell reveal that he was concerned within the conspiracy that led to Reece’s household’s demise. There was extra to this story, and Darkish Wolf strives to fill in its gaps.
After we meet Ben throughout his SEAL tenure, he reveals many traits of prototypical troopers, together with a brotherly camaraderie together with his teammates and growing bonds with locals in Mosul throughout his tour. Nonetheless, it is also clear one thing is brewing below the floor, thanks largely to Kitsch’s layered efficiency.
Because the present progresses, it is made — a little bit too explicitly — apparent that Ben has develop into obsessive about the violence of the job and is prepared to go away every part else behind to remain immersed in it. This leads to some fascinating conversations between himself and others, significantly Hopper’s Raife.
One of many different huge issues with the present…is an occasional lack of plausible stakes surrounding Ben.
However whereas the story does lay some groundwork for the place we meet Ben in Terminal List season 1, Darkish Wolf takes too lengthy to justify the growth of the franchise. For somebody who’s been in service for so long as he has, Ben’s introduction to the world of covert ops is not that out of the norm from his prior experiences.
On condition that the present is supposed to arrange the darkish aspect of the character, I used to be usually left questioning why the darker conditions had been offered to others. We watch Raife completely torture somebody for data, just for a reveal to go away him haunted by his actions, whereas Salim’s Mo shows signs of PTSD that make his actions all of the extra haunting to observe.
There’s additionally an occasional lack of plausible stakes surrounding Ben. He is shot and practically blown up throughout a number of motion sequences, however it’s arduous to fret about his security whereas understanding his future story.
Darkish Wolf’s Motion Is A Little Too Slick At Occasions
The Terminal Record has definitely delivered some thrilling set items, and Darkish Wolf actually ups the sport in some thrilling methods. Whether or not it is the heist-like operation to steal the system in a freeway tunnel styled virtually completely in a one-take, or considered one of Ben’s climactic one-man showdowns with a swarm of foes, the characters’ expertise are properly on show.
Nonetheless, the present’s motion is usually a little bit too slick. With its deal with former Navy SEALs and different elite army vets, it is sensible that there could be a sure degree of smoothness to the best way the scenes are shot, enjoying off of their group coordination and coaching.
Whether or not it is the insistent utilization of silencers for each weapon, few life-threatening accidents, or an usually regular hand behind the digital camera, it lacks the genuine messiness of fight. With gunshots that even have little impact on what they’re hitting, I used to be taken out of a few of the motion.
Darkish Wolf’s Solid Is Strong, Even If The Characters Are Unlikable
Kitsch undeniably slips again into his function with aplomb. When he is not preoccupied with gunfights, the returning star properly unpacks Ben’s additional layers that had been alluded to within the authentic present, significantly his frustrations over numerous betrayals.
In the meantime, Salim is genuinely heartbreaking as Mo and makes his ever-evolving arc fascinating to observe. Fauda vet Rona-Lee Shimon is compelling in her twisty function as Eliza Perash, and Barry star Robert Knowledge is quietly intense because the suspicious CIA group chief.
But it surely’s the characters themselves who so usually show unlikable that it turns into a bit harder to embrace these performances.
I used to be blended on Tom Hopper and Luke Hemsworth as Raife and CIA Contractor Jules Landry, respectively. They perceive their characters and play them properly, with the Westworld alum’s dry wit usually garnering the present’s greatest laughs, whereas Hopper showcases glorious chemistry with Kitsch as non secular brothers.
But it surely’s the characters themselves who so usually show unlikable that it turns into more durable to embrace these performances. Raife incessantly fluctuates between being prepared to go away the struggle to sticking with it, even all the way down to a torture scene that’s extreme and drawn out. Landry, then again, turns into an abhorrent determine after his actions with a feminine teammate.
Contemplating how a lot time we spend with these characters, Darkish Wolf has solely considerably realized from the sins of The Terminal Record. Ethical ambiguity is sensible for the story it is attempting to inform, however when characters develop into borderline irredeemable, and the premise spirals into acquainted territory, the prequel stands solely barely above its predecessor.
The primary three episodes of The Terminal Record: Darkish Wolf premiere on Prime Video on August 27, adopted by new episodes each Wednesday.
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf
5/10
- Launch Date
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August 27, 2025
- Community
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Prime Video
- Writers
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Jack Carr, David DiGilio
- Franchise(s)
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The Terminal Record
- The exploration of Ben’s early darkish days has a number of significant conversations about his violent dedication.
- There are some nice motion set items, significantly a one-take sequence.
- The solid end up strong performances, significantly Taylor Kitsch, Dar Salim and Rona-Lee Shimon.
- The plot takes a very long time to really feel like a worthwhile authentic extension of its supply materials.
- A number of the motion feels too slick to the purpose of being routine as an alternative of gritty.
- Lots of the characters are unlikable to the purpose of being arduous to need to watch.
- The present does not really feel prefer it goes far sufficient with Ben’s CIA transformation.
