The Terminal List: is Chris Pratt's revenge thriller worth your time?

Chris Pratt's The Terminal List is a military revenge thriller that doesn't waste time on apologies or mixed messages. It's based on Jack Carr's 2018 novel, and the show follows Lieutenant Commander James Reece, a Navy SEAL who returns home with fractured memories of a botched covert mission—and questions about who's responsible. When the truth emerges, he discovers dark forces working against him and everyone he loves, and he decides to do something about it.

The series sits at 7.9 on IMDb from over 130,000 users, which tells you it's hitting its target audience. A second season is now streaming on Prime Video, and critics are calling it tighter and more focused than the first run. If you grew up on Schwarzenegger, Stallone and the action films that didn't apologize for being action films, this is the kind of show that respects that DNA.

Watch it: The Terminal List Season 1 Blu-ray on Amazon (Start from the beginning before diving into season 2; physical media for collectors who want the full story arc.)

What makes it work

Pratt plays it straight and committed. This isn't a comedic turn or a wink at the camera—he's a man with a mission, and the show lets him be that without getting in his own way. The supporting cast includes Constance Wu as a war correspondent and Taylor Kitsch as a former SEAL teammate.

The action sequences are built for guys who remember when action meant something: tactical, grounded, and not reliant on cartoon physics. The show respects military culture and the SEAL community without turning it into a recruitment video or a lecture.

Season 2: what's different

The second season expands the story beyond personal vendetta. Tom Hopper joins as Raife Hastings, another former SEAL. The cast also includes new players in the larger conspiracy Reece uncovers. Reviews suggest the pacing is sharper than season 1, with higher stakes and a broader scope.

Where to watch

Both seasons stream on Prime Video. Season 2 has 8 episodes available to stream.

Is it worth your time?

If you like military thrillers, tactical action, and stories about guys dealing with the fallout of war—yes. If you're looking for something that respects its source material and doesn't get bogged down in messaging, it delivers. It's not trying to be prestige television; it's trying to be a solid action series, and it succeeds at that mission.

Fair warning: this is a revenge story. People die. The moral ambiguity isn't wrapped up in a bow. If that's your kind of story, The Terminal List is worth the time.

Parents' guide

Rated TV-MA · Best for 18+. The Terminal List is a military revenge thriller with graphic violence, including gunfights, tactical combat, and deaths. Expect strong language throughout. The show contains some sexual content and drug use. It deals with PTSD, trauma, and moral ambiguity around vigilante justice—themes that may prompt discussion with older teens, but the content is firmly adult-oriented.

Woke or not?

Not woke. The show respects military culture and the SEAL community without lecturing, focuses on character and story over messaging, and doesn't apologize for being a straightforward action thriller. It treats its male protagonist and military themes with respect rather than irony or critique.

Quick answers

Do I need to watch season 1 before season 2?

Yes. Season 2 picks up after the events of season 1 and follows the same character through new challenges. You'll be lost without the first season's setup.

How many episodes are in season 2?

Season 2 has 8 episodes, all available to stream on Prime Video.

Is this based on a book?

Yes. The series is based on novels by Jack Carr, a former SEAL. The show adapts his work for the screen.

What's the IMDb score?

7.9 out of 10 from over 130,000 users, which puts it solidly in the range of shows that deliver what their audience wants.