Prime Video's Latest Hit Is a Heart-Pounding Masterclass in the Spy Action Genre

The first four episodes of the The Terminal List prequel, titled Dark Wolf, have finally arrived. The show puts the spotlight on Ben Edwards played by Taylor Kitsch as we learn more about the CIA operative and former Navy SEAL.

Here's whether the prequel to the hit series is worth watching or not.

What Is 'The Terminal List: Dark Wolf' About?

The original series followed Navy SEAL James Reece, a lieutenant who was the sole survivor of a failed military operation in Syria.

After his wife and child are killed, Reece discovers that the government is involved in their murders and those of his friends. He compiles a "terminal list" of the culprits and declares a hunt for them. Reece is helped in his quest for vengeance by Ben Edwards, a longtime friend and fellow CIA operative.

Edwards's storyline was one of the most unpredictable in the series. After the show's success, the creators decided to focus on his backstory.

'The Terminal List: Dark Wolf' Is a Dynamic and Gripping Spy Action

The 2022 Terminal List was based on Jack Carr's novel of the same name. Carr was joined by showrunner David DiGilio to work on the spin-off script. While the plot involves Carr's characters, it is not based on his novels.

Dark Wolf departs from the topic of special forces and Navy SEALs explored in The Terminal List, immersing viewers in an intricate spy action while retaining a paranoid sense of total distrust.

As early as the second episode, the action moves from Mosul to Frankfurt and then to Budapest, evoking classic spy works like Mission: Impossible.

However, the characters of Dark Wolf are not flawless, licensed-to-kill special agents, but rather ordinary soldiers trying to find meaning in the chaos war.

'The Terminal List: Dark Wolf' Is One of the Best Projects in Taylor Kitsch's Career

The show's biggest success is Taylor Kitsch, who looks more natural in uniform than Chris Pratt did in the original series.

Kitsch plays a cold-blooded man with murky motives, sadistic tendencies, and a heavy gaze. His true nature is impossible to understand: he could be fighting evil or his own demons. Or maybe he just likes to kill.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Terminal List: Dark Wolf'?

• The Terminal List: Dark Wolf has 71% from critics and 84% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.0/10.

Where to Watch 'The Terminal List: Dark Wolf'?

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.