TV REVIEW: TOM CLANCY'S JACK RYAN - Season 4

4/5

A Clear and Present Place. 

6 Episodes. Starring: John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Abbie Cornish, Betty Gabriel, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Michael Peña & Michael Kelly. Created By: Carlton Cuse & Graham Roland. On: Amazon Prime. 

A Jack of all trades. Many a Hollywood big name has had Jack when it comes to amazing adaptations of the late, great Tom Clancy's political spy thrillers. A run of books that could even make Detective Alex writer James Patterson cross. The 'Rainbow Six' game creators awesome airport reads have given us jet-setting franchise faces playing the all-American hero. Most notably the great Harrison Ford ('Patriot Games', 'Clear and Present Danger'), who already had Han Solo and Indiana Jones in his back satchel, but also Alec Baldwin ('The Hunt For The Red October'), Ben Affleck ('The Sum Of All Fears') and most recently on the multiplex Chris Pine ('Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit'). There's even been a spin-off in this Ryanverse ('Without Remorse') starring the 'Creed' of Michael B. Jordan. But none, not even Harrison, have afforded the complete capturing of this legendary bookshelf character quite like Amazon Prime time star of 'Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan', John Krasinski. All for four seasons that have recently come to a final curtain close. 

Hitting the road as Jack and walking off into a Washington D.C. grey (there's no sunset in this capital city when shady stuff is going on), John's Jack who went from 'The Office' to the operational field deserves to run for more. But the 'A Quiet Place' haunting mastermind is giving us a spy's goodbye, much like he is with the 'Year One' prequel to his horror franchise starring Lupita Nyong'o. After proving he had the military mettle with 'Jack Ryan' executive producer Michael Bay in '13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi', the world is Krasinski's. The 'Leatherheads', 'It's Complicated' (with another Jack) and 'Aloha' actor is fantastic. Well almost. After a 'Multiverse' cameo of madness and fan service, it looks like that dream of him playing Mr. Fantastic alongside his wife and 'Quiet Place' co-star Emily Blunt as Sue Storm is the stuff of pipes...or spaghetti. Not the smartest thing in the world with what would have been a more revered cast than the ones your classmates signed at school when you broke your arm (probably thinking you could stretch it too far). Especially with the rumours of 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Hobbs and Shaw', 'Fast and Furious' franchise star Vanessa Kirby taking the crown as Mrs. Fantastic. Never mind, this dear John is the super spy Ryan more than any solo act, and in one tuxedo episode in the fourth and final season he looks to even give us his James Bond audition, throwing more than his hat into the ring. 

Shaking and stirring, Krasinski always shoots straight. More than a desk job, out of the wonderful writer's room (pay them what they're worth, Hollywood) and into an expertly produced mission from co-creators Carlton Cuse (the 'Lost' creator who found himself amongst TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2010) and Graham Roland (AMC's 'Dark Winds'). This is a slick statement of patriotism and asking what your country could do more, not for you, but for all the American people under the Stars and Stripes. After the 'Homeland' like first season fighting Islamic extremists, the second saw more political warfare in Venezuela and spotlight taking from the great Noomi Rapace and 'Stranger Things' scene stealer Tom Wlaschiha. After a still terrific third season against a plot to recreate the Soviet Union faltered a bit in enjoyment (especially during times like these), the fourth and final season brought everything home perfectly against terrorists and drug cartels. Even if the six seals were less than the usual eight episodes this epic miniseries is used to. Standing alongside all the by the book showcases Amazon Prime is used to, from 'Reacher' (Lee Child), to 'Bosch' (Michael Connelly), this private Ryan is the best of them and something we wish they wouldn't jack in. 

Despite Daniel Craig's Bond and Tom Cruise pushing the stunting cinematic limits of what you can physically do at 60 without a green screen (making the impossible exactly what Anthony Hopkins said it wasn't in 'M:I 2'), the spy genre hasn't been sexy for a long time. Just tell that to Netflix's 'The Gray Man'...and that started Ryan Gosling for God's sake...and Chris Evans (and not the red haired bespectacled one neither). Still, Amazon's 'Jack Ryan' makes it slick as hell. Especially from some strong support led by 'The Wire's' own Wendell Pierce stepping into the James Earl Jones and Morgan Freeman Greer role and making it his own. Like Kevin Costner's 'Shadow Recruit' boss role with a hell of a handle on things. If that wasn't enough, 'The Adjustment Bureau' and 'House Of Cards' standout Michael Kelly, who recently offered the 'Transformers' franchise something more, has been an awesome addition since season two. Just like 'Get Out' star Betty Gabriel, a great direction since season three. And even 'Narcos: Mexico' and 'Ant-Man' star Michael Peña in this one. Giving the series a boost and its own life after with his character's planned spin-off. Add 'The Bourne Legacy' star Louis Ozawa Changchien's layered, standout performance and justice for Abbie Cornish ('Limitless', 'Robocop' and 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri') who was strangely M.I.A. since season one, and I spy a series of events that shouldn't be kept secret from Emmy. Either way, Krasinski and his hell of a team have changed the spy game for good. And they did it all by Tom Clancy's good book. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Patriot Games', '13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi', 'Tom Clancy's Without Remorse'.