With Prime Video’s highly anticipated adaptation of Jack Carr's action thriller The Terminal List available to watch, it’s no better time than ever to get a refresher on the best seller that inspired it. The Terminal List is the first book in a five-book series that follows Navy SEAL James Reece during and after a deadly covert mission. Here's everything you need to know before you watch.
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for The Terminal List series.
Who wrote The Terminal List series?
Jack Carr, the best-selling author of The Terminal List series, spent 20 years as a Navy SEAL before retiring from active duty in 2016. Now a full-time writer, he draws on his experiences leading special operations teams in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, incorporating his extensive insider knowledge into his fiction. The first instalment, The Terminal List came out in 2013; since then, Carr has published five additional books in the series. The latest instalment, Only the Dead released in May 2023.
What is The Terminal List about?
The Terminal List follows Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander James Reece after the events of a devastating covert mission in which his entire platoon of SEALs is ambushed and killed. Reece returns home in shock, unable to process what's just happened. As he struggles to readjust to civilian life, new, unsettling evidence about the ambush—and its causes—comes to light. Soon, Reece finds himself mired in the midst of a deadly conspiracy that threatens not only his own life but the lives of everyone he loves.
Who are the main characters of The Terminal List?
Lieutenant Commander James Reece is the protagonist of the books and star of the show. He's a tough, smart Navy veteran who's willing to use every skill he ever learned in the military to protect himself and those he loves—even when it comes at a price. His wife, Lauren Reece, and daughter Lucy Reece both have important roles in the book as well.
Steve Horn is Reece's main antagonist and one of the book's biggest villains. He's the CEO of a mega corporation that utilizes the latest military technologies and innovations for its own gain.
Other notable characters include Ben Edwards, Reece's best friend and also a former SEAL; investigative reporter Katie Buranek; daring helicopter jockey Liz Riley; and Ernest 'Boozer' Vickers, Reece's second-in-command and the only other survivor of the SEAL ambush.
What happens in the rest of the series?
While the show is expected to focus on (and likely further expand upon) the events of the first novel, the four additional thrillers in the series provide lots of great storylines for potential future seasons—and make for the perfect listens once you've finished streaming.
The books continue to explore Reece's character, motivations, and backstory in depth, as he becomes entangled in increasingly dangerous situations.
True Believer sees Reece working with the US government after a series of terrorist attacks.
In Savage Son, while recovering from brain surgery in the backwoods of Montana, Reece becomes the target of a deadly cat-and-mouse game with the Russian mafia.
Both The Devil's Hand and In the Blood up the political ante, as Reece crosses paths with operatives and enemies all over the world in altercations with far-reaching consequences.
What can we expect from the television adaptation?
Fans can expect the same mix of heart-pounding action and depth of character that marks the book.
The trailer reveals that Reece's entire team is killed during a mission, and alludes to his immediate desire for revenge. While the trailer doesn't specify exactly who or what Reece will go after, his emotional devastation and determination to get justice for his comrades is obvious. This quest for revenge—and Reece's complex feelings about his own role in the ambush—is also what fuels the action in the novel. It's safe to assume that the show will explore many of the same themes, while providing the fast-paced action sequences and special effects that make book-to-screen thriller adaptations so satisfying.
At the helm of the adaptation are well-known directors Antoine Fuqua and Ellen Kuras, both of whom have worked on a variety of projects—including a slew of action and crime films and TV.
The cast includes a mix of Hollywood stars and newcomers alike. James Reece is played by Chris Pratt, beloved by many for his role on Parks and Recreation. He is no stranger to high-stakes action, either; he's famous for his starring role in the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy and for continuing to play Peter Quill in the MCU. During filming, Pratt worked with real-life SEAL veterans, including author Jack Carr, to bring as much authenticity to the show as possible.
Pratt is joined by a star-studded cast, including Taylor Kitsch (who played the iconic Tim Riggins in NBC's smash hit, Friday Night Lights), Constance Wu (of Crazy Rich Asians fame), and Hollywood veterans Jeanne Tripplehorn and Riley Keough.
Here's the full main cast of Prime Video’s The Terminal List:
• Chris Pratt as Commander James Reece
• Taylor Kitsch as Ben Edwards
• Constance Wu as Katie Buranek
• Jeanne Tripplehorn as Lorraine Hartley
• Riley Keough as Lauren Reece
• Patrick Schwarzenegger as Donny Mitchell
• Arlo Mertz as Lucy Reece
The Terminal List is an exciting series, sure to please fans of the books as well anyone looking for an engaging new thriller to watch this summer. The series format allows for plenty of backstory and character development alongside a fast-paced, twisty, action-heavy plot.
