The Terminal List
The Terminal List is a military thriller novel series authored by Jack Carr, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, chronicling the vengeance of protagonist James Reece against conspirators in the American government responsible for the deaths of his SEAL team and family.[1][2] The inaugural novel, published in 2018 by Emily Bestler Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, depicts Reece, a lieutenant commander suffering from a terminal brain tumor, methodically targeting those behind a botched mission in Afghanistan and subsequent assassinations, drawing on Carr's operational experience for tactical authenticity.[1] The series, comprising seven books as of the latest releases including Red Sky Mourning, has achieved commercial success as a New York Times bestseller, praised for its realistic portrayal of special operations and themes of accountability amid institutional corruption.[3][4] In 2022, the first novel was adapted into an Amazon Prime Video television series starring Chris Pratt as Reece, which garnered positive reception for its intense action and unapologetic narrative of retribution, leading to renewal for a second season and a 2025 prequel spin-off, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, focusing on CIA black operations.[5][6] The adaptation highlights Reece's investigation into the ambush of his platoon, emphasizing survival and justice over redemption, with production emphasizing practical effects and military accuracy.[7] While lauded by audiences for its fidelity to the source material's emphasis on elite warfighter resilience, the series has drawn scrutiny from outlets predisposed to critique narratives challenging official narratives, though empirical viewer metrics indicate strong engagement.[8]Premise
Overview
The Terminal List is an American action thriller television series created by Jack Carr, David DiGilio, and Daniel Gold, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on June 1, 2022.[8] The show adapts the 2018 novel of the same name by Jack Carr, a former Navy SEAL officer whose work draws on authentic military experiences and tactical details.[9] It centers on James Reece, a highly decorated Navy SEAL lieutenant commander played by Chris Pratt, whose platoon suffers a catastrophic ambush during a covert reconnaissance mission in Mali.[8][10] Returning stateside amid mounting personal and professional scrutiny, Reece grapples with severe neurological symptoms, survivor's guilt, and the brutal murder of his wife and young daughter, events that propel him into a relentless investigation.[8] He uncovers evidence of a multifaceted conspiracy implicating high-ranking military officials, pharmaceutical executives, and intelligence operatives in the orchestration of his team's elimination as part of a cover-up for illicit human experimentation and resource-driven geopolitical maneuvering.[9] Drawing from a handwritten "terminal list" of implicated parties, Reece methodically pursues justice through targeted retribution, evading capture while piecing together the full scope of the betrayal.[10] The series portrays Reece's transformation from elite operator to vigilante, emphasizing operational realism, the psychological toll of combat, and institutional corruption within defense and intelligence sectors, elements rooted in Carr's firsthand knowledge of SEAL tactics and post-mission debriefs.[9] Season 1 consists of eight episodes, concluding the primary arc from the novel while setting up potential expansions from Carr's subsequent books in the James Reece series.[8]Source Material
The Terminal List television series is adapted from the 2018 debut novel of the same name by Jack Carr, the first installment in his James Reece thriller series.[1][11] The book follows Lieutenant Commander James Reece, a Navy SEAL whose platoon is decimated in an ambush in Afghanistan, only for him to later uncover a conspiracy involving high-level government and corporate figures responsible for both the attack and the subsequent murder of his family.[1][12] Reece, diagnosed with a brain tumor that physicians attribute to experimental drugs administered without his knowledge, compiles a "terminal list" of those he holds accountable and methodically executes vengeance while evading capture.[12] Carr, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL sniper who served over 20 years including deployments in the Global War on Terror, drew on his operational experience as a platoon commander and task unit commander to inform the novel's tactical authenticity.[13][14] He self-published an early version before securing a traditional deal with Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, which released the hardcover on March 6, 2018.[11] The narrative emphasizes Reece's survivalist skills, marksmanship, and moral reckoning, portraying a protagonist unbound by conventional justice systems in pursuit of retribution against perceived betrayals by institutional powers.[1] As of 2025, the James Reece series encompasses seven novels, with The Terminal List establishing core themes of elite military service, institutional corruption, and personal agency that recur in sequels like True Believer (2019) and The Devil's Hand (2021).[15] While the television adaptation retains the novel's premise of conspiracy and revenge, it introduces narrative deviations, such as expanded subplots and character arcs, to suit the medium.[16] Carr served as an executive producer on the series, ensuring alignment with the source material's emphasis on realistic special operations tactics.[17]Cast and Characters
Main Cast
The principal actors in The Terminal List portray key figures in the story of Navy SEAL James Reece's quest for vengeance amid a government conspiracy. Chris Pratt stars as James Reece, a lieutenant commander returning from a deployment to discover his platoon ambushed and his family murdered, prompting him to investigate the underlying plot.[8][18] Taylor Kitsch plays Ben Edwards, Reece's loyal best friend and fellow SEAL who provides support during the pursuit.[19][20] Constance Wu portrays Katie Buranek, a Department of Homeland Security officer who aids Reece while navigating her own bureaucratic constraints.[18][21] Riley Keough depicts Lauren Reece, James's wife whose death fuels his rampage, appearing in flashbacks after her early demise in the narrative.[8][22] Jeanne Tripplehorn assumes the role of Lorraine Hartley, the Secretary of Defense entangled in the conspiracy's higher echelons.[20][19] These performances anchor the series' focus on military authenticity and personal retribution, drawing from the source novel's character archetypes.[18]Supporting and Recurring Characters
Ben Edwards, portrayed by Taylor Kitsch, serves as a CIA Ground Branch operative and longtime friend of James Reece from their shared Navy SEAL training and deployments.[18][23] A former DEVGRU operator, Edwards provides operational support to Reece during his personal investigation into the ambush that killed his platoon, drawing on their BUD/S history and mutual trust built over years of service. His role extends across the series, highlighting the tensions between loyalty, covert operations, and institutional betrayals within intelligence circles.[24] Katie Buranek, played by Constance Wu, is a tenacious war correspondent and investigative journalist for the fictional Voltstreem News network.[18][20] She encounters Reece amid his quest for answers and becomes a key ally, leveraging her access to sources and expertise in exposing military-industrial corruption to aid in piecing together the conspiracy.[23] Buranek's character embodies journalistic persistence, often risking her career and safety to pursue leads on the platoon's demise and related cover-ups.[25] Jordan Carver, depicted by Jai Courtney, holds the position of Secretary of Defense and emerges as a high-level figure entangled in the events surrounding Reece's unit.[18] Carver's interactions with Reece underscore bureaucratic maneuvering and defense policy implications tied to the ambush, positioning him as a pivotal antagonist in the narrative of institutional accountability.[23] Donny, portrayed by Patrick Schwarzenegger, is a young, dedicated Navy SEAL under Reece's command in the ambushed platoon.[18] As a recurring team member in flashbacks and operational sequences, his character represents the camaraderie and sacrifices of elite special operations forces, with his arc illuminating the human cost of the mission's failure.[19] Marco "Del" Del Toro, played by J.D. Pardo, functions as another SEAL teammate from Reece's unit, contributing to the depiction of platoon dynamics and survival instincts during the overseas operation.[19] His role recurs in sequences detailing the ambush and its prelude, emphasizing tactical expertise and the bonds forged in high-stakes combat environments.[18]Episodes
Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 consists of eight episodes, released simultaneously on Amazon Prime Video on July 1, 2022.[8] [26] The episodes adapt the plot from Jack Carr's 2018 novel, centering on Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander James Reece (Chris Pratt), who returns from a botched mission in Afghanistan amid hallucinations and fragmented memories, only to discover his platoon was deliberately targeted and his wife Lauren and daughter Lucy murdered in a home invasion.[5] [27] Reece compiles a "terminal list" of suspects, pursuing vengeance while evading federal authorities and grappling with a brain tumor induced by an experimental drug, revealing a conspiracy involving defense contractor Capstone Industries and government officials profiting from unethical trials.[28]| No. | Title | Original release date | IMDb rating | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Engram | July 1, 2022 | 8.0 | During an MRI scan to diagnose post-mission symptoms, Reece is attacked by masked assailants using his own service weapon; he escapes and returns home to find his wife and daughter dead, prompting him to question his memories and initiate his investigation.[29] [27] |
| 2 | Encoding | July 1, 2022 | 7.9 | Reece enlists his former teammate Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch) for support and targets a suspect, while journalist Katie Buranek (Constance Wu) begins probing the platoon ambush, forming a tentative alliance amid Reece's worsening mental state.[29] [30] |
| 3 | Consolidation | July 1, 2022 | 8.0 | Reece adds a name to his list after uncovering evidence of betrayal; Katie learns of his brain tumor diagnosis, complicating her reporting on the conspiracy tied to military leadership.[29] [30] |
| 4 | Detachment | July 1, 2022 | 7.9 | Reece travels to Mexico with allies to eliminate a target linked to the drug trials; Katie conducts remote research as Capstone executive Steve Horn (Sean Gunn) safeguards corporate interests.[29] [31] |
| 5 | Disruption | July 1, 2022 | 7.8 | Reece heads to San Francisco seeking origins of the experimental drug; Katie attempts to recruit insider Mike Tedesco (Mark Valley) to expose Capstone's Nubellum project.[29] [30] |
| 6 | Transience | July 1, 2022 | 8.1 | Without medication, Reece's symptoms intensify as the FBI closes in; he evades capture while pursuing leads on the conspiracy's architects.[29] [32] |
| 7 | Extinction | July 1, 2022 | 8.2 | Reece returns to Coronado to confront betrayers from his unit, with suppressed memories resurfacing; Katie aids the FBI in exchange for access to develop her exposé.[29] [28] |
| 8 | Reclamation | July 1, 2022 | 8.1 | In a climactic confrontation at Secretary of Defense Robert Hartley's (J.D. Pardo) estate, Reece, Katie, Ben, and others converge to dismantle the conspiracy, resolving Reece's vengeance.[29] [28] |