12 Action-Packed Shows Like ‘Jack Ryan’, from ‘Reacher’ to ‘Echo 3’
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Prime Video's first foray into the Ryanverse has come to an end, and we're already feeling the Jack Ryan-shaped void.
Over the course of four seasons, we saw the rookie CIA analyst—played brilliantly by John Krasinski—morph into a mighty action hero as he tackled dangerous field assignments, from uncovering a terrorist plot to investigating internal corruption in the CIA. But now that the political action thriller is over, we're on the hunt for high-stakes, action-packed shows like Jack Ryan to meet our escapism needs.
Fortunately for us, we'll soon return to the Ryan universe through Prime Video's spin-off series, starring Michael Peña as Ding, a fellow CIA agent. But until it premieres, we're biding our time with these 12 binge-worthy gems, including Reacher, Echo 3 and more.
1. Strike Back
Cast: Richard Armitage, Andrew Lincoln, Philip Winchester, Sullivan Stapleton, Amanda Mealing
Seasons: 8
High-stakes missions and explosive action sequences are a major part of what makes Jack Ryan so binge-able—and the same can be said for this action drama, inspired by Chris Ryan's novel of the same name. The series follows the adventures of Section 20, a secret branch of the British Secret Intelligence Service, as they travel the globe and embark on a number of intense (and sometimes deadly) missions. Thanks to the star-studded cast, you'll recognize a few faces, including The Walking Dead star Andrew Lincoln.
2. Reacher
Cast: Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald, Maria Sten, Chris Webster, Kristin Kreuk
Seasons: 1
Countless fans who've read Lee Child's famous Jack Reacher books can attest to the show's faithfulness to the original material—and some would say that Ritchson's interpretation of the character even surpasses Tom Cruise's portrayal in the film adaptation. This stirring action-crime centers on Jack, a former military police officer who uncovers a major conspiracy after being wrongfully convicted of murder. Using his special skills and smarts, he must do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of the matter. The show does a phenomenal job of balancing fast-paced action with fun humor.
3. Covert Affairs
Cast: Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Peter Gallagher
Seasons: 5
Annie Walker, an inexperienced CIA trainee, becomes a seasoned spy after taking on a number of field assignments without any formal training, thanks to her many impressive skills. There's no shortage of hand-to-hand combat and sexual innuendos are aplenty, but what makes this show especially compelling is Annie's character growth throughout the series. Perabo brings the character to life in a captivating way, and to see her transformation from wide-eyed trainee to hardcore operative is fascinating.
4. Echo 3
Cast: Jessica Ann Collins, Luke Evans, Michiel Huisman, Temuera Morrison
Seasons: 1
When a scientist named Amber gets kidnapped by militants, her brother and her husband—both U.S. Army Delta Force operators—form an unlikely partnership to go rescue her. Unfortunately, however, the rescue mission goes south, and the duo is forced to go up against deadly enemies in the process. Anyone who enjoyed the layering of drama, action and edge-of-your-seat suspense will take a liking to Echo 3.
5. Bodyguard
Cast: Richard Madden, Keeley Hawes, Gina McKee, Sophie Rundle
Seasons: 1
Madden shines as Police Sergeant David Budd, a Scottish war veteran who deals with PTSD while working at London's Protection Command. Although he's tasked with protecting Home Secretary Julia Montague, he feels convicted over his loyalties because he opposes her views. To make matters even more complicated, he becomes involved in a major conspiracy that puts both him and Julia in danger.
6. The Night Manager
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, Elizabeth Debicki
Seasons: 1
Based on John le Carre's novel, The Night Manager follows the exploits of Jonathan, a former British soldier and night manager of a luxury hotel. His life is uprooted when a member of the Foreign Office task force recruits him to infiltrate the inner circle of a terrifying arms dealer named Richard. Hugh Laurie steals practically every scene as the villainous character, and it's packed with suspenseful moments that'll make you hold your breath.
7. The Blacklist
Cast: James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, Ryan Eggold, Parminder Nagra
Seasons: 10
Liz, a young FBI profiler, is stunned to learn that Raymond Reddington, one of the most notorious fugitives, wants to speak to her before agreeing to help the FBI catch the world's most dangerous criminals. Questions are raised about his true intentions as he lends his expertise, and Liz's life is turned upside down as she partners with the criminal mastermind. Jack Ryan fans will be happy to know that the series explores some of the same themes, from terrorism to political corruption.
8. Alex Rider
Cast: Andreas Prochaska, Christopher Smith, Rebecca Gatward, Jon Jones, Brian O'Malley
Seasons: 2
Alex Rider's life as a normal teenager is short-lived when he's approached by MI6 (the Secret Intelligence Service) and recruited to go undercover at a corrective academy to investigate a case. Although the spy is quite young, his incredible, action-packed journey will appeal to both kids and adults. Fans of Jack Ryan are sure to get their espionage fix, and the series boasts a talented, diverse cast.
9. Condor
Cast: Max Irons, Kristen Hager, Bob Balaban, Jason Smilovic, Richard Charney, Shane Elrod
Seasons: 2
If you've been scouring the web for an action series that has a similar plot to Jack Ryan, it's your lucky day. Condor follows Joe Turner, a millennial CIA analyst who stumbles upon a major conspiracy while working from the office. When professional killers murder fellow agents in the research and development department, Joe discovers that his supervisors were involved and is forced to go on the run as he investigates why his agency wants him dead. (Okay, so the plot isn't exactly the same, but Joe's story arc will definitely remind you of Jack.)
10. Designated Survivor
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, LaMonica Garrett
Seasons: 3
A devastating explosion destroys the Capitol Building during the State of the Union, killing the country's president and all of his successors. But a designated survivor, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Thomas Kirkman, is sworn in as the country's new leader, forcing him to investigate the truth behind the attack and several other issues facing the country, despite his inexperience. The series is packed with strong performances and has more than enough twists and turns to keep you watching.
11. 24
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Dennis Haysbert, Elisha Cuthbert, Carlos Bernard
Seasons: 9
Jack Ryan has been in multiple scenarios where he had to race against the clock while dealing with chaos, and Jack Bauer knows the feeling all too well. In each episode of 24, the counter-terrorist federal agent tackles a variety of cases over the course of 24 hours, ranging from bomb scares to assassination attempts. On the downside, his involvement with these high-profile cases often takes a toll on his private life.
12. Homeland
Cast: Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Morena Baccarin, David Harewood
Seasons: 8
It may not have the same level of action as Jack Ryan, but it features well-rounded characters and includes plenty of high-stakes missions that involve national security. Danes delivers a powerful performance as CIA officer Carrie Mathison, who also suffers from bipolar disorder. When a U.S. Marine Sergeant gets rescued from terrorist kidnappers, Carrie suspects that the war hero will attack the U.S. But this is just the beginning.
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