The Terminal List Season 2: Chris Pratt's Action Thriller Is Bigger & Better Than Ever | Review

The Terminal List season 2 bring Chris Pratt's action thriller back in full force, with a high-octane batch of episodes even better than the first.

The Terminal List season 2 picks up mere months after the riveting conclusion to season 1. James Reece (Chris Pratt) has finished his list, killing Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch), his former SEAL Team partner and best friend, after learning he'd profited from Capstone's experiments on Alpha Platoon. With his men and family gone, Reece has set sail on Ben's boat, navigating the ocean on his way to Mozambique. As more time passes, he's branded a fugitive for his actions, while reporter Katie Buranek (Constance Wu) continues defending him in the public eye.

As months draw closer to a year, the CIA finally locates Reece. But instead of imprisoning him, they ask him to help in the fight against a technologically-advanced Al-Qaeda whose terror attacks around the world fuel instability and hostility. His assistance isn't just requested, but required, due to the identity of one of their core assets: Mo Farooq (Dar Salim), The Terminal List: Dark Wolf alum and former CIA contractor who was once a friend to Reece.

The government is willing to grant Reece a full pardon for his actions in season 1 and treatment for his tumor, but only if he helps them locate Mo. But The Terminal List season 2 is a two-pronged tale. The other side of the coin follows another Terminal List: Dark Wolf debut, Raife Hastings (Tom Hopper), now working as a weapons contractor. When he makes discoveries about shipment discrepancies that may be tied to Al-Qaeda, his investigation leads him to cross paths with Katie.

With both storylines unfolding at the same time, The Terminal List season 2 morphs into a high-octane thriller even better than the first. It pulls from the pages of True Believer, the second book in Jack Carr's The Terminal List novel series, to expand the world of the military thriller franchise. The action is heavy and potent, but so too are The Terminal List's characters as they navigate this new threat. Not only is season 2 a worthy follow-up to the original, but it proves the franchise's shared universe aspirations are more than worthwhile.

The Terminal List Season 2 Is A Confident, Sleek Evolution

The Terminal List season 2 is a globe-trotting thriller, as Reece moves from place-to-place around the world with his new CIA allies. This includes Ground Branch officer Freddy Strain (Gabriel Luna), another connection from Reece's past who acts as his new brother-in-arms this time around. He also teams up with another familiar face from Dark Wolf, Jules Landry (Luke Hemsworth), on their mission to locate Mo. However, despite the number of characters from the prequel making a return, the show centers its story around Reece and the aftermath of season 1.

Although the new story centers around Al-Qaeda and Mo's mysterious heel-turn, Reece's psychology is still an important facet of the series. There's a breathtaking sequence in the first episode that wordlessly explains his decision to keep going, long before the CIA steps in. Reece isn't the type of soldier to lay down his arms with ease, something that's further explored the more embroiled he gets in his new mission. While his family doesn't get as much focus as before, they're still a silent driving force as his mission plays out.

Be that as it may, season 2 wouldn't be complete without the inclusion of Hastings. While Dark Wolf helped establish his character, The Terminal List season 2 turns him into a scene-stealer. He takes command of every scene he's in with ease, not only during dialogue-heavy downtime, but during action sequences as well. He's smart, calculated, and bold, which the series showcases with every action he takes. There's an aura about him that's unmatched and makes him a compelling addition following his prequel series debut.

On the subject of the prequel series, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf's story has strong ties to The Terminal List season 2. While watching the predecessor isn't necessary to understand the story of season 2, character motivations and little details are missed out on without the context of Dark Wolf. Some scenes are even composed with the prequel in mind, a visual language that assumes this is the viewer's third season in The Terminal List universe. It works to tie both shows together seamlessly without alienating viewers who aren't privy to the series' wider world.

The Terminal List's Violence Holds Just As Much Weight In Season 2

The inclusion of Dark Wolf characters and the wider scale of events are just two core attributes that make The Terminal List season 2 unique. Its biggest alteration is a level of action and violence more akin to Dark Wolf than in season 1 of the main show. While season 1 had plenty of action, there was an assassin-like, methodical nature to most of it, as Reece hunted down the people responsible for the deaths of his men and family. Not so with season 2, where every action sequence is a flashy, guns-blazing operation.

That's not necessarily a bad change, though. Because, while many sequences boil down to groups of men shooting at other groups of men, The Terminal List season 2 accentuates the same realistic weight to its violence as season 1 does. There aren't any John Wick-style action set pieces to make Reece and Hastings look cool (even if, admittedly, many of them do). There's a grittiness to each violent encounter that gives every action meaning. Nothing in season 2 is sleek, and the show is all the better for it.

There are even some moments where the series' level of violence goes beyond what some viewers may be able to stomach. There's one particular episode that, without spoiling anything, left my stomach churning. It's the kind of encounter that makes Recce gutting a man in season 1 look tame. Despite the visceral nature of some scenes, they all serve a vital purpose for the story. It's not violence for the sake of violence, and it carries a message, even when disturbing.

If there were any drawbacks in The Terminal List season 2, it would be that some elements of the show don't fully come together until the final episodes. While this helps bring the season to a momentum-driven conclusion, it felt like the series could have benefited from spreading out the larger moments that get relegated to its final two episodes. It makes some parts feel a bit more rushed than they should have been. But, taken as a whole, season 2 still manages to tell most of its story without feeling too rushed.

Taken as a whole, The Terminal List season 2 is a strong follow-up to season 1 and Dark Wolf, elevating the series to new highs in the process. Riveting action, a twisted conspiracy, and a smart character focus make this a worthy successor, surpassing the debut season in the process. It's a perfect follow-up and proof that this could (and should) be Prime Video's next big shared universe, with plenty said and plenty left to say.

All eight episodes of The Terminal List season 2 arrive Wednesday, October 21, 2026, on Prime Video.