The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is currently winning viewers over at Prime Video; this prequel series to the Chris Pratt-led spy thriller, The Terminal List, is led by Taylor Kitsch in one of his most captivating and exciting roles yet. Dark Wolf is a gritty military thriller that delves into covert operations and has lots of psychological tension and high-stakes action.
More than just great action and thrills, Dark Wolf introduces complex characters and interesting arc development, particularly with Kitsch's interesting, tormented lead, Ben Edwards. Here are the shows to watch if you love The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, which also captures similar themes of espionage, revenge, and elite military units.
10 'Strike Back' (2010–2020)
Strike Back was a long-lasting spy thriller series produced by Cinemax. This action-packed, dynamic show follows elite British-American military units undertaking high-risk missions worldwide. It was based on the same-name novel by former SAS soldier Chris Ryan, and consists of six seasons with different subtitles. It stars Richard Armitage and Andrew Lincoln in Season 1, while Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton lead the rest of the series in Seasons 2 through 6. If you like shows like Dark Wolf, you’ve likely watched Strike Back before; and if you haven’t, you’re in for a real treat.
In the first season of Strike Back, SAS operative John Porter (Armitage) joins forces with operative Hugh Collinson (Lincoln) to save a kidnapped journalist from the hands of some old foes. Throughout the series, the operatives fight terrorists and work to uncover and diminish global threats. They are the kind of heroes that work overtime to keep the peace in the world, and do that with great style and unapologetic swagger. Strike Back has 76 high-octane episodes that you'll love from start to finish.
9 'Condor' (2018–)
Condor is a lesser-known spy series based on James Grady's novel Six Days of the Condor, and it’s a pretty tense and cerebral spy show. Condor consists of two seasons, and although Season 3 was announced in 2022, we still don't have news on its renewal. The show is intense and has a twist-heavy narrative that will keep you glued to the screen. It depicts the world of covert operations from the point of view of somebody idealistic, somewhat naive, and not well-versed in the intrigues of Secret Service dealings.
Condor follows young CIA analyst, Joe Turner (Max Irons), whose life gets turned upside down when his entire team is killed. Joe invents software that the agency uses to identify the likelihood of threats, and when Joe learns about this, he stumbles onto a plan that can potentially endanger millions of people. Although Dark Wolf introduces us to someone aware of the flaws of the agency he works for, it's interesting to watch Condor as a sort of opposition to that; being thrust into a world of intrigue from an innocent standpoint is always an interesting plot twist, although a character like Ben Edwards in Dark Wolf is often more refreshing because he’s not an idealist, but a practical man.
8 'Bodyguard' (2018)
Bodyguard is a BBC miniseries and a British spy thriller that took the world by storm in 2018. It was created by Line of Duty's author, Jed Mercurio, and it's full of suspense and intrigue, as it introduces the meeting of two opposite minds and attitudes joining forces amid a dangerous chain of events. It's a political thriller and looks back on plenty of foreign policies adopted by the British government, mostly fictional, but reflective of real life. The series stars the indomitable Keeley Hawes, and Game of Thrones' Richard Madden.
Bodyguard follows the PTSD-riddled Scottish war veteran, David Budd (Madden), who, after stopping a terrorist threat, gets assigned to protect the controversial politician, Home Secretary Julia Montague (Hawes). Budd is against Montague's Iraq war stances and policies, so their relationship starts off as rocky; throughout, they face political controversies, high-stakes situations, and personal conflict. If you prefer shorter series, Bodyguard has only six episodes; this means each is packed with action, intrigue, and intense plot twists.
7 'The Night Agent' (2023–)
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Netflix's conspiracy thriller The Night Agent stars a fairly new face in the action series landscape, Gabriel Basso. The Night Agent was an instant streaming hit when it first hit the platform in 2023, and Season 2 followed in its footsteps, garnering more attention for being a brilliant continuation of a story about one of the freshest faces in the spy thriller landscape. The Night Agent doesn’t follow CIA operatives, though, but instead focuses on the FBI.
The Night Agent follows FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Basso) as he is thrust into a conspiracy involving the White House and its officials. This case tests Peter's loyalty and survival instincts, while often being character-driven, highly entertaining, and even funny at times. The Night Agent is perfect for anybody who likes fast-paced shows filled with great twists; essentially, anyone who might be a fan of The Terminal List: Dark Wolf. The Night Agent was renewed for Season 3, considering it's one of Netflix's most successful original series; before that, both seasons are still available to stream.
6 'Special Ops: Lioness' (2023–)
Special Ops: Lioness is a Taylor Sheridan series revolving around a fierce and cold CIA operative played by Zoe Saldaña. Lioness refers to a special operative program that recruits women, in particular, to infiltrate global terrorist organizations. The show is very reminiscent of The Terminal List and Dark Wolf, and with its two seasons (the third is on the way), has the potential to be one of the most memorable spy thrillers of all time. Saldaña is joined by Sheridan’s most common acting collaborator, James Jordan, and Nicole Kidman as the head of the CIA.
Since Dark Wolf includes lore about CIA operative Ben Edwards, Lioness is close to that show because of its gripping and thought-provoking emotional core. Saldaña's character, Joe McNamara, is a deeply flawed CIA officer who trains women in the Lioness program, yet she’s also heroic, facing everyday dangers that not many people experience. Emotionally charged, thick with incredible plot twists, and action-packed, Lioness is the best thing to watch after you’re done with Dark Wolf.
5 'The Old Man' (2022–2024)
The Old Man is an underrated spy thriller that stars Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow. This show was around recently, but not many people talk about it, which is a shame because it’s one of the more character-driven spy series you will ever see. Though, understandably, people want to watch spy shows for action and covert operations, there’s something appealing about watching a man return from the dead, so to speak, to resolve his old issues. The Old Man shows that the past catches up if you leave it unresolved, and in particular, if you are a former CIA agent.
The Old Man follows Dan Chase (Bridges), who is a former CIA operative currently living off the grid in a secluded home. When he kills an intruder who breaks into his home, he goes into hiding. An FBI operative, Harold Harper (Lithgow), is tasked with finding Chase, and has a team that helps him do it. The Old Man is a brilliant, slow-burning thriller with rich character development, and it might be very much what you need after watching the action-packed Dark Wolf.
4 'The Punisher' (2017–2019)
Among the most beloved and most watched Marvel series is, perhaps unexpectedly, The Punisher. The character of The Punisher is normally presented as the antagonist and nemesis of Daredevil, but the series revolving around him and his past shows that he's more than just a gun-wielding vigilante. The Punisher is dark and intense, and it’s the perfect follow-up to Dark Wolf, depicting a man who harbors many past wounds and feels unfit to heal them.
The Punisher's real name is Frank Castle, and he is portrayed by Jon Bernthal. This is one of Bernthal's most memorable and greatest roles so far, as he plays a man who wishes to avenge his family's death by taking his anger out on the world. Castle decides to kill the entire gang connected to their death, and ends up having to navigate a world of crime and corruption that pays no attention to people like him. This amazing show has only two seasons, but it also has a high rewatchability factor. Watch it especially for Bernthal's stunning depiction of an angry, wounded man.
3 'SEAL Team' (2017–2024)
SEAL Team is another show that was really beloved among those who enjoy military-based action shows. The series ended in October 2024 after a seven-season run, to the disappointment of many of its fans, though it reached a very natural conclusion. David Boreanaz steps in as the fearless SEAL team leader, with the show featuring some real-life Navy SEALs. SEAL Team was praised for its authentic portrayal of military operations, but also its sense of camaraderie and friendship. Obviously, if you like shows like Dark Wolf, SEAL Team should be a treat for your watchlist.
SEAL Team follows Bravo Team, a subunit of the Special Warfare group, who are the most elite soldiers among Navy SEALs. The Bravo Team leader is Jason Hayes (Boreanaz), and the show balances their high-risk, high-reward missions with personal struggles. While Dark Wolf depicts a kind of lone rider agent, SEAL Team is all about teamwork; Edwards does get help from James Reece (Pratt) at certain points, and their relationship develops throughout the show, but SEAL Team emphasizes the importance of individuals thriving both as part of a team and on their own.
2 'Reacher' (2022–)
Speaking of lone operatives, Jack Reacher is pretty much the prototype of that. Although there have been several hardly successful adaptations of the Jack Reacher novels, the most recent series starring Alan Ritchson has found its perfect Reacher. Reacher has the perfect formula to be entertaining, fun, and action-packed, depicting a man who prefers to work alone, relying on his inherent and learned skills since his time as a military police officer. The fun part is that both shows are on Prime Video, so as soon as you finish an episode of Dark Wolf, you can just switch to Reacher and keep enjoying these secret agent vibes.
Reacher follows the titular Jack Reacher (Ritchson), a former military police major turned drifter, who prefers to work alone. The show follows him as he travels and solves crimes with the unique skillset he acquired during his time in the service. Reacher is action-packed and suspenseful, and depicts the lone wolf trope perfectly. Ritchson is quite captivating as Reacher; he's the kind of star who can be appealing to both male and female viewers, making Reacher one of the most popular shows on streaming for several years.
1 'Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan' (2018–2023)
Another prototypical spy story is Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. This is another novel series—called Ryanverse—that was adapted into numerous movies and even video games; the Ryanverse is full of highly entertaining material, and people finally wanted to see it made with respect. When John Krasinski stepped into the role of Jack Ryan, hopes weren’t very high that the series would be a success; this was due to Krasinski's general popularity as a comedian after his role in The Office. Fortunately, he proved himself to be a versatile actor who can play an action star pretty successfully.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan follows the eponymous CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Krasinski) as he transitions from his desk job as a CIA analyst to a field operative. The show follows his adaptation from one setting to another as he uncovers global conspiracies and stops bad people from doing bad things. Jack Ryan is a blend of intelligence, action, and political intrigue that often reflects stories from real life. Anybody who enjoys Dark Wolf will undoubtedly enjoy Jack Ryan, one of the best spy shows of the last decade.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
- Release Date
- 2018 - 2023-00-00
- Network
- Prime Video
Cast
-
Jack Ryan -
James Greer
WHERE TO WATCH
- Showrunner
- Carlton Cuse
- Directors
- Jann Turner, Andrew Bernstein, Dennie Gordon, Kevin Dowling, Lukas Ettlin, Patricia Riggen, David Petrarca, Phil Abraham, Carlton Cuse, Morten Tyldum
- Writers
- Amy Berg, Dario Scardapane, Nolan Dunbar, Vince Calandra, David Graziano, Steven Kane, Marc Halsey, Robert Port
- Franchise(s)
- Tom Clancy, Jack Ryan
- Seasons
- 4
- Story By
- carlton cuse, graham roland
- Where To Watch
- Prime Video
