The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is ahead of Reacher when it comes to more realistic action sequences

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf was released recently on August 27, 2025, on Amazon Prime Video. It is already getting rave reviews for its realistic action sequences, which are being deemed even better than those of Reacher.

Created by Jack Carr and David DiGilio, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is an action thriller show like Reacher and is a prequel to The Terminal List. It is based on the characters from the 2018 novel by Jack Carr and features Taylor Kitsch as the protagonist, along with Chris Pratt and Tom Hopper.

The show focuses on Ben Edwards (Kitsch), who is a Navy SEAL and then a CIA operative. It is full of high-octane action and thrills and has plenty of dangerous fight scenes. While Reacher is also a show from the same genre and has received better critical reviews than The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, it lags when it comes to realistic actions scenes. More details below.

Details explored about why The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is better in terms of action scenes than Reacher

The Alan Ritchson-starrer has captivated critics and viewers with its well-rounded plot and performances. Like The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, Reacher is also based on a series of novels and is an action thriller. Both shows are available on Amazon Prime Video, and both have protagonists who come from law enforcement and must take on dangerous missions.

Developed by Nick Santora, Reacher has three seasons so far, and one of the major reasons why the show has become so popular is that it features Jack Reacher (Ritchson), a formidable protagonist with almost inhuman strength and intellect. Viewers who love the over-the-top display of strength and brute force will enjoy Reacher. However, the show makes viewers who prefer more realistic action crave nuanced action scenes.

More details about The Terminal List: Dark Wolf action scenes

According to Screen Rant, Reacher might have garnered appeal based on its protagonist’s superhuman strength and charisma, but it lacks more grounded and nuanced action sequences. The reason why The Terminal List: Dark Wolf has incredible action is that it is based on a book series written by a former US Navy SEAL, Jack Carr.

The show not only focuses on characters from the military but also places emphasis on real-world military tactics and techniques seen in close-quarters combat. In an interview with Esquire, actor Tom Hopper talks about his role in the show and how particular author and creator Jack Carr is:

“I've got email chains with Jack about different bits of kit. It was very important for me that we get Raife Courteney boots, because he wears Courteney boots exclusively…There's certain knives we use. There is a pistol, a 1911, which is the gun Raife is famous for using… He was very specific about the Panerai watch that he would wear. That was the watch Jack was like, "It has to be this one." Because Raife is from money. He comes from a wealthy family in Montana. So he's grown up out of wealth and he knows how to dress. He wears expensive clothes.”

Therefore, viewers who love to watch the raw and unfiltered details that make a scene more realistic will prefer The Terminal List: Dark Wolf over the glossier Reacher.

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The show is available on Amazon Prime Video.

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