Jack Ryan is back for its fourth but final season only on Amazon Prime. It’s sad to say goodbye to such a great, interesting spy thriller, but let’s keep brooding for later as we gear up for another notorious scheme that Jack has to dig up. Speaking of which, in every season, there has been a sinister operation at play that Ryan has to uncover and bring an end to. As cliched as it may sound, the show is famous for showcasing realistic, deep conspiracies with diplomacy as their backbone. The reality of how deep things run in the world, as addressed by the show, is what makes it one of the best in the genre. Of course, America stands supreme, but that’s only because the creator himself, the great Tom Clancy, had a great interest in the US military forces although he never got to serve due to his myopia despite joining the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Any other author from any other country would have made his or her country take center stage. Be that as it may, in Season 4, Jack Ryan has to uncover corruption that runs deep within his very home, the CIA. Not just that, he has to track a series of covert operations that are connected to a larger conspiracy that threatens the lives of thousands.
Spoilers Ahead
Characters And Their Offices
Before you start watching Season 4, here are the primary characters of the show, along with their designations:
Jack Ryan: From an analyst at the beginning of Season 1 to the head of T-FAD at Langley to a CIA case officer in Rome in Season 3, Jack has come a long way. In Season 4, he is the acting deputy director, and his confirmation hearing, helmed by the Senate Intelligence Committee, is yet to take place. However, the stunts he pulled in Season 3 have made him a risk for the Intelligence Committee, so he is in a precarious position. Any wrong move, and he might just have to vacate his office.
James Greer (Wendell Pierce): In Season 1, James Greer was the head of T-FAD, from which he shifted to Moscow at the end of the season. He became the CIA’s deputy Chief of Station in Moscow and remained so throughout Seasons 2 and 3. From colleagues to associates to best friends, Ryan brings in Greer in Season 4 to help him figure out what’s going on within the CIA and how it’s related to the conspiracy.
Elizabeth Wright (Betty Gabriel): Introduced in Season 3, Elizabeth Wright was the CIA Chief of Station in Rome. In Season 4, she is the acting director of the CIA, awaiting confirmation just like Jack. Her personality, her ability to take a stand for herself, and the office she holds make her a favorite of the US President, alongside Jack Ryan. She has proved her mettle in Season 3, but whether she is able to pull off what’s to come is what we need to see.
Cathy Mueller (Abbie Cornish): Introduced in Season 1 as a research physician at Washington Memorial Hospital, Cathy Mueller now works in association with the World Health Organization. Jack Ryan’s love interest returns in Season 4 after her absence in Seasons 2 and 3. Why? We do not know. In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Abbie Cornish mentions how Cathy is deeply involved in her professional career, but she never lets Jack go, even when she’s off-screen. Addressing the dynamic between Cathy and Jack, Abbie says that they have leveled up in their relationship. For example, they were dating in Season 1. In Season 4, they are a couple, but it is just curious how, throughout Seasons 2 and 3, we didn’t even see her once. Nor was there any connection established between Jack and Cathy.
Mike November (Michael Kelly): Introduced in Season 2 as a CIA field officer in Venezuela, Mike November went on to become the Chief of Station in Venezuela in Season 3. He is also a very good friend of Jack and has his hands in many pies. This makes him a very helpful person who can pull off things that most people can’t or won’t.
Domingo Chavez (Michael Peña): Season 4 introduces Michael Peña as undercover CIA agent Domingo Chavez. He will be teaming up with Jack, Greer, and Mike. What’s interesting is that Domingo “Ding” Chavez is a member of the Rainbow Squad in Tom Clancy’s “Rainbow Six” novel and many others. This connects him to Amazon Prime’s “Without Remorse,” which ended with Michael B. Jordan’s John Clark intending to form his own “Rainbow” squad. And keeping in mind that there are already reports of Domingo Chavez having his own spin-off, we can expect to see Michael Peña alongside Michael B. Jordan in the near future.
What Can We Expect In Season 4?
According to the official synopsis, Jack will be facing a threat whose reins are in the hands of someone holding a position of high power within the CIA. The new conflict is connected to a potential merger between a drug cartel and a terrorist group to bring about a dangerous havoc to the world. Corruption and conspiracy will take the wheel yet again, and Jack has to race against time to combat a major threat to the country’s security. Will Ryan be given a proper send-off, or will he have to make do with what he is given? While this will be the last season for Jack, it is very much possible that Amazon will bring in spin-offs for the different characters in the show. There are high chances that Domingo Chavez will get his own spin-off that will eventually lead to a Rainbow Six movie. Will we see Jack Ryan return then? We can only hope. It will also be nice to have Greer’s spin-off, considering his past in Karachi that led to his demotion. While it is unlikely, it would also be nice to have Ryan’s spin-off during his time in the army.
