The second season of Prime Video's The Terminal List has been quite the journey for James Reece (Chris Pratt).
He started out as a broken man on the run. Now, he’s a man with a purpose and one that might have found a new mission. That’s part of the question that is answered in the season 2 finale, “Fathers and Sons.”
The aftermath
We begin back in Odessa, where Reece is contemplating the loss of his friend Freddy (Gabriel Luna). He feels guilt that he didn’t get there in time. And he’s again looking at the coffin of one of his teammates. He helps load the body on the plane and seeks to bring Freddy home and bring his things back to his family.
Meanwhile, Adrenov (Costa Ronin) is seeing his peace accord crumble. In the wake of the attacks, there is doubt cast on the Americans and the Ukrainians. That leaves the Russians seeking to pull back. So, Adrenov decides he’ll answer the call and go to Moscow. But that leaves Yana (Olga Kurylenko) frustrated because he has promised to fight for Ukraine.
A fresh start
Part of the deal for Reece joining the hunt for the terrorists was the promise of a clean slate. Though Mo Farooq (Dar Salim) turned out not to be a traitor, Reece still helped put down Al-Queda and stop a larger attack. He’s given a clean slate and offered a chance to remain in the service of the CIA. But he has some misgivings about taking that job. He also has some misgivings about what happened in Odessa.
Reece turns to Raife (Tom Hopper), who is similarly dissatisfied with the lack of resolution. It’s clear the plan wasn’t merely an attack but rather some kind of takeover of the Russian government. That suggests the need for an inside man but would align with the overall Kestrel program. The question is who is involved. To get more answers, Reece and Raife turn to an old friend.
Katie Buranek (Constance Wu) is home and recovering, but she’s angry. Her reporting on Kestrel and the plot has been published without her consent. It wasn’t finished, but this incomplete report was put out by Adrenov, and it’s created a firestorm with Ukraine. That along with Reece and what he’s found prompts the question of whether Adrenov is part of the plot.
Katie reaches out to Yana with photos to find some proof. She recognizes Oliver Grey (Jeremy Bobb), which helps tie Adrenov to the plot. Yana finds further proof, and it’s enough for Reece and Raife to go back to the CIA.
Hunting Adrenov
Vic (Yul Vazquez) has arranged a mission to target Adrenov and his motorcade. That allows Reece, Raife, Mo, and Jeff (Martin Sensmeier) to make a quick hit. Their job is to kill or capture Adrenov without clashing with the Russians. They make their move, with Yana helping paint a target. And they manage to pin him down in a warehouse.
But the Russian army is coming. The team saves Yana and gets her out, but they aren’t able to get Adrenov before the Russians arrive. Reece catches up and wounds him, allowing him to ask questions. When Adrenov makes some comments about his family and his role in the death of his friends, Reece ends Adrenov before he can escape with the Russians.
It’s partly a success, but Adrenov’s mention of Reece’s father leaves him wondering what the connection is. Vic again offers Reece a spot at the CIA, and this time he agrees. He learns more about his father and his father’s role in the CIA. He also learns that Grey was likely a part of the reason his father was killed, giving him a new target.
That’s if he can remain alive. Katie questions why Reece won’t get the surgery that could save him. He shares he’s afraid of forgetting his family. Katie has finished her book, but she doesn’t plan to publish it. Instead, she offers it to Reece in case he needs help remembering his story after surgery. It’s the push he needs to get right before continuing the hunt.
There was a satisfying resolution here, while The Terminal List season 2 leaves the door wide open for the future. Pratt does well in this role, and the hunt for Grey and the dive into the past would be an interesting road to go down. I’m here for more of this story.
The Terminal List is streaming on Prime Video. We’ve recapped all the action of season 2 on Show Snob.
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