Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Season 1 Recap

The first season of Amazon’s Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan has been out for over a week, and the long-awaited show delivered on its promise of updating the iconic character. To wrap things up, we’re recapping the characters’ journeys throughout the season.

Jack Ryan and Jim Greer

The classic Tom Clancy character went from being “just an analyst” to taking gunfire in Syria and France and stopping a dirty bomb from collapsing the U.S. government. Jack revealed his past as a Marine to Cathy, which explained his hesitancy and guilt. But ultimately, his wits and unwavering morals saved the day. He tracked down Suleiman and gained the trust of his wife. With Jim’s help, he worked out Suleiman’s plan just in time and took him down.

Jim became head of T-FAD as a demotion for his actions in Karachi. With his success throughout the season, he was reassigned to Moscow and will bring Jack along with him.

Mousa bin Suleiman and Hanin

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Suleiman was no doubt a terrorist, but insights into his motivations throughout the season humanized him. He was educated, but looked down on for his religion and ethnicity. He wanted to provide good lives for his family and fellow Muslims. But he used fear, manipulation, and violence as tools to achieve those things. He overthrew Al Radwan, orchestrated a Sarin gas attack that killed 300 people, infected American hostages with Ebola, and attempted to kill the U.S. president with a dirty bomb in a hospital.

Hanin, Suleiman’s wife, escaped her husband with her daughters. Her story showcased the road Syrian refugees take to escape violence and provide better lives for their families. She advocated for her son’s rescue and return to her. Hanin protected her children with whatever means she had, even if it meant giving up her husband to the CIA.

Victor Polizzi

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Seemingly unrelated to the overall plot of the show, Victor’s inclusion to the story provided a different perspective. He was a drone pilot in Nevada who killed targets thousands of miles away. Victor felt overwhelming guilt that bubbled over when he discovered that one of his targets was actually innocent. He saved Hanin from Yazid and crossed paths with Jack and Jim at the Turkish airport on his way to apologize to the man whose son he killed.

If you’ve missed a recap or want to revisit the entire season, check out our full list of recaps below.