‘Jack Ryan’ Recap: ‘Tertia Optio’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

​I have to admit, that the more time I’ve had to think about the season two premiere of Jack Ryan, the more impressed I am with it. After all, it was pretty epic in its own right, since it was filled with stunning moments and heartbreak and quite frankly, twists and turns that were worthy of a season finale, and if this was any other show, the rest of the season would pale in comparison to what a premiere like that had to offer. But thankfully, this is a series unlike any other, and it always has more to offer its audience. And now that some big moments have grabbed our attention, the show took the time to slow things down in the next episode and provide the audience with another aspect of Dr. Ryan’s adventures that we adore; the spy stuff.
 
Because ‘Tertia Optio’ wasted no time in having Jack dive into his investigation of who was responsible for killing his close friend and that brought him aboard the Almeta in the hopes of finding some kind of clue as to what is going on in Venezuela. And while that visit didn’t yield any direct results, it did allow for him to get a little closer to his new romantic friend, the mysterious woman we met in the premiere. As it turns out, her actual name is Harriet Baumann and she works for German Intelligence and she’s here to find a man named Max Schenkel and bring him home quietly so that her country can save face over any intelligence embarrassments and as a peace offering, she provides Jack with a little something that might help to instill a little insurrection and get Jack all the information he needs.
 
Which led to some lovely moments, wherein Jack and Greer toyed with Reyes’ head of security and leaked the contents of a sensitive conversation between General Ubarri and his wife, one where the General spoke poorly of el presidente, in the hopes of stirring the pot and smoking out potential allies. But sadly, the plan instead semi-backfired since Reyes was willing to play the game. For he took the time to stage the semblance of justice in order stop Jack and Greer in their tracks, since he prompted his forces to bring in some no-name rebels, the kind that he could easily pin the assault upon and get a signed confession from, and he even took the time to use that private conversation to instill a little fear into the heart of his second-in-command as well, in order to keep control, as evidenced by that uncomfortable little chat the two men shared at the party.
 
However, while all the spy stuff was a true treat to watch, and detailed in its presentation, Jack’s work to put everything together is what made this story worthwhile. Because he simply wasn’t having the lies in this tale, and made a point to confront all the guilty parties with thinly veiled threats of justice, and for his efforts, he came to realize that the corrupt police captain, who turned himself in, was a victim of the president’s attempt to clean up his messes. Plus, he also learned that Max is a bloodthirsty killer, and is working with the government of Venezuela in nefarious fashion. And a nearly fatal encounter in his hotel room hammered home the fact that Reyes wants no loose ends and sadly, Jack’s theories are going to remain just that for the moment since Max got away wounded, and the captain has passed into the great beyond.
 
Yet while all of that was impressive in its own right, I would be remiss to not discuss that this episode wastes no time in showing us how Jack handles duty and trauma and unfortunately, he’s struggling to find a balance. Because he was savage in this story, to an extent we’ve never seen before, and I really am worried that he may do something he will regret in stories to come since there is seething anger boiling beneath his surface, that may explode on a moment’s notice. But in the here and the now, it’s best we celebrate another great chapter in this tale, one that served as a ‘greatest hits’ of everything we love about this series, all while setting up a beautiful web of intrigue and deceit and well, I need more. So, if you’ll excuse me, it is time to fire up my Prime App and see where Jack’s adventures take him from here. Until next time. 

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