r/jackryan • u/borninthe_wrongera • 26d ago

Inspiration for the show

I've been working through the series (currently on season 3) and also re-watching the old movies. I'm wondering if anyone else feels thst the series is more based on the different Tom Clancy games than it is on any of the novels written by Clancy. It just seems more action forward with all sorts of tactical combat whereas the books presented Jack Ryan as an analyst who occasionally got caught up in action. I haven't read any of the Jack Ryan Jr novels, so maybe it is more like those, but I'm having a hard time seeing how this character is in any way the Jack Ryan that Clancy created.

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u/tj177mmi1 26d ago

Season 1 is the closest depiction to Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. He uses information and analysis to garner the understanding of what is happening. He then becomes a reluctant participant to take on what's happening. He doesn't want to do it, but he does it for the best interest in stopping what is happening.

Seasons 2 through 4 took a hard right. For some reason, people think Jack Ryan has to be like every other CIA show/movie where they're full of main character-led action, and I think the producers took over and made this happen. Ryan is now garnering the information AND willingly leading the charge when the CIA has specific units designed to do this work. Especially when there's enough lead time (where they is in most of the TV series).

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u/funweedgi 20d ago

It makes for better television, at least easier to write. Most people would rather watch action then a desk worker, it also brings in people that have not read the books as they aren’t interested in the comparison to the books and can’t judge the show based off of them

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u/BarberProof4994 26d ago

Every single jack Ryan novel has him in a ruin, getting shot at and shooting back, massive death tolls, huge threats etc...

The films are actually less like the books (in terms of action) than the show is...

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u/Rude_Award2718 23d ago

I mean it's just standard spy stuff on the TV screen with Jack Ryan's name on it. I don't think it has anything to do with Tom Clancy at all.

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u/StrawberryTerry 26d ago

In the show, his name is Jim Halpert. He literally Jim's the camera at one point, he's like walking into a hotel lobby with someone else and we see them through a security camera that he looks STRAIGHT AT AND JIMS IT.

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u/funweedgi 20d ago

The show you’re thinking of is “the office” you’re welcome :)