If there’s one thing The Terminal List has become notorious for, as outlined by LAD Bible, it’s the level of division between regular viewers and critics on the quality of the show. While fans have praised the series for everything from accuracy to performances, critics have torn the show apart, calling it a bland and boring rehash of what’s been done before. This massive division between critics and viewers leaves us all scratching our heads wondering who is right, with Jack Carr stating, per Giant Freakin Robot, that the show “triggers” critics in some way. Here’s why The Terminal List divided critics and audiences.
“Anti-Woke” Series Wasn’t Made For Critics, Says Producer
One of the biggest faults that critics pointed out from the very beginning of The Terminal List was that the show, according to the producer Jack Carr, presents itself as “anti-woke,” representing the far-right. This has resulted in critics giving the series a low score of 40% on Rotten Tomatoes. In contrast, the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is a staggering 94%. Carr, who is also the author of the novel on which the series is based, responded to the negative critics reviews on Twitter: “We did not make THE TERMINAL LIST for film critics. We made it for those in the arena.” His tweet seems to be in response to a review on the Daily Beast, which wrote that The Terminal List was an “unhinged right-wing revenge fantasy.” This exchange has likely deepened the cracks between critics and audiences.
Familiar to a Fault
Critics have also argued that the storyline of The Terminal List was all too familiar, echoing a similar concept to that of Jack Ryan, Reacher, and even certain elements of John Wick. While critics felt that the whole concept of a military man losing something and getting revenge is far overplayed, there is a reason that it continues to pop up in the media. Military men have the training to give us a realistic action film that is more plausible than some average guy showing off his skills that he just happened to pick up over the years. The concept of getting revenge on those who have wronged you is another that will forever remain popular with viewers everywhere as revenge is something that people want, but are not willing to risk everything for. The best revenge movies and TV shows offer a sort of catharsis in this way, so what may feel redundant to critics may, in turn, resonate with audiences.
Explores the Realities of War Trauma
While some critics’ reviews claimed The Terminalist was ultimately dull and tasteless, this may be due to the fact that the show was not all-action all the time. The Terminal List took the time to examine the unspoken wounds from being on the battlefield. Pratt was praised by veterans everywhere for how he managed to portray such trauma in a way that you just have to live with it. On top of this, the show displays how this trauma is often hidden behind flags of bravery and patriotism as civilians still don’t know how to deal with the trauma experienced by veterans because of how unimaginable it is to them. Critics perceived this as a basic plot point that is milked to the bone, when the reality for veterans is that their wounds become a huge part of themselves that they cannot ignore — an aspect of the series that viewers appreciated.
Critics’ Harsh Words Won’t Stop the Series
While the finale of the series has made it clear that The Terminal List would only have a single season, the reaction from the fans has encouraged the cast and crew to continue. Author Jack Carr and director Dave DiGilio are planning to release more of the series for as long as Prime would allow them to continue. Although nothing has been confirmed about a second season yet, should the series continue, The Terminal List would bring Pratt into the limelight of action films, moving away from his typical goofy roles like in Guardians of the Galaxy and Parks and Recreation.
