How's it going opinionaries? This is your host Danny and on today's episode about Jack Ryan the show that was aired on Amazon Prime last week Jason and I give our thoughts on the show the casting story how it was created everything like that and the next week We are gonna be doing an episode about the anime my hero academia. We really enjoyed this show We really love this anime so we that one we just had a ton of fun talking about it and in our in our deep thoughts about it So if you know anyone that likes anime or likes that show my hero academia Make sure that you let them know that next week we have an episode dropping just about that show So don't forget to share it with your friends a lot of what we do is all listener supported listener base So when you share it with your friends they get to hear about it and we don't do any paid promotions and all of our Gradual growth has come from you the fans just recommending it to your friends So if you know anyone that listens a podcast and they like to hear about nerd culture with movies music podcasts TV Momics what have you go ahead and let them know about opinionary without further ado let's get into the episode what we talked about Jack Ryan Okay, I like this is the last thing just want to let you know one of us We were bouncing our leg and the stem from the mic stand that we have was probably bouncing on something or the cord was hidden The the mic stands still again our deepest apologies when it comes to the audio quality It was a mistake that we hope to correct next time Well, it will be correcting next time We know what it is, but just wanted to apologize for that. Okay, talk to you later Um, so how about since we're still on the topic of TV shows that are meant for streaming services Yeah, let's talk a little bit of Amazon They don't get enough love around these parts all we do is talk Netflix and you know hulu and all this I feel bad Because I haven't really watched a lot of original Amazon series so they have The man on high castle or something like that.
Oh, yeah, that's a I've heard nothing But great things from one of our listeners in Georgia, Daniel Turner He's messaged multiple times. Hey, that's a great show and I haven't been able to watch it Can I think I think that a lot of what Amazon produces is really good and I just don't have time to watch it right? And it's just not in my bandwidth of being able to be able to talk about like my hero and we have kids and we have King of hearts and stuff so it's very hard for us to get to that Um, the only thing I've watched from Amazon is a well-produced is the grand tour which is an offshoot of the British show the BBC's Top Gear And I really love that show, but recently Amazon created a Jack Ryan show mm with Jim Helper We're not gonna call him by his real name. No, he's Jimmy.
I get all mr. Helper And I and I and my wife so I named one my children Jack Ryan Ooh, and not because of my absolute love for Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck and Alec Baldwin's rendition of Jack Ryan throughout the Tom Clancy's area As we're talking about the Chris Wars which we weren't at the moment, but oh god you're on this christening Uh, how did Chris Pine do did you watch that? Corresponding the the shadow recruit shadow crew. He did really good.
He did really good. I really enjoyed him I don't know why it was it was an era. They should have made a Jack Ryan movie right then and there it was a huge political It was not a political thing. It was It was just wasn't the temperature wasn't right the temperature was right the media was right you should have made a movie a well If you a lot of people right now use Amazon to shop right and if you use Amazon Shop you have Amazon Prime because of all the benefits that you would get from that so a movie you make it out there And you put out there for people to go and watch I want to go to a movie theater And I want to go to and watch this movie right a lot of people won't do that now I was saying I will bring the show to you and that's whole I think we just need to bookmark in the parking lot Yeah, we'll bookmark that for another time, but I think we need to have a moment at some point where we just talk about movie going Movie pass movie.
Oh god. Yeah, movie prices. I think movies are going the route of what I'm always talking about comic shops Like they just are like hey, you know, we should do we're not getting new readers Let's come out with more times a month for more dollars. Oh, yeah, and let's do old movies I'm back right there re-reduing the back to the future movies in theater, which let's face it I would love to see Marty on the big screen.
I never got to see that right Chris Marie's that Superman 43 anniversary coming out next year and Superman series on freaking big screen Oh, yeah, I want to see that just for the experience of it Right, I think it's gonna have its place But as the mainstream media it's not and I think Amazon did the right thing in casting someone Chris Pine I'm so I feel so bad for this guy. I feel so bad for Chris Pine I feel like he is and I'll let you get back to back to where we're talking about Jack Ryan one last thought about Chris Pine I feel like he's a legit good actor. Yeah, I think especially after seeing him In hell or high water like he has got some chops. I saw him in this movie with Alan Rickman about wine.
Yes That's a super good one. Yeah, I don't know what's called him in theaters. I saw it on Netflix I saw him looks too. I'm married.
Yeah, I think he's got a lot. I think out of all the Chris's he's probably got the best true Acting chops for like hot high film where it's like Chris Evans is gonna give him a run as fun because Evans chooses to make his off time from cap from all these like little indie Indie films like a trumpet player that only plays in Union Station. Yeah, you see that one? I haven't seen I want to so bad ditto.
I saw the trailer. I was like this look amazing There's one where he came out with where it's like him and he's taking care of his niece. Yes, sounds super good I haven't seen that one yet. Super good So between the two of them, they're both really good, but I feel like Chris Pine is a really good actor But I feel like he always he's right on the cusp of something But he's like always just too early.
Yeah, he doesn't gain the momentum He needs because I feel like they weren't the people weren't quite ready and he does it and then they always look back afterwards After it's done. They're like wow, he was really good in that huh, but in the moment it happens. He was just a little too early Yeah, well, also he was also typecasted in like these like rom-coms, you know, just my luck with Right, Lindsay Lohan. Yeah, he had that period.
He did have that but I think he does have good acting chops Um, I I think he has that Chris Chris Evans has the cake for me Just because he he loves being in that realm of indie films that is very character driven So I would give the edge to acting chops to him because I also saw him in Snowpier, sir Mm-hmm dude, right, right dude, right so I would give him that so but Chris Pine has always just been He's like that drummer that's just half step off. Yeah, you're a great drummer, dude You're just half step off. Yeah from just being just right. Yeah, and so Chris Pine as Jack Ryan I thought was really good.
It was a little scattered with you know Keira Knightley did a really good job and not Michael Keaton Well, this is named Kim Costa was also in that movie Really good. I think he was a great Jack Ryan. It was just wrong for the medium It was shouldn't have been a movie they were just trying to recapture you know hunt for red October some of all fears Claire and present danger and all these other things but it should have now watching Jim Helper as Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime original show Context context is everything in my next statement. All right.
We say that a lot I want I want to say that a lot because you can say something but you need context don't get triggered audience Don't get triggered audience and I don't think this is gonna be tricky, but Jack Ryan Tom Clancy created this character in a certain time period I'm triggered You're great in a certain time period about certain things, you know when when Jack Ryan was first created let's face it Don't get triggered, but I'm just saying this out there Well, I mean you can still say nowadays, especially with you know good old 45. Oh But Russia big bad guys, you know hunt for good October I'm a rocky for right same thing with some wolf ears and the early 2000s and then Even more so but now they changed gears a little bit with I've only seen the pilot in a little bit of the first episode Yeah, the second episode and I just came out a couple days ago But I want to give it props for one thing it captures Jack Ryan in his in his in his in his area in his zone Jack Ryan 100% at his core is an analyst and even I'm like anyone if you hear her Harrison for me like oh an analyst No, I'm fucking believes that okay, but Harrison for to the great job You play Jack Ryan and then you see Alec Baldwin that guy's not a badass. I'm sorry that guy's like a doofus I'm sorry I can't I'm not I'm not the biggest fan of Alec Baldwin and I was so happy that his agent and he was smart enough that with dude Did I tell you this he was casted as Thomas Wayne for 24 hours heard the feedback read the script dropped good call? Thank you, Alec.
You have a head on your shoulders if not you then your fucking agent like first Let's just say that Joker movie is gonna be in a combination. Yes, but at least there's one good decision Alright, it started it started filming earlier this week one career has been so so poor walking but um But I like balled and played him in hump for red October Harrison Ford and also Ben Affleck in the symbol for years and also and Chris Pine and now John Krasinski Jim Halper I think they get a great job in capturing who Jack Ryan was he was an analyst and then he was trusted into this place of Badassum and he would have to overcome a lot of people I read an article today I disagree with this but I understand what they're coming from and I can see where they're coming Just because I mean I enjoyed the show. I enjoyed the pilot. Um, it had good suspense.
It had good action moments It showcased Jack Ryan as a soldier taken out of that element as an analyst and now coming back into thrust into Warfare and having to fight for his life. That is Jack Ryan So in clear so there's clear and present danger with Harrison Ford and there's a Patriot games And I think clear and present danger is the one no Patriot games is the one where he it was actually the Irish dude in Patriot games it was like the Irish I might be getting the strong so sorry fans But you go on the one I'm talking about in one of those movies It was you know the Irish Irish are showing overthrow the government in the early 90s Yeah, yeah, so it was about that and it always takes the thing I like about when they create Tom Clancy is they always they don't type Cat they don't type cast but they I don't know I'm saying type cat right but they don't take like oh the Chinese some random thing that we Are not have conflict with they say hey, what what is going on in America today? What are we still fighting today? Yeah, and then they build a story around that and you can only be relevant to that I mean look at Rocky for like Jason said at the time There was a vision between the United States and Russia and now Crete and now Crete too again good Listen, it's gonna hate us.
No, I just mean like I don't mean good all as in I mean that facetiously But um, you know yeah, yeah, yeah back up and when it comes to and here's a thing a lot of Okay, so we're talking about oh 45 and Russia All this dude so I saw this thing earlier this week like nobody Do you know can I just ask you a question if someone played you if someone played you a voice clip and asked if you could identify If it was Robert Mueller would you be able to tell what he sounds like no? No, nobody knows what that man sounds like Right because he is just like behind the scenes like working away like you know But then I saw this picture of him that I guess he plays hockey and it was like this picture of him Like full on like hockey gear, you know on the ice and he's like smiling just like yeah hockey I think it'd be the most hilarious like satire film It's like Robert Mueller like blades of glory or something Kind of all that ridiculous extravaganza Muddy Ducks It's like Robert Mueller I Don't know one sided rep all right It always appeals to the time and people need to know that is that every single Incarnation of Jack Ryan always takes America where it's at and having him beat now It does not paint and I read the article by Vanity Fair and if you want to go read it about Jack Ryan and I respect What they have to say but I don't agree with hundreds of what they said about that just because in the show a lot of people We're saying you know the entitlement of America and all these things about It's only about white America and and and not colonization but overthrowing so that they do not at least in the pilot Jamey I may be wrong, but they do not paint America in the greatest light here especially at the end of the pilot Solomon is grabbing the boulder off his brother and it opens with a miss I don't know if it's a mistake. I haven't watched the show But what war can do to people and how we can and how it miss not miss can shoot how I can warp people's brains Yeah, and I can appreciate it just messes things up Yeah, and I feel like and here's kind of a I don't know take you to leave it or what depends on your style of storytelling That you most gravitate towards but I feel like one of the I feel like in the same way that infinity war Made Thanos almost the main character like they explore him more than any other single character right as a more you watch with Jack Ryan and again, I've My wife watched the whole thing. I've seen well what it's a thing about it.
I respect Stacy It was definitely that like she kind of she didn't compare it to you know infinity war thanos But right a similar thing in the sense that the most well-developed character was probably Suleman Mm-hmm and that they didn't just make him like I'm gonna kill America because Americans are bad But they go through episode by episode you see how did he go from like the opening pilot right the kid dancing like yeah I don't know if you want to ride and there's like the drone strikes And then but even still he was adopted as a refugee and he was like applying for jobs and he's like he had went through school And now he's like this brilliant business minded Banker and he's applying to all these banks and you see that he keeps getting turned down for jobs because he's Muslim and whatever So they kind of explore like how did how did this character become so calloused? towards Western culture. Yeah, and then they try to ground it his humanity isn't so much Even more than that they try to ground it and the fact that he has like a wife and kids and they're like running from him Mm-hmm, so you kind of see he's they don't definitely definitely that makes the tea for him Yeah, they definitely don't try to paint him as like sympathetic like a poor guy But at the same time they do try to at least say like wow This is a really complicated screwed up thing. Yeah, this isn't simple like this person is definitely Yeah, exactly a killmonger.
Yeah, I feel like I really did enjoy black panther because at the very end you knew the methods of Killmonger was wrong, right, but you can't look at him and be like a monster. You're a monster What what the hell you thinking? Yeah, you know if I was if I was my life went through those exact story beats I can't say I wouldn't think differently right. Yeah, and and that's why I had it I have in half I haven't had a big problem with storytelling nowadays is that the villain and almost a lot of movies nowadays and a lot of stories are just Misunderstood the wicked witch of the west.
Oh, she's not bad. She just misunderstood Maleficent oh, she's not bad. She's just misunderstood There is evil in this world and you need to call it evil for evil, but there's a big but there wait listeners There's a journey that even we always talk about the hero's journey There's no so villain story and how we can stop that from happening as a society and as people as what we can do Yes, what they have done is wrong and they are the wrong that is wrong what you are doing But you can still not appeal but empathize with I'm sorry that this is what happened to you Yeah, and I think that's fair to say like you said like you never at the end of the day We should never and storytelling should never fail to give us a clear if someone is evil They're evil like this is wrong, but at the same time It's really only in fiction Only in the simplest of fiction usually that a character is just born saying like I'm just bad Well, why are you trying to take over the universe because because I'm bad and they tried to do that with Annas And I didn't really like that me personally. I like the original comic book storyline that he wanted to piece death I like that and they tried to do that a lot but with Jack Ryan I can see that because at the very end of the pilot and I called it I called it when that kid was dancing the video you can dance if you want to I'm like, okay I'm watching these kids and I go up to the roof Yeah, and then the and then when the planes turn around and I'm like, ah We're watching we're watching the origins of yeah, what happens This is the beginning of the end of you know of the season and I can at least I can appreciate that you know it's And I don't know but if there's listeners who listened to some of our previous episodes about podcasts and storytelling and one of my favorite ones Is the moth and you just hear from stories from people around the world and their different experiences and in this American life And it's interesting because for us the only take we know and what we're ingrained in and what seems most right and natural is that we believe We're Americans everything we do is just yeah, like if there's a natural assumption Yeah, like if there's a drone flying in the sky fuck.
Yeah, America. Yeah, that's us But I think I and I've actually read stories of people who Like this where Jack Ryan picks up of like when I see an American plane or drone overhead. It's not like yeah There's the heroes. It's like oh damn am I gonna blow up right now?
And so I can appreciate that they at least instead of just being a 100% you know one-sided like Good versus bad and everyone who's born in this country's bad and big 80s and 90s stroke exactly Yeah, they definitely at least took the time to give us a chance to say even if he's even if at the end of the day He became evil and it's wrong and he needs to be shot dead. Yeah, we at least can see like hey, you know what we were catalyst Yeah, there's a catalyst there like there's there's there's new ones like people don't just wake up saying I want to kill everyone in the West there's something that got them there Yeah, and so that's why there's their up with yeah, they're bringing some pieces it is they're upbringing and that's really sad and that's really Dude you're gonna get taken out just like anyone else but just real quick Yeah covering all our bases is because I know this is what me and you both believe right is that's not just the e-sing I want to take out the West and they're upbringing But it's also the West take out the east because there's some people that have grown up that way right everybody over there Tourist right I'm not saying that you know, we're not saying that we're just saying that from every culture There's a different worldview right away looking at things that you're upbringing and everything but as long as we We can look and understand our flaws as individuals right in our flaws as society and saying I want to be better than the previous Yeah, and they do a good job too of making Jack Ryan's I don't know supervisor or like unit Yeah, yeah, um, they make him Muslim. So there's yeah, wow So there's quite a few wow like well, I don't know like I was like that's a twist Yeah, so there's quite a few conversations between him and Jim helper of like, you know, hey dude It does just because you know this doesn't mean that like slow your role Unless look at people as individuals and not like everyone is this blanket statement, right? Yeah, you know, I agree with that So I think even though even though like before the show started you and I were joking they do a lot of Typecasting of like Jim helper at the first Yeah, the first episode Jim helper is like making googly flirty eyes out of secretary Yeah, you know, like you can't take I mean on the part of casting John because I think he's a great analyst That can be a badass because he was in 13 for but they do not let go of his Jim helper ness and that like yeah, like the very first episode he needs something done So he goes make googly eyes to like the treasury person that they already put a a pre-disposed seed when he's about to he walks into the meeting and she's like oh, hi And later he needs a favor like come on man, dude I almost can't wait somewhere on the Internet someone's gonna be motivated enough where they're They spliced do they spliced episodes of Jim.
Yeah, they've already done. I watch the other day. I show it to Cassius Just like the Internet does not fail. No, it does not fail.
So overall John Jack John Jack Ryan casting I think was really good. I think the story writing is really good. They do a fair basis on a lot of things now again Different people have their different worldview people different have their opinions. I respect that I pulled that for me personally I enjoyed it.
I think it was really good intrigue. It was a top It was a Tom Clancy showed you can't yeah Tom Clancy's attached what you're gonna have to have predisposed ideology there The Tom Clancy is definitely a genre to itself. Yes, like there's It's fair. I think it's fair to even say like there's spy thriller and there's international You know mystery and there's all these things and even though those line up in some ways with Tom Clancy even still It's like oh, it's a Tom Clancy, right?
He's it's very specific very much so so you have to go I mean the show is not called Jack Ryan. It's called Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan So you have to go in there knowing that it's gonna be some type of intrigue There is going to be a terrorist attack that he's gonna stop There's gonna be some type of battle that he's gonna try and figure out the puzzle piece before it happens kind of thing and figure all that It happened in hunt for it October some of a fears and everything like that. This is where it is right now Again, we haven't seen the entire show just based off the pilot and everything that we've seen interviews I thoroughly enjoyed the show my wife and I last night watched the first one we debated watching the second one But no we had to get up early to take our kids school So we ended up watching the great British making show Um, I really enjoyed it and I think I think what you said that Greer they make Greer a Muslim. That's a change That's a very big change.
I Don't here's the thing right now. I'm not emotionally attached to Greer But I would imagine there are people being that know this story and no greer more I mean previously Kevin Costner Morgan Freeman other people have played James Greer before yeah and Making him other than what he is I don't agree with is I mean It's the statement that we've always said like they wanted to make you know Peter Parker and just when it comes to this character Essentially, I do not agree with this now if you wanted to make other characters homosexual. That's totally fine moonnighter I have no problem like that's awesome. But Peter Parker as an essential They want to make James Bond homosexual like when I say they are there are people that wanted to make peace into it to the majority I don't know John James Greer's background.
I don't know his lore. I don't know who he is So that's why I'm not like when I heard you know that's interesting I actually kind of like that but there are gonna there will be people that are there like that's not James here right? I am I am I am all for like they have said you know, I want you the next James But I thoroughly want the next James Bond beaters Oba like with everything I being so there is room to grow because just because he hasn't been which is a black British man You know that could play that and be everything that James Bond is but when it comes to sexual orientation That is the character he's a womanizer kind of thing like that is James Bond Right and there's some things that you can't take in Liberty of the character on the times and grow now there will be people I'm not saying I disagree with this I am actually for this but it's because I am not emotionally attached and I don't know the lore of James Greer I really don't I'm not against it at all in any way shape or form I'm just saying there will be people that are are against that right and you have to be able to be respectful enough to be like I understand that you love this character more than I do but I appreciate what it accomplished Yeah, you know and I appreciate what it might accomplish But I'm really excited they've already shot the first two seasons Seasons wanted to was already shot. Oh, yeah, so John Trusinski playing Jack Ryan Wendell Pierce playing James James Greer they have already shot 16 episodes and And They haven't released anyone else that's in the second season the first and second season already shot and done Hmm, so I thoroughly enjoyed the show.
I'm excited to see where it goes to here I love how they paint both sides very well. It's intrigue. It's very suspense driven not suspense in the scary way my wife hates scary stuff So she she actually thoroughly enjoyed this show. So if you like a thrillers It's it's one that you all would really love Jay.
What are your last thoughts of Jack Ryan? Give it a give it a shot like it's gonna take a little time to get past You know, Jim helper every time I all be honest, I I myself am still struggling with that like I see him And I'm just like oh, it's buffed him helper So, you know give it a shot, but it's it's I think it's pretty it's a pretty good watch I even if it's not I from what I've seen so far I don't think it's on the level of like the all-time greats. It's not gonna be like talk shows. Yeah It's not gonna be talked about the way like break back.
Yeah, yeah, no way, but it's gonna be revealed That was a good watch. Yeah, I mean eight episodes if you're looking for the next show to queue up What's eight episodes? You know, I mean most people bring through that in no time. That's like two weeks Yeah, you want every other day?
Yeah, it's two weeks of your life, right? You got it. You got this Goodness gracious. Okay.
Thank you all again so much. We're probably gonna break that episode up somewhat Maybe into a Jack Ryan one shot, but again, we thoroughly enjoyed Jack Ryan just be open-minded to it It was very well shot to very well written So it's very well done guys. I'm Jack Ryan's a very good show go watch it If you love Tom Clancy movies and movies if you're a fan of John Krasinski as a person as an actor I think he does a well job, but again, it's it's hard to Click that out of your brain of Jim Helpert kind of thing and I haven't seen quite a place, but I don't know what that's like Yeah, so thank you all so much We'll probably break this up into a couple episodes maybe a one shot of Jack Ryan But for everyone here at opinion hearing and our thoughts on nerd culture here today and shows my name is Danny We also have Jason. Thank you all again.
Talk to you later