Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, which premieres on Prime Video this month and takes us deeper into the shadowy world of Navy SEALs turned CIA operatives.
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf premieres on Prime Video on August 27, 2025, with seven episodes that will be available for immediate binge-watching. This prequel series to the hit 2022 show The Terminal List runs approximately one hour per episode and dives into the backstory of Ben Edwards, exploring his transformation from Navy SEAL to CIA operative. Created by Jack Carr and David DiGilio, this series promises to deliver the same authentic military action and psychological complexity that made the original series a Prime Video success.
Following Ben Edwards’ journey from Navy SEAL to CIA operative, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf explores the darker side of military intelligence operations and the moral compromises required in black ops missions. The series combines intense action sequences with character-driven storytelling, offering viewers both spectacular combat scenes and deep psychological exploration of what it takes to operate in the shadows. What makes this prequel particularly compelling is its focus on the transformation process that turns elite soldiers into something more dangerous and morally ambiguous.
The Recruitment: When SEALs Enter the Shadow World
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf follows Ben Edwards’ journey from Navy SEAL to CIA operative as he gets recruited into increasingly dangerous black ops missions that test both his skills and his moral compass. The central premise revolves around Edwards’ gradual transformation from a straightforward military operator to someone who must navigate the murky world of intelligence work where traditional rules don’t apply. The series doesn’t shy away from showing how this transition affects both Edwards personally and his relationships with fellow operators.
Each episode builds the complexity of Edwards’ missions while exploring the psychological toll of operating in moral gray areas. The show expertly balances high-stakes action with character development, creating a narrative that feels both thrilling and psychologically authentic to the experiences of real special operations personnel.
Ben Edwards: Taylor Kitsch’s Tactical Evolution
Taylor Kitsch reprises his role as Ben Edwards from the original The Terminal List, bringing his signature intensity and tactical precision to this expanded character study. Kitsch delivers a performance that captures both the elite skills of a Navy SEAL and the growing moral complexity of someone being drawn into CIA operations. His portrayal shows Edwards as someone struggling to maintain his core values while adapting to missions that require increasingly questionable methods.
Edwards’ character arc throughout the series demonstrates the gradual transformation from clear-cut military objectives to the ambiguous world of intelligence operations. Kitsch’s performance anchors the show’s exploration of how good soldiers can be shaped into something more dangerous and morally compromised.
Raife Hastings: Tom Hopper’s Loyal Operator
Tom Hopper plays Raife Hastings, Edwards’ partner and fellow operator who shares the journey from SEAL team member to CIA asset. Hopper brings physical presence and emotional depth to a character who represents both brotherhood and the shared burden of crossing moral lines. His chemistry with Kitsch creates the foundation for exploring how these elite operators support each other through increasingly dark missions.
The dynamic between Hastings and Edwards drives much of the series’ emotional core, showing how partnerships forged in military service evolve when the stakes and moral complexities change dramatically.
James Reece: Chris Pratt’s Strategic Return
Chris Pratt reprises his role as James Reece from the original series, connecting Dark Wolf to the broader Terminal List universe while adding layers to the prequel narrative. Pratt’s return provides continuity for fans while offering new perspectives on his character’s relationships with Edwards and the events that shaped both men’s destinies. His performance adds gravitas to the series while maintaining the tactical authenticity that defined the original show.
The Point of No Return: When Operations Turn Personal
The series builds toward critical moments where Edwards and his team must confront the consequences of their increasingly dark operations, forcing them to choose between mission success and personal morality. Without spoiling specific details, the climactic episodes explore how these elite operators handle situations where their actions have far-reaching consequences beyond their original objectives.
These pivotal moments successfully tie together the series’ themes about loyalty, sacrifice, and the price of operating in the shadows while setting up connections to the events of the original Terminal List series.
Success on Prime Video
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf represents Prime Video’s continued investment in military thriller content, building on the success of the original series which became one of the platform’s most-watched shows. The prequel has generated significant anticipation among both military thriller fans and viewers of the original series, with early promotion highlighting the authentic military details and psychological complexity that made The Terminal List a standout hit. The series’ focus on character development alongside tactical action demonstrates Prime Video’s commitment to premium original programming.
The Perfect Military Prequel
If you love military thrillers with authentic tactical action and psychological depth, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is the perfect series to binge on Prime Video. The show successfully expands the Terminal List universe while delivering the intense action and character complexity that made the original series compelling.
Why This Prequel Delivers Strategic Excellence
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf represents everything compelling about military television by combining authentic tactical operations with genuine psychological exploration of what transforms elite soldiers into intelligence operatives. This isn’t just another military action show, it’s a character study wrapped in high-stakes missions that explores the moral complexities of serving in the shadows.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 7 episodes (complete season premiering August 27, 2025)
Platform: Prime Video
Release Year: 2025
Current IMDb Rating: Not yet rated (premiering August 27, 2025)
Genre: Military Thriller, Action, Drama
Status: Premiering August 27, 2025 (all episodes available at launch)
Protagonists: Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch), Raife Hastings (Tom Hopper), James Reece (Chris Pratt)
Antagonist: Black ops missions and the moral compromises of intelligence work