Chris Pratt says audiences are hungry for ‘unapologetic, patriotic’ action stories
Chris Pratt said audiences are keen for action stories that are unapologetically patriotic, describing the first season of his series “The Terminal List” as serving an audience he considers underserved. He believes its combat scenes resonate partly because veterans recognise the production’s attention to authentic tactics and military behaviour.
The series is based on a book about a Navy SEAL, and Pratt said 17 veterans worked on the production, including two or three special operators serving as executive producers. He described season one as a psychological thriller about a SEAL seeking vengeance after a conspiracy destroys his platoon and family, while season two shifts towards international espionage. The second season premiered on Prime on 21 October.
In short
- Pratt says audiences want patriotic action stories.
- Veterans helped make the series’ combat scenes authentic.
- Season two takes the story into international espionage.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that patriotic action stories meet a genuine audience demand and give viewers a chance to see military service portrayed with respect. Involving veterans and special operators may bring authenticity to the tactics and behaviour, while stories of loyalty, sacrifice and confronting danger can be compelling without requiring every work to serve as political commentary.
The case against
Critics could argue that presenting a revenge-driven military thriller as unapologetically patriotic risks blurring the line between entertainment and endorsement of militarised or retributive values. They may also question whether veteran involvement alone ensures a nuanced portrayal, or whether an action story centred on a conspiracy and vengeance leaves too little room for the costs of violence and the complexity of military life.