Krasinski’s version of Ryan is the best because he’s able to ease into the role without pushing himself too much. The actor also displays the right balance of charisma and toughness. He may not appear to be a strong physical guy, but Krasinski’s portrayal of Ryan is slightly more elite and grittier than his predecessors.
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In the films, Jack Ryan is a simple guy to figure out because he’s an Everyman who can anticipate when the world is threatened by evil terrorists. Before Krasinski, Harrison Ford’s take on the character was the best because he played Ryan as a persistent analyst, a family man, and a skilled combatant. As always, Ford can do drama and action like no one else. However, if there was an issue with Ford’s depiction of Ryan, it’s that he seems too familiar in the role after taking on quite a few action roles in the 80s and 90s (such as the Indiana Jones series and The Fugitive).
Krasinski’s Ryan is also very adamant about spreading change within the CIA (since agents are forced to make tough decisions resulting in casualties). While Ford’s films (especially Clear and Present Danger) display Ryan as a skilled analyst, Ryan’s investigative skills are more established in the show compared to the movies in terms of analyzing evidence, talking to witnesses in various languages, and traveling to other parts of the globe (such as France and Syria). Krasinski has the qualities of a suave and firm gentleman (reminiscent of Ford) while also learning to be a better field agent (since he’s used to working from a desk).
By displaying a younger Jack Ryan in a series that serves as an origin story for the protagonist, there’s more plot and character development to flesh out. Along with Ryan, there’s James Greer, a no-nonsense veteran CIA agent who understands the agency more than most in the business. James Earl Jones portrayed Greer as an admirable friend and mentor to Ryan in Ford’s and Baldwin’s films. In the show, Wendell Pierce’s portrayal of Greer is feistier because he tries to teach Ryan that the CIA is an imperfect world of espionage in which some unconventional methods are necessary in order to accomplish the mission.
The love interest, Cathy Mueller, is also intriguing because she’s a doctor who becomes pivotal to the main plot of the show (terrorists trying to kill the U.S. President with Ebola). Her chemistry with Ryan is also effective, and while they do have a love scene, their relationship is sincere and affectionate. The films also involve Ryan having a wife or girlfriend. However, Ryan’s wife is barely shown in Baldwin’s film, Affleck’s relationship is minimally revealed, and Pine’s love interest is mainly used in order to save her from the villains.
In Ford’s films, Ryan’s relationship with his wife is also strong and loving, but in Patriot Games, Ryan has to save her from the terrorists trying to kill them, and in Clear and Present Danger, her role is somewhat reduced. Cathy’s role on the show is a supporting one that does manage to stand her ground and not be intimidated by the male characters. The bond between Ryan and Cathy is also an evolving relationship because both characters try to get to know each other and their backstories (such as when Ryan talks to Cathy about some of his traumatic memories of serving in the military).
The villains Ryan takes on in the films are sneaky and menacing (especially the drug cartels in Clear and Present Danger, along with a corrupt American President). However, while the terrorists on the show are evil in terms of planning large-scale attacks involving explosives and Ebola, there’s personal and emotional resonance behind the actions of the villains, especially the primary antagonist, Mousa bin Suleiman, in the first season. Suleiman seeks vengeance against the U.S. for bombing his home in Lebanon when he was a child, leaving his family dead and his brother heavily wounded. Ryan learns more about Suleiman and his brother, analyzing their every move and intending to protect Suleiman’s wife and children from further harm.
Krasinski’s Jack Ryan is the best version because he faces more difficult obstacles in the CIA, especially since he’s just starting out as a field agent, while still maintaining his military training. Ryan’s backstory is also more detailed, and his relationships are more complicated and not as clear-cut as in the films. The villains, as well as the settings, are further depicted with clarity and emotional drama. After two seasons in the books, this version of Ryan surely has more to offer in upcoming seasons.
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