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The Terminal List: Dark Wolf Series Recap & Review - Episode 103: What's Past is Prologue

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"Either men will learn to live like brothers, or they will die like beasts." - Max Lerner


I’ve heard series like this referred to as “dad shows.” Prime Video’s Reacher, FX’s Sons of Anarchy, The Shield, and Justified. All “dad shows.” The characteristics often consist of action, violence, crime, and justice. Vengeance is a big theme in these kinds of series as well. They often satiate an internal desire for heroism at any cost, especially at the defiance of authority. The main character is usually an anti-hero or rather a morally conflicted hero willing to bend and or break what they hold to be true if it means their foes fall as a result. 


In Reacher the titular character is a walking wall of justice using everything from his fisticuffs to firearms and explosives. He is an incorruptible force, singularly focused on bringing his enemies to justice, whether that’s in handcuffs or in a body bag is entirely up to them. He is a nearly indestructible giant who either has the upper hand or has the means to get there. Always. And of course all the ladies want him. This is vicarious viewership at its most emphatic.


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Prime Video’s The Terminal List is a Navy SEAL fueled thriller brimming with action, military tactics, weaponry, murder, betrayal, and perhaps most alluring, vengeance. Chris Pratt plays James Reece, a broken but still highly efficient and extremely deadly SEAL determined to uncover a conspiracy that began with the betrayal of his unit and ended with his own wife and daughter murdered. And to add insult to injury, no one believes it’s really happening. He’s just suffering from loss and possible PTSD. Reece knows better and anyone, everyone, involved will meet their maker at the hands of the frogman with nothing to lose. 


At his side every step of the way is CIA operative, Ben Edwards. Loyal as they come, Ben will go to any length to help his friend fight some very real demons. But before he became CIA, he was of course a frogman just like Reece. Dark Wolf is the journey Ben goes on leading him from the rigid, team oriented SEALs to a more wild west, a no holds barred approach to fighting the enemy. The only problem is in this world, everyone begins to look like the enemy making it nearly impossible to trust anyone. This is Ben’s story before the events of Reece’s revenge odyssey.


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The Terminal List: Dark Wolf premieres on Prime Video, Wednesday, August 27, 2025 with three new episodes. A new episode will then premiere every subsequent Wednesday until the September 24th season finale. 




Episode 103 - What’s Past is Prologue


No technical spoilers, however each recap addresses what happens in each episode. If you don't want to be spoiled, watch the coinciding episode first and then come back to my recap and review.


And further down the rabbit hole they go. This hole just happens to have the CIA galivanting around. And the new team grows with some familiar faces. Some welcome, some not. Mohammed Farooq returns but so does Jules Landry, a man Edwards and Hastings are not exactly fond of. 


In a rare and all too brief moment of joy, Farooq informs Edwards that Amiri’s children have begun their journey to America and hopefully a better life. Pleased, Edwards smiles but knows their work is far from over. 


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The next mission is nigh. This time Farooq will join as the newly deceased Massoud Danawi intending on making a purchase from a man named Professor Molnar. What they are buying they have no idea yet. It’s another case of going in half blind. And as usual, a wrench is thrown in the gears for good measure. Suddenly a mystery text comes through on Danawi’s phone indicating an impending meeting. But who is this mystery person and what do they want? Do they know what Danawi looks like, if so, Farooq’s cover is already blown. More information is required. But first, the professor.


As they monitor the upcoming location for the meeting, Hasting’s doubts about Haverford and the new guy, Ish persist despite glowing reports to the contrary. 


As the Professor moves about the campus, Edwards tails him to a lab meant for nuclear physics. Suddenly the professor is far more interesting. The stakes are rising with every bit of new information. Including who this mystery person is and the massive threat they now pose. They may need to be handled. With prejudice. 


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Finally, the professor and Farooq “Danawi” meet at a public cafe. As the sale becomes clear, the product is potentially world altering. But as they are exchanging product for payment, outside threats begin to swarm the area. Farooq must find an escape and live. In the process, Ish sees an opportunity to acquire some identities of these newly acquainted threats. This may prove deadly. 


Out of 10

Story: 9/ Acting: 8.5/ Directing: 8/ Visuals: 7.5

OVERALL: 7.5/10


Overall thoughts on Episode 103: What’s Past is Prologue

This is a slower episode but it’s extremely important to the story. New, groundbreaking information is uncovered that could be cataclysmic if left alone. It also shows Edwards going deeper into this new spy world and it’s concerning Hastings more and more. Edwards is more comfortable in this realm than Hastings and the chasm between them is beginning to show. The implications of this episode are massive and what’s to come could prove to be dangerous to more than just Edwards and the team.


Season 1 Trailer:


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