Reacher has become a major hit for Prime Video, joining the wave of shows that combine action-packed conspiracies with a charismatic, rogue hero at the center. From The Night Agent to The Recruit, and especially the Alan Ritchson–led series, audiences can’t get enough of this blend of action thrills and intriguing conspiracies. But before all those series began dominating the streaming charts, there was another show quietly setting the stage.
Condor, based on Sydney Pollack’s 1975 Robert Redford classic Three Days of the Condor, reimagines the story for a modern era. The series follows Joe Turner (Max Irons), a young CIA analyst who unwittingly uncovers a global conspiracy that puts himself — and everyone he cares about — at risk. And while Reacher may rely on brute force, Condor proves that smart, white-knuckle tension can be just as addictive.
Max Irons Plays a Different Kind of Hero From Robert Redford in ‘Condor’
Season 1 of Condor begins with Joe Turner being recruited into the CIA after an algorithm he developed helps thwart a potential terrorist attack in Washington, D.C. But when he uncovers something he doesn’t fully understand, he inadvertently sets off a chain reaction that leads to the brutal massacre of his entire office. The sequence is staged with harrowing realism and intensity that rivals any of Reacher’s action set pieces. Overnight, Joe becomes the lone survivor of a black ops conspiracy on the run for his life, and the series transforms into a relentless cat-and-mouse thriller that refuses to let up.
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Unlike Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher, who almost seems to invite violence, Max Irons’ Joe Turner isn’t a natural fighter. He comes strictly from the intelligence side of the CIA and is more comfortable with data than combat. But when he’s framed for his coworkers’ murders and hunted by assassins, he’s forced to rely on instincts he’s never fully trusted. That vulnerability brings a raw, genuine element to his character and makes each moment on the run feel tense and unpredictable. As every layer of the mystery unfolds, the stakes climb higher, creating a slow-burn suspense that any Reacher fan would appreciate.
‘Condor’ Has Different Kinds of Thrills Than ‘Reacher’
While Reacher and Condor both deliver the adrenaline rush of a lone man battling corrupt forces, they explore strikingly different thematic territory. Reacher thrives on the catharsis of watching a larger-than-life hero impose justice by sheer will and brute force. Jack Reacher is almost mythic as a man who isn’t afraid to confront every threat head-on. The series draws clear lines: there are good guys and bad guys, and Reacher has the strength and skills to sort them out. As a character who’s endured for decades in Lee Child’s novels and inspired blockbuster films starring Tom Cruise, Reacher carries a cultural legacy all his own.
If Reacher is about unstoppable force, Condor is about how a smart, well-intentioned person copes when everything comes crashing down around them. If you enjoy Reacher but want something with more moral complexity and intellectual suspense, Condor is the perfect next watch. What’s so refreshing about Joe as a protagonist is his deep conscience and genuine reverence for human life. That might seem like a basic virtue, but in the morally ambiguous world of intelligence work, it sets him apart. Joe’s convictions frequently clash with the compromises and ruthlessness of his superiors, especially among his morally gray colleagues. This creates a tension that makes him an even more compelling character to follow, and one who anchors a terrific ensemble cast.
Unlike ‘Reacher,’ ‘Condor’ Doesn’t Have Clear Heroes and Villains
Instead of drawing clear lines between heroes and villains, Condor constantly blurs them, forcing Joe to weigh whether exposing the truth is worth the collateral damage. Even the man he idolizes, Bob Partridge (William Hurt), his uncle and the high-ranking CIA operative who first brought him into the agency, seems trustworthy at first but grows harder to read as the conspiracy deepens. Mira Sorvino and Bob Balaban deftly play a pair of shady CIA officers, Marty Frost and Reuel Abbott, whose true agendas remain murky. A particularly chilling performance comes from Brendan Fraser as Nathan Fowler, a multilayered villain driven by his own trauma and hatred.
If you’re a Reacher fan counting the days until it returns, and you’re craving another dose of tightly plotted suspense anchored by a flawed but sympathetic lead, Condor should be at the top of your list. Unlike the more episodic, villain-of-the-week format some other thrillers may rely on, Condor is fully serialized, with each twist building on the last, deepening both the conspiracy and Joe’s personal reckoning. As he runs from assassins, he’s also grappling with why everything is happening around him and whether there’s any way to stop it. It’s a question with no easy answers after he crosses a line that will change his life forever.
Even if you’ve never seen the Robert Redford original, this modern take stands completely on its own as a tense, smart, and morally complex thriller that feels both like a tribute and an evolution. If you enjoy the high-octane, adrenaline-filled moments of Reacher, Condor will be just as satisfying — and with an even more intelligent twist. Some classics deserve a second life, and Condor proves this one absolutely does. Although the series only lasted two seasons, it’s worth a watch now and works beautifully both as a standalone story and a companion piece to shows like Reacher.