How Prime Video's Jack Ryan drew parallels from this real world event? Explained

Prime Video's slate of engaging military-spy thrillers is occupied by titles like Reacher and Jack Ryan.

Reacher aired its third season in February 2025. Another show that claims similar prestige and viewership is Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan.

Recently, a particular scene concerning Venezuela's oil and mineral-rich, strategic positioning has caught the eyes of viewers. It has now gone viral amidst recent developments in the South American country.

Ryan says,

“The fact is that Venezuela is arguably the single greatest resource of oil and minerals on the planet.”

In the scene, Jack Ryan, the titular protagonist, describes through analysis why the area is important. Considering the recent US operation in Venezuela, the season with a relevant scene has single-handedly made the show return to streaming dominance.

Jack Ryan drew parallels from this real-world event

Another show that was much like Reacher and Jack Ryan was The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, led by Chris Pratt. These shows dominated charts, and in that list, Jack Ryan remained a notable presence.

The show is now steadily walking towards a spin-off, according to reports, but fans have just found astounding similarities. The real-world politics strangely seeped into the reel world script.

The very first episode of Season 2 positions the crisis that the titular character would be walking into. He is investigating the dynamics and political transactions happening in Venezuela. The episode then delves into nuclear arms, assassination, and German spy involvement, making viewers sit on the edge of their seats.

Jack Ryan (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

Furthermore, the season also deals with more politically thrilling plots like election tampering, embassy evacuation, and violent protests. Due to the plot, many viewers have guessed the real-world connection and inspirations.

Carlton Cuse, the creator of the show, has also spoken on the similarity angle in an interview with Deadline:

"What always surprises you as a storyteller is how often real-world events catch up to fiction. The goal of that season wasn’t prophecy - it was plausibility. When you ground a story in real geopolitical dynamics, reality has a way of making it rhyme.”

He indicated that oftentimes a work of fiction does come true in reality, and this very fact and plausibility make a show interesting for viewers. The statement indicates that Cuse implemented his understanding of geopolitics, a step necessary for crafting political-spy dramas.

We have often seen events happening first, and films or other media pick them up for rendition later. Films such as Munich, Zero Dark Thirty, or Argo are prime examples of this. Sometimes TV shows are also subtly inspired by real-world events without borrowing too much.

Season 2 consisted of an ensemble cast that brought this politically charged thriller to life:

Noomi Rapace as Harriet “Harry” Baumann
Cristina Umaña as Gloria Bonalde
Jordi Mollà as Nicolás Reyes
Jovan Adepo as Marcus Bishop
Michael Kelly as Mike November
Francisco Denis as Miguel Ubarri

Cuse also threw light on his vision behind the political developments in the script of Jack Ryan Season 2. He concluded, saying:

"Any time the United States uses force abroad, it’s a moment that deserves reflection. The consequences are born most significantly by people who have very little control over events. I can only hope things move toward stability and peace for the people living there.”

The show concluded the CIA analyst's story in its 4th and final season. You can stream the show on Amazon Prime Video.

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Edited by Nimisha