Prime Video's Reacher has become a phenomenon, proving audiences are hungry for action-packed conspiracies led by charismatic, rogue heroes. From The Night Agent to The Recruit, the streaming landscape is full of similar thrills. But before all these shows defined the modern action-thriller boom, one underrated series quietly set the stage: Condor.
Based on Sydney Pollack's 1975 classic Three Days of the Condor, this two-part series reimagines the story for a modern audience. It follows Joe Turner (Max Irons), a young CIA analyst who stumbles onto a global conspiracy that puts his life—and everyone he loves—at risk. While Reacher relies on brute force, Condor proves that smart, white-knuckle tension can be just as addictive.
A Different Kind of Hero
Unlike Alan Ritchson's Jack Reacher, who almost invites violence, Max Irons' Joe Turner isn't a natural fighter. He comes 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.
The first season begins with Joe being recruited after his algorithm helps thwart a terrorist attack. But when he uncovers something he shouldn't, a brutal massacre wipes out his entire office. Overnight, Joe becomes the lone survivor of a black ops conspiracy, and the series transforms into a relentless cat-and-mouse thriller that refuses to let up.
Moral Complexity Over Clear Heroes and Villains
If Reacher is about unstoppable force, Condor is about how a smart, well-intentioned person copes when everything crashes down. The show constantly blurs the lines between heroes and villains, forcing Joe to weigh whether exposing the truth is worth the collateral damage. Even his uncle Bob Partridge (William Hurt), the high-ranking CIA operative who brought him into the agency, grows harder to read as the conspiracy deepens.
Mira Sorvino and Bob Balaban play shady CIA officers 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. This moral ambiguity makes Condor a perfect watch for fans who want more intellectual suspense after Reacher.
Unlike the more episodic, villain-of-the-week format some thrillers rely on, Condor is fully serialized, with each twist building on the last. As Joe runs from assassins, he's also grappling with why everything is happening and whether there's any way to stop it. It's a question with no easy answers.
If you're counting the days until Reacher returns, Condor should be at the top of your list. For more great thrillers, check out The 10 Greatest Thrillers Ever Made or 10 Action Movies That Get Better Every Time You Watch Them. And if you're looking for another underrated gem, don't miss One Battle After Another.
