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A former Navy SEAL who penned the bestselling novel The Terminal List, which has now become a hit Amazon Prime series, hit back at critics who have panned the show.
Author Jack Carr dismissed the scathing reviews of after the show shot up rating charts and got 1.6billion minutes of streams – nearly hitting the top spot for America’s most-streamed show.
The exciting military novel and series follows the storyline of a one-time Navy SEAL officer investigating the ambush of his platoon amid a covert mission.
Carr has now slammed critics, saying he believes they do not like it because it does not fit into their woke agenda.
He told FOX and Friends on Tuesday: ‘There’s no “woke” or “anti-woke.”‘
Carr noted that the terms ‘right, left, conservative [and] liberal’ are not even mentioned in The Terminal List.
‘But just because there’s no “woke” stuff, that’s shoved into it, then it’s perceived — by critics at least — as not promoting their agenda, so they’re going to hate it.’
He specifically called out The Daily Beast’s review of the show, in which Nick Schager said it was an ‘unhinged right-wing revenge fantasy’ which pandered to ‘to male red-state viewers with routine references to beer, guns, country music, and hunting.’
‘They see an American flag and they get upset,’ Carr said. ‘Or they see someone who is competent with weapons, has a certain mindset and holds those in power accountable for their actions, and they just kind of lose it a little.’
Jack Carr, a former Navy SEAL who wrote the book The Terminal List, said critics of the show adaptation are upset with it because it does not have a woke message
Speaking to FOX and Friends Tuesday, Carr blasted the criticism of American flags appearing in the show, noting that the flags are mostly draped over coffins
Carr specifically called out the Daily Beast’s review of the Amazon Prime show, in which Nick Schager said it was an ‘unhinged right-wing revenge fantasy’ which pandered to ‘to male red-state viewers with routine references to beer, guns, country music, and hunting’
He went on to blast the criticism of American flags appearing in the show, noting that the flags are mostly draped over coffins.
And, he pointed out that in at least some of the negative reviews the show has received, critics have compared the series to a ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ flag.
‘I thought it was very interesting that they had to go back to the 1700s and take the side of the British in their reviews,’ he said.
‘So the critics, yeah, they’re not big fans of this.’
But, Carr said, the show was not created for critics, but rather for America’s veterans.
‘We really didn’t make it for critics and it was important to me; to Chris Pratt; to Antoine Fuqua, the director; David DiGilio, the showrunner; was that we make something that we speak to those members of the military who went down range over the last 20 years so they could sit down, they could watch this show and they could say, “Wow, these guys put in the work, and they made a show that speaks to me.”
‘And that’s what we did.’
In fact, since the show debuted on Amazon Prime on July 1, it has garnered more than 1.6 billion minutes streamed as well as a 94 to 95 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
It is now the second most popular show on streaming platforms, Carr noted, second only to Netflix’s Stranger Things.
The Amazon Prime show stars Chris Pratt as Lieutenant Commander James Reece, as he investigates the ambush of his platoon amid a covert mission
The show has received a 94 to 95 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, even as critics panned it online
Carr’s remarks on Tuesday follow similar ones made by the show’s star, Chris Pratt, who plays Lieutenant Commander James Reece in the series.
The Guardians Of The Galaxy leading man put up a series of posts on Instagram Stories touting the success of the series, in one instance reposting a post from Carr that read, ‘We didn’t make THE TERMINAL LIST for critics. We made it for those in the arena. Find the article in the link below.’
Carr linked to a DailyMail.com article with the headline, ‘Chris Pratt’s new Navy thriller The Terminal List defies woke critics’ scathing reviews to shoot up ratings chart with 1.6 BILLION minutes of streams.’
The Jurassic World Dominion actor also shared a shot of Mike Myers as Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers films.
He captioned the image, ‘One point six BILLLLLLLLLION minutes,’ as Nielsen numbers indicate that viewers have watched at least 1.6 billion minutes of the thriller.
Pratt has previously responded to critics of the show in a series of Instagram Story posts
He reposted Carr’s Story, with a link to a DailyMail.com article about the success of the show reading: ‘We didn’t make THE TERMINAL LIST for critics. We made it for those in the arena’
Pratt also shared a shot of Mike Myers as Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers films, captioned ‘One point six BILLLLLLLLLION minutes,’ as Nielsen numbers indicate that viewers have watched at least 1.6 billion minutes of the thriller
Critics at multiple media outlets have slammed the show, with The Guardian describing it as a ‘terminally dull’ military thriller ‘that offers little intrigue or excitement.’
Reviewer Benjamin Lee wrote: ‘It’s a passion project for Pratt, who hasn’t been shy about his military obsession, but you would not know from watching the actor giving arguably his laziest performance to date, lethargically shuffling through scenes like he’s just here for the cash, unable to bring any real shades of humanity to an admittedly half-a-note character.’
In another negative review, Variety said the show is ‘a dour, miserable sit, one that would be tough to take as a two-hour film, and has been inexplicably roided up to eight hours.’
The publication also said the show appears to be a ‘vanity project’ for Chris, who serves as an executive producer.
In a slightly more positive review, The Independent praised the performances of actresses Riley Keogh and Constance Wu but criticized the plot.
They wrote: ‘The plot, in so much as there is one, will make about as much sense to viewers as it does to the heavily concussed Reece.’
The Hollywood Reporter also gave the show a damning review – comparing it to a ‘dry, tasteless’ burger that has been ‘left on the grill for so long that the result is dry and tasteless’.
Its reviewer wrote: ‘It’s the entertainment equivalent of a charred hockey puck, with the same limited range of flavor and aesthetics.’
The publication added: ‘This was a chance to take a thriller framework and include meaningful exploration of trauma and other veteran-related struggles, accentuating bravery and heroism.
‘Instead, it’s leaden, mostly emotionless and if its pace is fast, that’s because anything important was removed.’
CNN offered up a similarly withering review, describing the eight-episode series as ‘brutal’ and ‘cliched’.
Audiences have given the show a more positive assessment, with one viewer saying: ‘The is the best TV show to come out in a while’
But those who have watched the show have given it a noticeably more positive assessment, with one viewer saying: ‘The is the best TV show to come out in a while.
‘Chris does an amazing job playing the part of a navy seals commando, taking vengeance on those who killed his team. I was on the edge of my seat the entire season.’
Another said: ‘Great series. Don’t listen to the “professional critics.” If you are looking for action with a great cast, this show is for you.’
One viewer added: ‘Excellent acting through out. Authentic portrayal of subject matter. Gripping story.’
Another wrote: ‘Critics as usual got this one wrong. Outstanding series!’