Shooter

I have Shooter with Wahlberg categorized among my favorite films, so I was surprised that they decided to give it space in a series format. Antoine Fuqua oversaw a few episodes as a producer, which significantly influenced the quality of the series. Ryan Phillippe is quite an underused actor, but after watching this, I really don't understand why. He carried the series with his charisma and likable presence, perhaps fitting the role even more than Wahlberg himself, and he delivered a brilliant performance all around. The other actors weren't bad, but sometimes their performances weren't entirely ideal. Among the supporting actors, I want to highlight Tom Sizemore's performance, which convinced me from the first minutes that his casting made sense. The action is somewhat secondary here, but when it does come, it’s worth it (especially the last two episodes). It’s true that the action sequences should have been more prominent, which is one of the few downsides of the series. I think the penultimate episode was the best, especially the ending with the two main villains. 80%. (21.01.2017)

Series based on films are usually something I’d dismiss right from the start, because they often don’t turn out well, but Shooter is one of the few exceptions. The first season won me over with its likable lead actor and a solid dose of tension, which, for a TV production, was quite impressive. I liked the second season even more. Finally, we got to see Solotov in the main villain role—he doesn't mess around and starts eliminating one soldier after another, or rather, those who saw his face and could identify him. As his counterpart, Swagger returned, and I have to say that Ryan Phillippe truly embodied the role like few actors do. I was pleased by the return of characters from the first season, as well as the introduction of new ones. The best episodes for me were the first one in Frankfurt, which was incredibly gripping, and the ones set in the Mexican prison, which felt uncomfortably realistic. We'll see what the third season brings, as the ending is open, and I'm curious to see how the Swagger vs. Solotov showdown will ultimately play out. I give it 79%. (14.09.2017)