Warning: SPOILERS for Jack Ryan Season 3, Episode 8 – “Star On The Wall”Jack Ryan (John Krasinski) stops a war between Russia and the United States in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan season 3’s finale, while his allies, James Greer (Wendell Pierce) and Mike November (Michael Kelly) work from within the Kremlin to stop a coup of the Russian government. After discovering a 50-year-old plan involving a nuclear weapon called Sokol was reactivated by a Russian conspiracy, Jack Ryan found himself on the run from the CIA, who thought he had turned. But Ryan regained the trust of enough friends to prove he was right, and together, they had to save the world from a war between the superpowers.
In Jack Ryan season 3’s finale, “Star On The Wall,” Jack’s mission was to stop a Russian destroyer called the Fearless from instigating war with the US. Ryan had already prevented Sokol from destroying a town in the Czech Republic, which Russia would have blamed on the Americans. The Fearless was meant as the final stage of the plan to provoke the United States into armed conflict while a cabal led by Russian Defense Minister Alexei Petrov (Alexej Manvelov) staged a coup and overthrew President Surikov. Meanwhile, at the White House, former CIA Rome station chief Elizabeth Wright (Betty Gabriel) has to convince the President and the Joint Chiefs to trust Jack Ryan as much as she does.
Jack & Luca Prevent A War Between The US & Russia
Jack Ryan made no allies on the USS Roosevelt when he forced them to let him board after he was denied access, but it didn’t take long for the Captain to begin to believe the CIA analyst. The Fearless was deployed solo in the Baltic Sea specifically to target the Roosevelt and ignite hostilities. Jack Ryan’s main focus in the season 3 finale was to prevent the Captain from following his rules of engagement, which the Russians wanted him to do to escalate the conflict. The Roosevelt’s Captain had to admit that Ryan was on the nose about everything he said, and he was torn between his own orders and whether to believe the CIA agent.
Jack’s ace-in-the-hole aboard the Fearless was Luca (James Cosmo). The Russian spymaster was part of the original Sokol project in the 1960s, but he turned on the conspirators to prevent World War III. Luca boarded the Fearless to do it again; originally, his plan was to kill Captain Antonov, who was part of AlexeI Petrov’s coup. But after Luca was caught and placed in the brig, he appealed to the Fearless’ First Officer to follow his instincts that Captain Antonov was going to start a war. With Luca’s help, the First Officer mutinied against his Captain and had him placed under arrest after Antonov launched a missile at the Roosevelt. With Antonov in custody, the Fearless stood down, and Jack and Luca together prevented war.
What Happened To Luca At The End Of Jack Ryan Season 3
Luca was perhaps the most interesting character in Jack Ryan season 3; to Jack, he appeared to be an untrustworthy old Russian spy working the angles, but Luca’s sole focus was to prevent the second coming of Sokol. It was a sin of his past he was still paying for. Part of it involved facing another surviving part of that dark past, Petr Kovac (Peter Guinness), who used to be known as Petr Lebedev when he was part of Sokol. When Luca confronted Petr, he killed his former colleague, who was responsible for the murder of Russian Defense Minister Demitri Popov under Alexei’s orders.
Jack and Luca could never be considered friends, but in Ryan, Luca saw someone like him, who had a strong moral compass. Luca had one when he was younger, but he regrets the career he spent following orders and serving flawed and corrupt institutions. The former Soviet spy and killer sees Ryan as possibly going down that same path, and the lesson he wanted to teach Jack was to be better than the institution he serves. Luca’s fate was left ambiguous as he was picked up by the KGB after he stopped the Fearless, but it’s quite likely the old Russian spymaster was executed after Jack Ryan season 3 ended.
How James Greer, President Kovac & Mike November Saved The Russian President
James Greer, Mike November, and Alena Kovac (Nina Hoss), the President of the Czech Republic confirmed that Alexei Petrov was planning a coup, and they acquired a recording of Petrov confessing to the murder of Defense Minister Popov. Alena also got the help of Popov’s widow, who could reach and convince the Russian President. But to prevent the coup from taking place, Greer, Mike, and Alena entered the Kremlin using its secret tunnels, and then they split up to prevent the coup in two different ways.
Greer allowed himself to get captured so that he could gain a private audience with Alexei and try the diplomatic route. Greer offered Petrov asylum in the United States and even his own apartment in New York or Miami to stand down. As expected, Petrov refused, but Greer’s meeting was really a ploy to buy time so that Alena and November could meet with President Surikov. After speaking to Popov’s widow and hearing Alexei’s confession, Surikov knew he was in danger, and he acted swiftly. The President informed his guards, who found and shot Petrov dead. Surikov then rounded up the Sokol conspirators in his government, averting the coup. Greer, Alena, and Mike were free to go, with Surikov’s gratitude.
What Jack Ryan Season 3 Cost President Kovac
President Kovac not only lost her father, but she ended up disillusioned by her entire life in Jack Ryan season 3. Petr was Alena’s closest advisor, but the revelation that he was working for Alexei Petrov, and he murdered Dmitri Popov as part of the coup attempt, shattered her. Petr used Alena her entire life. When he fled the USSR for the Czech Republic, Petr married Alena’s mother for her wealth and political connections. Petr also rigged Alena’s election to become President. Alena ended Jack Ryan season 3 with the heartbreak that her father manipulated her all along, even when he claimed he loved her. As President, Alena now has stronger ties to Russia and the United States, but she lost her belief in her father.
Elizabeth Wright Becomes The New CIA Director
Elizabeth Wright was between a rock and a hard place throughout Jack Ryan season 3. As Rome station chief, she worked side-by-side with Ryan, but she was the one tasked with apprehending Jack when the CIA put a red notice on his record. Wright had to follow her orders, even when she suspected they were wrong, and she knew Greer was helping Ryan on the side. Meanwhile, CIA Director Miller refused to listen to Wright about Ryan, suspected she had turned, and recalled her to Langley, Virginia.
However, Wright got the last laugh when Jack prevented Sokol from destroying Nymburk, the Czech Republic village targeted by the Russians. The President of the United States fired Miller and made Wright his advisor. Elizabeth, in turn, lobbied for heeding Jack Ryan’s warnings. When it was all said and done, Wright’s faith in Ryan paid off, and the President made Elizabeth the new Director of the CIA, a role she will presumably have if Elizabeth Wright returns in Jack Ryan season 4.
Where Does Jack Ryan Go In Season 4?
The red notice was rescinded from Jack Ryan’s record, and he and James Greer returned to CIA Headquarters in Langley to receive medals from the new Director, Elizabeth Wright. Jack proved he was someone who was willing to lay down his life to protect his country, just like the men and women who have stars on the wall at CIA Headquarters. At the end of season 3, Jack Ryan is back in the agency, Mike November returned to his home in Greece, and Greer is also still with the CIA.
The question is what will happen in Jack Ryan season 4, and how will the final season wrap up the adventures of John Krasinski’s version of Tom Clancy’s hero? Abbie Cornish is expected to finally reprise Dr. Cathy Mueller in Jack Ryan season 4, possibly to set up her becoming Dr. Cathy Ryan. In addition, Michael Peña is reportedly joining Jack Ryan season 4 as Ding Chavez to set up the planned Rainbow Six spinoff. As for what new threat to the world Jack will face in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan season 4, that’s classified.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Season 3 is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
