Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Is Actually Good!

Quick Overview

The reviewer concludes that the animated series Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is surprisingly good, despite its flaws like the overused swearing and the questionable characterization of the villain, Grim, though the action sequences are well-choreographed and maintain a high level of quality.

Key Points: The reviewer watched the entire two-part Splinter Cell: Deathwatch animated series twice and ultimately recommends it. The series is based on Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell franchise, which typically focuses on stealth, but Deathwatch leans heavily into action, featuring many shootouts and melee fights. The character of Grim, the primary antagonist, is criticized for being overtly evil and for her dialogue relying too heavily on swearing. Sam Fisher's voice actor, Liev Schreiber, is noted as doing well in the role, but the series itself is seen as an attempt to pass off a new story/character as a sequel to Blacklist. The reviewer praises the animation quality, particularly in the fight scenes, noting the action is incredibly smooth and well-rotoscoped. The series features a notable narrative shift where the protagonist, Sam, seems to be protected and mentored by his daughter, Zenia, who acts as his partner rather than a subordinate. The high body count, including skull shots and headshots, might shock viewers accustomed to the usually less graphic stealth focus of the games.

Context: This video is a review of the animated series Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, an eight-episode special released on Netflix in 2021, which takes place 12 years after the last canonical Splinter Cell game, Blacklist. The series explores a new narrative involving Sam Fisher, who has seemingly retired to the countryside, while his daughter, Zenia McKennah, takes on a more active field role, leading to confrontations with a shadowy organization known as Fourth Echelon.

Detailed Analysis

The reviewer assesses Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, an animated series that fans waited 12 years for since Splinter Cell: Blacklist. The series is noted for leaning heavily into action rather than stealth, resulting in a high body count and graphic violence, including skull shots and messy fights, which might surprise long-time fans. The reviewer praises the action choreography as incredibly smooth, even suggesting it might have been rotoscoped, and notes that the visual contrast between light and shadow is consistently strong. The character of Grim, the primary antagonist, is heavily criticized for her overtly evil portrayal and excessive swearing, which the reviewer found grating. Conversely, Liev Schreiber's voice work for Sam Fisher is deemed good, though the character himself is portrayed as an entitled, whiny douchebag who seems to be taking personal stakes over the mission. The dynamic between Sam and his daughter Zenia is also highlighted, as Zenia acts as a capable partner rather than a subordinate, even leading Sam's actions at times. Despite the flaws, particularly in character writing (like the villain's actions and Sam's personality), the reviewer ultimately recommends the show for its high-quality action and atmospheric presentation.