10 Years Later: Why ‘Patriot’ on Prime Video is a Must-Watch for Today’s Audience!

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Ten years following the debut of one of Prime Video’s least recognized yet exceptional original series, “Patriot,” continues to resonate strongly in 2025. This darkly humorous American spy show centers around John Tavner, portrayed by Michael Dorman, who appears to be an ordinary industrial engineer and folk singer. However, this character leads a double life: he’s also a covert intelligence agent, living secretively as a top-tier intelligence operative assigned to prevent potential nuclear conflicts in the Middle East.

Although the topic of nuclear war is grave and somber, the series Patriot skillfully tackles the high-stakes drama with a lighthearted approach using humor and folk music, making the grim realities more bearable. Over the course of two seasons and 18 episodes, not a single episode of Patriot felt dull or filled with unnecessary content. However, due to its relatively unknown cast of actors, an unconventional premise, and its debut on Amazon Prime Video before it became a major streaming platform, even dedicated spy enthusiasts may have overlooked Patriot during its original broadcast.

‘Patriot’ Follows John Tavner in an Undercover Operation

In November 2015, the show titled “Patriot” debuted on Amazon Prime Video, two years after the service began producing its first original scripted series. The story follows John Tavner (Dorman), who is actually known as John Lakeman. Interestingly, he’s tasked with assuming a secret identity as an industrial engineer for a company named McMillan, based in Milwaukee.

John’s father, Tom Tavner (Terry O’Quinn), holds a high position in the CIA and arranges for John to work at McMillan undercover, since McMillan collaborates with Luxembourg. John’s main objective is to thwart Iran’s nuclear development, and his connection to Luxembourg significantly aids him in his clandestine intelligence activities. Additionally, he leverages his family ties to the U.S. government for help, such as his mother Bernice (Debra Winger), who serves as Secretary of Transportation, and his brother Edward (Michael Chernus), a representative from Texas in Congress.

At McMillan, John maintains a discreet presence, causing his peers to grow increasingly curious due to his recurring travel to Luxembourg for business. As John tirelessly works on undercover missions aimed at preventing Iran from achieving nuclear capabilities, his covert identity is in danger of being unmasked by Peter Icabod, a colleague with suspicions, and Agathe Albans, a tenacious detective from Luxembourg’s homicide division.

How and Why You Missed ‘Patriot’ When It Was Released

Since Patriot premiered in 2015, well before Amazon Prime Video became a popular choice for top-tier streaming entertainment, the show was largely overlooked by many viewers. Furthermore, Prime Video didn’t become globally available until 2016, so the intended global audience missed out on watching the series live. To add to this, the cast of talented but less recognized character actors might have contributed to people not discovering the series during its original broadcast.

Additionally, the series ran for just 18 episodes. Unfortunately, it didn’t give espionage enthusiasts enough time to discover and immerse themselves in the show before it was almost over. Competing against popular spy shows like Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and The Man in the High Castle, as well as the similar titles of other series, such as Mel Gibson’s The Patriot, Harrison Ford’s Patriot Games, and Steven Seagal’s The Patriot, made it difficult for Patriot to stand out amidst a sea of comparable TV productions with bigger names and superior production values.

To summarize, the three-year gap between Seasons 1 (2015) and 2 (2018) significantly impacted the flow of the show. Viewers who discovered Season 1 on Prime Video and were hooked may have become frustrated by the lengthy wait for Season 2. As time passed, the show faded from people’s minds, making room for an overwhelming number of new streaming shows to compete for viewer attention. However, it’s good news for those who missed Patriot during its initial run as the show has gained renewed interest in 2025.

Why ‘Patriot’ Is More Timely Than Ever in 2025

In light of the ongoing tension between Israel and Iran in the Middle East, the TV series “Patriot” remains strikingly relevant in 2025. Although the show is fictional and portrays an Iranian nuclear program for dramatic effect, the implications of such a scenario in reality are as serious as ever. As Tavner attempts to curb Iran’s development of nuclear missiles, it’s hard not to draw parallels with real-world events unfolding.

Instead of trivializing this profound predicament, I would like to suggest a TV series called “Patriot” as a means for some to find relief through laughter amidst tears. The current state of the world can be frightening and unsettling, particularly for those residing in conflict zones. “Patriot” might not completely alleviate the tensions and apprehensions, but it could aid in comprehending the complex historical conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as America’s involvement in the proxy war.

One more strong incentive to start watching Patriot is its exceptional consistency in quality, from the first episode all the way through Episode 18. With no weak episodes, Patriot has earned a 91% Tomato Meter score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 89% Popcorn Meter score from critics and audiences alike. Furthermore, the show’s popularity has surged by 413 points on IMDb (8.2 rating), likely due to the timely and relevant theme of its story as the world anxiously awaits a resolution to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.

Furthermore, numerous reviewers concur that Season 2 outshines Season 1, despite a more leisurely narrative flow. While Season 1 garnered an 82% score from Rotten Tomatoes, Season 2 received a perfect 100% approval rating from critics. Thus, if the compelling theme piques your interest, it’s worth sticking around to finish the series, as its quality improves with each episode. You can stream Patriot on Amazon Prime Video.

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2025-07-05 21:02