Netflix’s Man on Fire wastes no time. It throws you into the action right away, and that’s exactly what you want from a show like this. The opening does a solid job setting the tone, it’s action-packed, intense, but also very focused on John Creasy’s mental state.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II immediately proves he’s more than capable of carrying the show. His take on Creasy feels different, less stoic, more visibly fractured, and it works. There’s something about the way he moves through scenes that feels controlled and volatile at the same time. When he turns on that “threatening” energy, it’s kind of mesmerizing. It’s not just intimidation, he makes it look like art.

But let’s go back to the beginning and talk about the pilot. It starts strong, setting everything and everyone quite well, establishes Creasy’s internal struggle, and throws in a twist that genuinely caught me off guard. I know, I’ve seen Denzel Washington’s version, but this show still managed to surprise me. From there, the show settles into its rhythm, blending action with character work in a way that…mostly works. One thing I appreciated is how the writing plants seeds early, even episodes that feel slower or borderline “filler” tend to pay off later. You realize certain scenes weren’t just there to pad the runtime; they were setting up decisions, reactions, and consequences.

There are also some smart character choices throughout the season. The way the show keeps the witness tied to Creasy’s journey is handled pretty cleverly, and making her old enough to actively participate in what’s going on adds a lot more depth to their dynamic and gives their relationship more weight.

That said… the writing isn’t always consistent.

For a show that clearly wants to be quotable, some of the dialogue feels a little too written, or maybe it was the delivery. Like you can almost hear the writers in the room trying to craft a “cool line.” And instead of landing naturally, those moments stick out just enough to pull me out of the scene.

There are also a few plot points that don’t quite hold up under scrutiny. The biggest one for me is a mid-season hostage exchange that should’ve been one of the most intense moments, but instead, it completely falls flat. There’s barely any tension, and the logistics of that situation are off. I really want to get into it, but I want to keep this spoiler-free, so without getting too deep into it, it’s one of those chains of events that doesn’t quite make sense the more you think about it. And for a show that relies so heavily on stakes, that kind of misstep stands out.

The setting is another interesting aspect. I glanced at the trailer but never fully clocked that the story is set in Brazil, and I’ll admit I was a bit wary about how the show would handle that. Given real-world context, it could’ve easily leaned into something more problematic, maybe even demonizing the country. Instead, it plays things relatively safe, focusing more on internal conflicts, jealousy, power struggles, egos, rather than trying to make a broader political statement. It’s a more predictable route, but probably the smarter one.

There are still moments, though, where things feel a little too convenient or just plain unrealistic. Certain character decisions and story turns lean into “that’s movie logic” territory, and while you can roll with it to an extent, it does chip away at the overall impact.

But even with those flaws, Man on Fire is still a compelling watch. The action is strong, the performances carry a lot of weight, and when the writing clicks, it really clicks. It’s just a bit frustrating because you can see how good it could be with tighter writing across the board. It’s like Killen started strong but got too loose with the writing by the end.

Overall, it’s a solid first season, it’s gritty, emotional, and anchored by a standout performance from Abdul-Mateen II. It doesn’t always stick the landing, but it keeps you engaged enough to want to see where Creasy’s story goes next.

Good foundation, a few missteps… but definitely worth watching.

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