Man on Fire Review
Director: Steven Caple Jr., Clare Kilner, Vicente Amorim, and Michael Cuesta
Date Created: 2026-04-30 17:32
2.5
Man on Fire Review: Directed by Steven Caple Jr., Clare Kilner, Vicente Amorim, and Michael Cuesta, with Kilner also serving as the creator and showrunner, the Netflix series stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy, alongside Billie Boullet, Alice Braga, Bobby Cannavale, Scoot McNairy and others. Based on A. J. Quinnell’s novel, the show has seven episodes, each around 50 minutes.
Man on Fire Review
Netflix series Man on Fire centres around John Creasy, a retired special forces operative who has suffered from past disappointments and psychological trauma. At the beginning of the show, Creasy does not present himself as an invincible action star; rather, he presents himself as an emotionally scarred individual struggling with self-control. As events progress, he ends up meeting an old friend and ends up in Rio de Janeiro, where he establishes a relationship with Poe, a troubled young woman. But before he can fully immerse himself in his new life, something unexpected happens, which plunges him back into the world that he desperately wishes to leave behind.
It’s evident that the creators aren’t just interested in creating an action-thriller. The mental state of Creasy takes centre stage in many aspects of PTSD, guilt, and isolation. In fact, this is one of the places where the series shines the most. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II manages to create a character worthy of such a complex script. In fact, his Creasy feels human rather than god-like – intense and quiet but obviously struggling under his burden. These silent scenes of inner turmoil actually work. Yet, too often, they rely on the same old brooding.
The connection between Creasy and Poe is supposed to be the emotionally rich foundation for the Netflix’s Man on Fire series. Rather than going with the stereotypical story of a protector and his child, here, both characters are supposed to represent broken people who have found meaning in each other. This concept is definitely interesting enough to work on its own, but there are some issues when it comes to actual implementation. While Billie Boullet does manage to create some genuine vulnerability in her character, at times, Poe makes really annoying decisions for plot convenience.
The biggest flaw of the Man on Fire series begins to emerge with its story. Despite its heavy themes, the storyline is often clichéd and predictable. Its conspiracy components, meant to generate interest, fall flat because of their lack of development and convenience. For those who have watched several political dramas, you will find yourself anticipating some story arcs’ conclusions before they even happen. The series gives an impression of having much more substance beyond entertainment that could be explored further.
The side characters have also been used sparingly. Alice Braga and Bobby Cannavale, for example, are definitely great actors, but they appear in stereotypical parts. Their characters seem to be more functional than anything else, and it is a pity that someone like Scoot McNairy, a competent actor, was underused. The program presents a gang of supporters that helps Creasy achieve his objectives, but the way they came together is a bit abrupt.
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As far as action is concerned, the series has some scenes that are both exciting and poorly put together at the same time. Those scenes that depict a realistic portrayal of the fight and emphasise brutality rather than the stylishness of the fight are quite exciting and executed properly, fitting the overall dark atmosphere of the series. On the other hand, there are scenes that have too much action that seem out of place amidst the seriousness of the entire story.
As far as the visuals go, Rio de Janeiro creates an entirely different atmosphere altogether. There is something about juxtaposing such an alive place like Rio against all its dangers that makes the series work to its advantage. Even so, it fails in making proper use of its surroundings, only utilising them as a backdrop rather than incorporating them into the plot itself.
One of the most pressing issues Netflix’s Man on Fire series has to deal with is that of heritage. With other incarnations having made their mark, the current adaptation finds it difficult to create its own place in the narrative. It tries to distance itself from the earlier works by placing emphasis on emotionality and a wider conspiracy, but it fails to go beyond in both regards to make a mark for itself.
Netflix Man on Fire Review: Summing Up
Overall, Man on Fire is a series whose production seems stuck between being ambitious and succeeding in achieving its ambitions. The show aims to be both an insightful psychological character analysis and an intense action film, but it fails in achieving its dual purpose. Still, despite having its fair share of tense scenes, a good central performance and glimpses into what the series might have been if there had been better writing and directing.
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