Relentless Pacing and Grounded Combat: 7 Action Shows Better Than Terminal List, Including 24 and Lioness

A high-energy action genre

Action thrillers remain popular for their excitement and escapism. As networks and streaming services compete in the genre, viewers have a growing range of series to choose from.

The Terminal List, now in its second season, stars Chris Pratt as James Reece, a U.S. Navy SEAL who discovers a military and government conspiracy. Based on a Jack Carr novel, the Prime Video series offers high-octane action, though the piece presents seven alternatives for viewers seeking something more.

24 races against the clock

Fox’s 24 follows counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, as he tries to stop global threats. Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, the political thriller features conspiracies, assassination attempts and nuclear plots.

Its real-time structure makes each one-hour episode represent an hour in a chaotic day. The series ran for nine seasons, followed by a movie and a one-season revival. A digital countdown, split screens and urgent pacing helped make its action distinctive.

Bauer uses deception and torture, while sacrificing his personal life, in pursuit of national security. The series also draws on anxieties about terrorism and presidential politics, giving its threats broader stakes than The Terminal List’s one-man vendetta, according to the article.

Lioness blends action and pressure

Created by Taylor Sheridan, Lioness, also known as Special Ops: Lioness, centers on CIA station chief Joe McNamara, played by Zoe Saldaña. She oversees a covert program that sends female operatives undercover to infiltrate terrorist networks.

The series follows handlers and operatives as they build relationships with high-target individuals and face intense psychological strain. Its missions span international locations, including the Middle East and Europe, alongside tactical firefights.

Practical stunts, grounded military maneuvers and realistic gunfights give the action a visceral feel. Saldaña leads a cast that includes Laysla De Oliveira, Nicole Kidman, Michael Kelly and Morgan Freeman, while the story connects black-ops work with the toll it takes on family life.