Set in the deadly streets of Rio de Janeiro, Steven Caple Jr. and Vicente Amorim’s Man on Fire is single-handedly dominating Netflix five months after its release. Based on A.J. Quinnell‘s classic novel, the incredibly gripping seven-part series stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy, a retired special forces veteran forced to come out of hiding in order to complete one last mission. While dealing with the consequential aftershock of a life of violence, he navigates severe PTSD while attempting to protect a young Poe Rayburn, played by Billie Boulette.
Despite the quintessential action flick critique regarding the somewhat predictable plot, the show has particularly been praised for its top-shelf leads. Most notably, Abdul-Mateen has been personally praised for his expert portrayal of PTSD, adding both depth and real heart to his character. It seems as though it’s exactly this heart that’s allowed the series to stick the landing. Additionally, while it’s fair to say it leans rather heavily into familiar genre tropes, many say it offers a slower, more poignant look at trauma and revenge, unlike the explosive 2004 original starring Denzel Washington. Already, fans are impatiently awaiting any word on a second season, and it’s increasingly clear why.
Netflix’s ‘Man on Fire’ is a Thrilling Watch with a Groundbreaking Twist
After a harrowing mission gone wrong, leaving all of Creasy’s former partners dead, he turns to drinking and deflection as a makeshift emotional band-aid. Inevitably, this leads to a particularly dark moment in which, exhausted from the horrific nightmares and daytime carnage, he attempts to take his life. But, at just the right moment, he’s taken in by his best friend: Paul Rayburn, played by Bobby Cannavale, who just so happens to be in need of assistance in taking down a terrorist group.
In need of a purpose, John agrees and is promptly swept off to the not-so-sunny skies of Rio de Janeiro. However, in another horrific twist of fate, his apartment building is quite literally exploded, killing Rayburn and leaving his daughter Poe unprotected and alone. Consequently, this forces Creasy into the role of unlikely and initially unwelcome father figure. While the film paints the primary adversary as the violent group they’re up against, as a watcher it seems as though it’s actually something much deeper.
John is a man who has lost quite literally everything. Twice. He’s haunted by his past and cannot trust that just about anything will stick around long enough for him to love it. Poe is a young girl who just lost her father and is desperately trying to inch closer to the impenetrable walls of the man she’s left with. The push-and-pull dynamic between their characters is equally heartbreaking as it is rewarding. And more than that, seems to be the true meat of the story, bringing back audiences again and again. In this way, Man on Fire feels like much more than just another espionage thriller.
‘Man on Fire’ Effortlessly Dominates Streaming Charts
Upon the show’s debut, it earned a striking 11 million views in just four days, and it didn’t stop there. Once word got out about the thrilling series, in its second week it scored an additional 12.6 million views. Evidently, Netflix streamers were abuzz, and even still, the film regularly receives praise from critics and audiences alike.
Now, several months later, Man on Fire‘s viewers have doubled and tripled. Despite the sprinkling of critiques lost in the endless outpouring of praise, this show has clearly earned its rightful spot at the top. It perfectly combines the typical, sometimes arguably kitschy characteristics of the action genre with a truly humbling story. If not for its thrilling plot, the show most definitely proved itself through the top-notch acting skills of both Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Billie Boulette.
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