Apple TV+ continues to add to its impressive pedigree of creative talent in front of and behind the camera with its military thriller original series Echo 3. Created by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty), the show is loosely based on the 2018 Israeli television series When Heroes Fly, albeit transposed to an American perspective following a different conflict zone. Boasting an all-star ensemble cast and filmed on location in Colombia, with participation from local production crews and the Colombian government, the series mixes high-stakes action with emotional intrigue that will keep audiences guessing character motivations and allegiances across its inaugural season.
Shortly after the wedding of Prince (Michiel Huisman) and Amber Chesborough (Jessica Ann Collins), Prince is called away to serve overseas with his special ops military squad, including Amber's older brother and Prince's longtime friend and comrade-in-arms, Bambi (Luke Evans). Amber has international activities of her own, working as a scientist in Colombia, where she is kidnapped near the Colombia-Venezuela border. Determined to recover their lost loved one, Prince and Bambi set out into the most dangerous corners of South America, using their military expertise to track her down and confront her kidnappers, only to discover the situation is far more deadly and complicated than they anticipated.
Across all the international jet-setting and tense action set pieces, Echo 3 keeps the focus squarely on its three leads as they overcome their own differences, both past and present, towards the common goal of Amber escaping alive. The show lives and dies by its protagonists' relationships and, fortunately, Huisman, Collins, and Evans deliver, underscoring a sense of longstanding familiarity and interpersonal history rife with distrust and unresolved tension. Huisman and Evans, in particular, get much more to do than glower in their designer jackets and wield assault rifles with aplomb, diving into some genuinely gripping material when the shooting stops.
The action throughout Echo 3 similarly has a feel of engaging intimacy to it, with the cinematography and choreography making viewers feel as though right in the thick of battle. This level of tension and suspense carries over to the dialog-driven scenes, particularly with Amber left at the mercy of her captors as they interrogate her to learn why exactly she is such a person of interest. Collins even gets to delve into some thrilling stunt work herself, including a harrowing sequence in Episode 5 that serves as one of the standout action set pieces of the first half of the season.
Where Echo 3 wavers is in its sense of pacing, with certain expository conversations and introductions of supporting characters distracting from the larger narrative taking place. When Huisman, Collins, and Evans are on-screen, they command attention, and whenever the story moves elsewhere, it begins to flounder before returning its focus to the protagonists. Running for 10 episodes, Echo 3 may have operated better with a shorter episode order or even as a feature film, as evidenced by the uneven pace.
Boal is right back to crafting the military-oriented action thrillers he excels at, joined by a solid cast and some truly gripping action sequences. With a focus on complex character relationships, authenticity in contemporary politics, and strong performances from its leads, Echo 3 is another addition to Apple TV+'s growing library of prestige programming. While those who aren't noted fans of the genre may not be won over by the show, geopolitical action thriller enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy in Echo 3.
Created by Mark Boal, Echo 3 premieres Wednesday, Nov. 23 on Apple TV+.