REVIEW: ‘Splinter Cell: Deathwatch’ Hits Hard With Amazing Talent But Misses Opportunities To Elevate Its Storytelling
- Moriba Forde
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, the Netflix animated series based on Tom Clancy's video game phenomenon, delivers the powerful blend of action and suspense that Clancy's world is renowned for. Unfortunately, the story drags its feet to get there.
The animated series revolves around Sam Fisher, a veteran black-ops agent working for the US government's division known as The Fourth Echelon. He has been trying to enjoy a quiet life in retirement until he is drawn back into action to help Zinnia McKenna, a rookie operative, uncover a conspiracy that hits close to home.
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch hails from Ubisoft Film & Television, with Sun Creature and Fost behind the animation, and Guillaume Dousse and Félicien Colmet-Daage as the directors. Derek Kolstad, the scribe behind blockbusters John Wick and Nobody, is the lead writer and showrunner of the series. Liev Schreiber and Kirby Howell-Baptiste are the voices behind our dynamic duo, Sam & Zinnia. Joining them are Walles Hamonde, Janet Varney, Joel Oulette, and Miranda Raison as the supporting cast.
Inside Splinter Cell's Legacy
The Splinter Cell video game franchise has been like an answered prayer to fans who seek more immersive experiences in a world forged by Tom Clancy, in a way that books or movies cannot provide, as video games are where sports, art, and science converge. Since 2002, fans have had the opportunity to experience the thrill of going on missions as Sam Fisher in a virtual environment. Deathwatch, being the game's first TV series adaptation, serves as an evaluation of the storytelling capability that allows fans to watch events unfold from the back seat.
The series receives a passing grade as it utilizes the voice talents of Schreiber and Howell-Baptiste to complement their characters, as the animation complements Clancy's imagination with the authenticity it demands. The action is another bonus. Imagine Jason Bourne fighting, but in animation. It is awesome as it sounds. However, Deathwatch is not perfect. There is room for improvement in the writing.
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch starts with a bang, introducing us to the protagonists and the dilemma they face, but it burns slowly to the point where it struggles to maintain interest. For a mature animated series dealing with espionage and conspiracy, it is underwhelming to see Deathwatch's storyline hold itself back. Some characters and subplots distract from the show's narrative instead of enhancing it, doing a disservice to Schreiber and Howell-Baptiste, who masterfully transform into Sam & Zinnia.
The Voices Behind Legends
Liev Schreiber walks in the shoes of Sam Fisher, being as comfortable as he can be, portraying a veteran black-ops operative with no shortage of skeletons in his closet. Schreiber's take on Fisher is reminiscent of a warrior who carries his turmoil quietly in his pursuit of solitude but is always ready to pick up his sword when a battle calls. Schreiber, being as adept at acting as he is, conveys the emotion of this dangerous, troubled character in a dignified way that honors Michael Ironside, the original actor who voiced Sam Fisher in the iconic video game series.
Kirby Howell-Baptiste voices Zinnia McKenna, the rookie operative seeking Fisher's expertise. She's an excellent addition to the Splinter Cell lore, being an original character with no prior history in the franchise. Howell-Baptiste succeeds at voicing the show's deuteragonist without being relegated to a stereotypical "sidekick" role. Mckenna, though much younger and less experienced than Fisher, is treated like an equal. While she needs Fisher, she knows that he needs her, as she keeps him on his toes, providing a balance he didn't think he needed.
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Endures Its Splinters
The rest of the characters in Deathwatch are honestly uninteresting. Unlike McKenna, who drives the plot forward, they feel like NPCs taking up time and space. Whenever they're on screen, boredom follows. No one in the cast is at fault for this. The problem lies in the writing, as the pacing spends too much time on these characters. At times, it feels like they're competing to star in a show, exclusive from the leads of the actual show.
Deathwatch's rating would obviously be much lower without Liev Schreiber and Kirby Howell-Baptiste's roles as Sam Fisher and Zinnia McKenna. Their chemistry, along with their characters' aligned journeys, provides a refreshing energy. However, they are not the only best aspects of the series. Animation studios Sun Creature and Fost deserve their flowers for crafting the lucid, gorgeous imagery in Deathwatch. The action sequences are especially on another level, showcasing the full scope of their capabilities with visual effects you would expect to see from an award-winning theatrical film.
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch manages to be entertaining enough, thanks to its veteran, rookie, and beautiful animated universe, doing all the heavy lifting, but it barely scratches the surface of its potential.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
About Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Premiere Date:Â October 14, 2025
Episode Count:Â 8
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Derek Kolstad
Writer: Derek Kolstad
Directors: Guillaume Dousse, Félicien Colmet-Daage
Executive Producers: Derek Kolstad and Hélène Juguet, Hugo Revon, Gérard Guillemot
Production:Â Ubisoft Film & Television
Animation Studio: Sun Creature, Fost
Distribution:Â Netflix
Cast:Â Liev Schreiber, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Walles Hamonde, Janet Varney, Joel Oulette, Miranda Raison
Based on: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell video game franchise
Logline:
Legendary agent Sam Fisher is drawn back into the field when a wounded young operative seeks out his help.