Common Sense Media Review
By Matt Cabral
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent spy thriller does right by game source material.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
What's the Story?
SPLINTER CELL: DEATHWATCH picks up the story of Sam Fisher, the extremely capable, nightvision goggle-wearing, silenced pistol-packing special agent working for 4th Echelon, a fictional black ops counterterrorism unit of the U.S. government. Fisher, famously voiced by Michael Ironside in the long-running game series, is now performed by Liev Schreiber. Deathwatch catches us up with an older Sam, who's living a quiet life with his loyal pup in a remote part of Poland. But when young female agent Zinnia (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) gets in over her head, the grizzled Fisher is called back to action.
Is It Any Good?
With its growing roster of game-based animated hits, including Castlevania, Arcane, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Devil May Cry, Netflix has long been doing right by gamers seeking fresh ways to enjoy their favorite pastime. Brought to the small screen by John Wick creator Derek Kolstad, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch adds yet another solid adaptation to the streamer's stable. Starring sardonic, neck-snapping super spy Sam Fisher (Liev Schreiber,) the show puts a fresh spin on the games' formula while retaining the appeal of the beloved stealth-action franchise.
Deathwatch presents a much older – but no less lethal – Fisher, who finds himself reluctantly pulled from retirement to reunite with some old agency associates, as well as a new recruit. Anyone who donned the night vision goggles across Sam's long interactive career will immediately feel at home with the cranky spec ops agent the second he pulls his iconic silenced pistol. But complete newcomers craving a tense, action-ratcheting – and extremely violent – romp involving global espionage, corporate conspiracies, and a terrorist baddie backed by a small army of heavily-armed henchmen, are in for a brisk, absorbing ride that's over far too fast.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what TV and movie adaptations potentially bring to popular video games. Do you prefer these adaptations to retell existing game stories or expand on their established worlds? Are these adaptations less immersive because they're not interactive? Or are their stories deeper and more satisfying because there's no gameplay to distract from the narrative?
Talk about the series' violence. Is the extreme violence warranted in the face of the danger the characters encounter? Does the series depict violence differently than in the video games? Does the violence feel less impactful because this is a passive versus interactive experience?
How does the series differentiate between its heroes and villains? Are the motives on both sides clearly communicated? Do any of the heroes have flaws? Do any of the villains display positive traits?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 14, 2025
- Cast : Liev Schreiber
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Action
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 22, 2025
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