The season finale of The Terminal List: Dark Wolf ended with a major surprise appearance that changes everything for Ben Edwards. The prequel series, which streams on Prime Video, shows how Taylor Kitsch’s character eventually becomes the man who betrays Chris Pratt’s James Reece in the original show. The final moments of the finale, titled “The Wolf You Feed,” introduce a new character who sets Ben on a dark and official path with the CIA.
The Finale’s Shocking Cameo
In the closing minutes of the August 27, 2025 finale, Ben Edwards is approached by a man named Hank “Dash” Dashnaw, played by Pablo Schreiber. Dash finds Ben while he is fixing his boat at the Norfolk Gateway Port, months after the main events of the season. Dash, a former Delta Force soldier who now works for the CIA on a contractual basis, makes Ben a tempting offer. He is impressed with how Ben handled the dangerous situation with CIA spymaster Jed Haverford and officially recruits him to join the CIA’s Ground Branch.
This position is the same one Ben holds when he appears in the original The Terminal List series. The scene ends with Ben accepting the offer and taking a lie detector test at CIA headquarters in Langley, a standard step in the security clearance process.
Connecting The Story To The Main Series
This cameo is crucial because it directly sets up Ben Edwards’ role in the flagship series. Actor Taylor Kitsch explained that this moment is the gateway to Ben’s darker future.
“We did have a Ground Branch guy on, and he’s going to be heavy with me if I’m lucky to do Season 2, because obviously I’m in Ground Branch at the end. Where it picks up is insane, which is cool, and way darker, psychologically, for Ben,” Kitsch said in an interview.
The appearance of Hank “Dash” Dashnaw is a narrative bridge. It shows the exact point where Ben transitions from a former SEAL doing off-the-books work for the CIA to becoming a formal part of its paramilitary arm. This move deeper into the “gray” side of warfare is what the prequel’s title, Dark Wolf, refers to, exploring the internal battle between Ben’s lighter and darker impulses.
A Glimpse Into A Darker Season 2
While a second season of Dark Wolf has not been officially confirmed by Prime Video, Taylor Kitsch has shared exciting details about the planned story. He revealed that a potential second season would be even more intense, drawing inspiration from real-life events.
“A lot of it’s based on one of the SEAL’s true life when he was in the Ground Branch. He went dark for eight months by himself and uncovered a lot of crazy shit. You’ll see the toll that it finally takes on Ben, and you’ll finally see him fall,” Kitsch stated.
This suggests that fans would see Ben Edwards operating alone on a dangerous, extended mission that pushes him to his psychological limits. The story would continue to chart his emotional descent, making his eventual betrayal of James Reece more understandable.
A Key Name-Drop For Book Fans
During his conversation with Ben, Dashnaw name-drops a character that will be very familiar to readers of Jack Carr’s novels: Vic Rodriguez. For viewers who only watch the show, this name might not mean much, but in the book series, Vic Rodriguez is a significant CIA contact for James Reece.
In the third novel, Savage Son, Rodriguez is the one who informs Reece and his friend Raife Hastings about an impending attack by the Russian mafia. Later, Reece even contacts Rodriguez to express his own interest in joining the CIA, following in the footsteps of his friend, Ben Edwards. By introducing his name in Dark Wolf, the show is planting a seed for a character who will become important in the expanding Terminal List universe on screen.
The Author’s Tradition And Fan Reactions
Series author Jack Carr continued his tradition of making a cameo appearance in the adaptation of his work. He briefly appeared in the fifth episode of Dark Wolf. This follows his cameo in the first season of The Terminal List, where his character was killed by James Reece.
Fans have been actively discussing the finale and the surprise cameo on social media. Many expressed their excitement for the future of the series and the introduction of Pablo Schreiber’s character. The show has achieved a strong 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a positive reception from viewers.
Chris Pratt, who stars as James Reece and is an executive producer, has spoken enthusiastically about expanding the franchise.
“I’m down to do this for a really long time. We’ve got tons of ideas for spin-offs, for various characters… we just want to keep expanding the Jack Carr cinevision universe, tie ’em all together and create something, because it’s unlike anything else on TV, and I want to keep going,” Pratt said.
Also Read: The Terminal List: Dark Wolf Finale Explained: What’s Next for Ben Edwards?
