SEASON PREMIERE "Strike Back" 
 WHEN | WHERE Second season starts Friday at 10 on Cinemax 
 REASON TO WATCH Bullets, bombs, breasts, bloodbaths. 
 WHAT IT'S ABOUT If this isn't TV's highest-body-count actioner, tell me what is. Sullivan Stapleton's disaffected American supersoldier again joins forces with Philip Winchester's British counterterror agent to mow down global evildoers. Where, you ask? In <a href="/topics//Kenya">Kenya</a>. And <a href="/topics//Somalia">Somalia</a>. Plus the U.K. And, uh, other places. Filmed in South Africa, "Strike Back" is all over the map, in more ways than one, as swift-paced proceedings from myriad locales get woven into what's supposed to be a tapestry of terror by Bad, Bad People. 
 Familiar face <a href="/topics//Rhona_Mitra_(actor)">Rhona Mitra</a> ("Boston Legal") arrives right away, as a supposed newbie in West African diplomacy. But as this season's slogan proclaims, "Diplomacy is overrated." By episode's end, she's strapping on the artillery. 
 MY SAY I'd love to have a show like this to love -- wanton action, quippy banter, adult sexuality, high-tech tackling of our big-brother-always-watching world. But all those surveillance cams and satellite images beamed to handlers back at U.K. HQ mostly just fill in exposition around the convoluted activity. Its hasty pace frequently muddles precisely who's who where, when or why. Even the zippy sex scenes play like another gratuitous burst of firepower. 
 BOTTOM LINE It's got game, but not much sense. 
 GRADE C+

SEASON PREMIERE "Strike Back" WHEN | WHERE Second season starts Friday at 10 on Cinemax REASON TO WATCH Bullets, bombs, breasts, bloodbaths. WHAT IT'S ABOUT If this isn't TV's highest-body-count actioner, tell me what is. Sullivan Stapleton's disaffected American supersoldier again joins forces with Philip Winchester's British counterterror agent to mow down global evildoers. Where, you ask? In Kenya. And Somalia. Plus the U.K. And, uh, other places. Filmed in South Africa, "Strike Back" is all over the map, in more ways than one, as swift-paced proceedings from myriad locales get woven into what's supposed to be a tapestry of terror by Bad, Bad People. Familiar face Rhona Mitra ("Boston Legal") arrives right away, as a supposed newbie in West African diplomacy. But as this season's slogan proclaims, "Diplomacy is overrated." By episode's end, she's strapping on the artillery. MY SAY I'd love to have a show like this to love -- wanton action, quippy banter, adult sexuality, high-tech tackling of our big-brother-always-watching world. But all those surveillance cams and satellite images beamed to handlers back at U.K. HQ mostly just fill in exposition around the convoluted activity. Its hasty pace frequently muddles precisely who's who where, when or why. Even the zippy sex scenes play like another gratuitous burst of firepower. BOTTOM LINE It's got game, but not much sense. GRADE C+

Entertainment

ETBOT17.WEB

'Strike Back' review: Season 2 on Cinemax

Newsday

p2STRIKE

Entertainment trending

Take our quizzes

50 best LI movies

AI's effect on entertainment

Jones Beach summer 2026 concerts

Most Popular

Entertainment Rail Module

The legendary Prince album and movie is about to become a stage musical.

Spring will bring 'Purple Rain' to Broadway

Spidey has starred in network series, cartoons and even a Japanese version.

World Wide Web: How many of these 'Spider-Man' TV shows do you remember?

The band canceled or postponed all shows through September due to a "need to recharge."

Summer bummer: Beach Boys' Jones Beach show called off

The former New York Mets infielder joins the musical on Aug. 27.

OMG! Ex-Met José Iglesias joining Broadway's 'Buena Vista Social Club'

Lassally produced Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" for nearly a quarter century and masterminded David Letterman's move from NBC to CBS.

Remembering Peter Lassally, late-night TV's 'host whisperer'

"Sharkzilla Takes New York," part of Discovery's "Shark Week 2026," ponders the possibilities.

Mutant sharks off LI? Montauk's 'Shark Doctor' says it's possible

Sign up for Newsday's Entertainment newsletter

Entertainment newsletter widget

More Entertainment

Entertainment Article Bottom Module

"I'm looking forward to pursuing something different but tangential to journalism," Glassberg said.

'Eyewitness News' reporter Lauren Glassberg exits after 26 years at Ch. 7

What can you say about a year that brought us "Family Feud," "The Gong Show" and "Battle of the Network Stars?"

Remember these 6 game shows from 1976? (Bet you don't remember them all)

The stars of "Totally '90s House" will seek to modernize a home that seems stuck in that decade.

LI's Melissa Joan Hart, other '90s TV stars, will compete in new HGTV show

The disgraced former Congressman will test his survival skills on "'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test."

George Santos to compete on Fox's 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test'

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits three restaurants where dining al fresco is the way to go.

Out East: Restaurants with great outdoor spaces

SailAhead, an organization that works to end veteran suicide by introducing former servicemen and women to sailing, took 100 veterans on the water Sunday. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

SailAhead takes 100 veterans sailing

A pop-up at Robert Moses State Park called "Shark Shack" teaches about marine life and shark safety.

Shark Shack at Robert Moses State Park tells you what to do when you meet a shark

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa stops by Smokin' Al's in Massapequa to try their oversized nachos, known as Macho Nachos.

Trendy Bites: 'Macho Nachos' at Smokin' Al's

From a surf lesson to eating along the boardwalk, Newsday travel writer Carissa Kellman explores Rockaway Beach.

Surf’s up: Best waves, best bites in Rockaway Beach 

The consequences depend less on the alleged crime than on the county where police make the arrest. Newsday political reporter Bahar Ostadan has the story.

Women arrested at illicit spas in Nassau risk deportation, but not in Suffolk

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visits Macchiato Espresso Bar in Mattituck to learn the art of the latte.

LI Works: Whole latte love goes into this art

Stretches of forest are turning into lifeless tree trunks, known as ghost forests, as salt water intrusion destroys the soil. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie has more.

Climate change creating ‘ghost forests’ on Long Island 

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano tries a Hyrox fitness class at Black Bear Athletics in West Babylon.

Why Hyrox is trending on Long Island

From pizza to clams, Newsday food writer Andi Berlin visits two restaurants that are on the way to Northwell at Jones Beach Theater.

Eats en route to Jones Beach

Sitewide Video Playlist

The settlement agreement was on the verge of collapse after disagreements between Thomas' mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, and Suffolk and the other defendants in the case. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

Judge approves $9M settlement

The plane was built more than 100 years ago at the Curtiss aircraft factory in Garden City. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'There's only three in the country'

Suffolk police charged three people following a street takeover involving at least 200 ATV's, dirtbikes and motorcycles that began in Hauppauge.

Street takeover prompts police response

'Kids love this stuff'

Seth Kurpiel, who suffered a broken neck in 2025, reconnected with the medical professionals who helped him get back on his feet. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger has more.

'The impossible is possible'

The population rose by 13.4% compared with 2024, even as statewide figures dropped. NewsdayTV spoke to the executive director of the LI Coalition for the Homeless.

'The cost of housing ... just continues to go up'

The end of the program could send thousands back to Haiti, which has been severely afflicted with gang violence, political instability and displacement. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

'They can't survive'

Wednesday commemmorated the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth catching a baseball dropped from a plane at Mitchel Field in Uniondale. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa has more.

'I wish I was around here to see it'

Bay Shore residents voice concern over plan to turn former Monfort Missionaries seminary into an Islamic boarding school. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'You're in the middle of a residential area'

Matthew Smith sentenced to up to 22 years in prison for drunken-driving crash that killed Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie has more.

'Nothing is going to bring my wife back'

There is a new push to look into the effect of screen time in classrooms. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn spoke to Newsday state reporter Keshia Clukey and other experts on the topic.

'I don't advocate for one blanket policy'

Two months into the state's "bell-to-bell" ban on electronic devices in schools, some districts are reporting positive changes in the classroom. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'Students are much more talkative to one another'

App Nativo Ad Unit Slot

TV - megaslot

Newsday TV critic Verne Gay reviews new TV shows and series from Netflix, Max, Hulu and more. Plus, what Long Island actors are working on and Long Island filming locations.

'Strike Back' review: Season 2 on Cinemax

Most Popular

Top Stories

Stay logged in.