# Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2016)

> A retired martial arts legend, going by the alias Johnson, is pulled back into undercover contracting by a lost love and turns his return into a self-mocking action comedy.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/59374

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 6
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: action, comedy
- Created by: David Callaham
- Network: Prime Video
- Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kat Foster, Bar Paly, Phylicia Rashād, Moisés Arias, Shanynn Samiyah Covington, Stacey Danger, DeMark Thompson
- TMDB rating: 7.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6682754/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: irreverent, breezy, playful, tongue in cheek, absurd

## What critics say

Viewers found this self-aware action comedy funny and action-packed, with a satirical take on 80s action films that many enjoyed.

## Synopsis

Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2016-2017) is an American action comedy series created by David Callaham for Prime Video. Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as Johnson, a retired martial arts star and the world's most capable undercover private contractor, who is drawn back into the game when a chance encounter with a lost love pulls him out of retirement. Vanessa (Kat Foster) and Krisztina (Bar Paly) are among the people who cross his path, while Jane (Phylicia Rashād) and Luis (Moisés Arias) round out the principal cast around his covert missions. The engine of the show is a steady stream of clandestine jobs, each one staged as a set piece where Johnson's fighting prowess meets absurd escalation and deliberate self-mockery. Across a single season of six short episodes, the series plays like an affectionate parody of 1980s action films and the star's own larger-than-life persona. The mood is breezy and irreverent, with a wink to the audience about how seriously the hero takes himself. Fans of Hot Shots!, Burn Notice and Chuck will find resonance in its blend of spy action, deadpan humor and playful self-awareness. The show runs only six half-hour episodes and was canceled after its first season, so it works best as a quick, lively watch for viewers who enjoy action spectacle with a comic edge.

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