Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Is A Sad Reminder That Ubisoft Has No Idea What To Do With Sam Fisher

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I have to admit, as a huge Splinter Cell fan, I was really thrown when I saw a scene in the *Deathwatch* animated series on Netflix. Sam Fisher just casually walked right in front of a security camera! It felt so out of character. The Sam I know would *never* be that careless, even if he meant to be seen.

The Sam Fisher I used to admire is gone. While he was a strong character in the early 2000s, Ubisoft has changed him so much over the years that he’s lost his original appeal. They’ve repeatedly altered his story – killing then resurrecting his daughter, sending him to prison, and turning him into a fugitive. The series was even rebooted in 2013, and in the process, Fisher lost his signature wit and personality. More recently, they’ve included him in games like Rainbow Six: Siege and Ghost Recon, even bringing back Michael Ironside to voice him. It’s obvious Ubisoft still remembers Sam Fisher, but they seem unsure how to use him effectively.

The Splinter Cell story continues with ‘Deathwatch,’ a new series on Netflix. Written by Derek Kolstad, known for his work on ‘John Wick’ and ‘Nobody,’ the show features Sam Fisher operating off the radar in Poland. Liev Schreiber plays Sam, but this version feels distant and lacks the depth of the original character. He’s portrayed as stoic and calculating, resembling the Sam from the 2013 game ‘Splinter Cell: Blacklist’ more than the Sam fans remember from the earlier games, which is a letdown.

But if the beating heart of Splinter Cell is Sam Fisher, then Deathwatch’s pulse is a faded one.

Deathwatch isn’t a failure by any means. It’s a good spy thriller made even better by its beautiful animation and intense action. The last two episodes are especially strong, cleverly building on a famous scene from Chaos Theory and leading to a surprisingly dark and satisfying conclusion that I didn’t see coming.

While Sam Fisher is the core of what makes Splinter Cell special, the recent Deathwatch feels like a weaker version of him. He comes across as just another tough agent adapted to fit the story, rather than a unique character. What truly set Splinter Cell apart – and allowed it to compete with Metal Gear Solid – was Sam Fisher’s distinctive personality. Without that, the game becomes a fairly standard military action title with occasionally good stealth elements. The original writers gave Sam a realistic background and engaging dialogue, as well as a fun, friendly relationship with his team. Even in the most stressful situations, his dry humor always provided a welcome release.

It’s impossible to discuss Sam Fisher without acknowledging Michael Ironside, the actor who brought him to life in five main Splinter Cell games. According to Ubisoft, Ironside was crucial in shaping the character. Interestingly, he initially refused the role twice, feeling the character wasn’t emotionally complex enough. He only accepted after the development team gave him some creative freedom.

Ironside’s work on the character is incredibly impactful and noticeable throughout all the games he appeared in, especially with his signature night vision goggles. Even his short appearance in Ghost Recon: Wildlands was surprisingly powerful and moving. I often rewatch the scene where Sam discovers he’s the last remaining spy – it’s a clever nod to the ending of the Metal Gear Solid series.

I’ll admit, it’s always been difficult for me to imagine anyone other than Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher. The Splinter Cell games, especially Chaos Theory, were a huge part of my childhood, and I’ve replayed Chaos Theory countless times. A lot of my fondness for those games comes down to Ironside’s performance. I didn’t fully appreciate how important he was until he stopped voicing the character due to his fight with cancer – thankfully, he overcame it. Playing Deathwatch really highlighted that he’s still irreplaceable; the current Sam Fisher doesn’t just sound different, he feels like a completely different character.

While I’d love to see Michael Ironside return as Sam Fisher, I think he’s already done everything he can with the character. Unfortunately, every attempt to replace him has felt flat. The humor, confidence, and charm that Ironside brought to the role – qualities even Liev Schreiber lacked in *Splinter Cell: Deathwatch* – are missing. Instead of a character with emotional depth, we’ve gotten a generic, stoic professional who can be easily adapted to fit whatever story Ubisoft wants to tell.

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2025-10-14 10:10