Will Jordan (author)

Will Jordan
Born
Fife, Scotland
Other namesThe Critical Drinker
Occupations
  • Writer
  • YouTuber
Years active2012-present
YouTube information
Channels
Years active2017-present
GenreMovie reviews
Subscribers2.4 million
Views938 million
Last updated: January 5, 2026

Will Jordan is a Scottish novelist, writer, film critic and YouTuber.[1][2][3] On YouTube, he runs a review channel named The Critical Drinker, in which he discusses and critiques popular media from a conservative perspective.[4][5] Jordan is the author of the Ryan Drake series.[6] His novel Redemption (2012) was nominated for the McIlvanney Prize.[7][8]

Career

YouTube

Jordan launched his YouTube channel on September 21, 2006. Jordan posted his first YouTube video titled ‘General M Bison vs Bane’ in 2012.[9] Jordan later began making videos critiquing films; starting in 2018 with his video ‘Star Wars - The Problem With Rey’[10], analysing the character from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The latter video quickly became viral and has gained 1.3 million views as of January 2026. Since then, Jordan has continued to post similar videos analysing film, television and video games. He is known for his satirical comedic tone, often playing the persona of a drunken Scotsman. In 2019, his main channel reached 100,000 subscribers.[11] In 2021, this figure reached one million.[12]

Publications

  • Redemption (2012)[1][8][13]
  • Sacrifice (2013)[6]
  • Betrayal (2014)[14]
  • Black List (2015)[15]
  • Deception Game (2015)[16]
  • Ghost Target (2016)[17]
  • Shadow Conflict (2017)[18]
  • Downfall (2019)[19]
  • Something to Die For (2020)[20]
  • Dark Harvest (2022)[21]

Reception

Adrian Magson described Jordan's debut of the Ryan Drake series as an action-packed "roller-coaster".[8] Myles McWeeney said on the Irish Independent that the novel was "a thrill-a-minute adventure with likeable and well-drawn central characters".[1]

Novelist Linda Wilson wrote on Crime Review about Jordan's third novel Betrayal that "If you like your thrillers fast, complex and realistic, you’ll feel at home here."[14] She has compared his writing style to Matt Hilton's and Sean Black's.[6]

Awards

Year Category Institution or publication Result Notes Ref.
2012 McIlvanney Prize Redemption Nominated [22]

Filmography

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2024 Rogue Elements: A Ryan Drake Story Cameo writer and producer

Personal life

Jordan lives in Fife, Scotland with his wife and three children.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Redemption". Irish Independent. 13 October 2012.
  2. ^ "YouTuber Will Jordan: Unkorrekter Trunkenbold gegen woke Hollywood-Dilettanten". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  3. ^ Romir, Peter (2020). "Whisky, Wahnsinn und Weisheiten". Nordbayern (in German). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  4. ^ Unthank, Kennedy (2023). "The Critical Drinker". Plugged In. Focus on the Family. Archived from the original on 19 July 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Unlikely summer hit Sound Of Freedom opens new front in US culture wars". The Straits Times. 20 July 2023. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Wilson, Linda (February 2014). "Sacrifice". Crime Review. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Crime Book of the Year shortlist - Bloody Scotland". 10 August 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  8. ^ a b c Magson, Adrian. "REDEMPTION". Shots Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 October 2025.
  9. ^ Jordan, Will (22 August 2012). "General M Bison vs Bane". YouTube. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Star Wars - the Problem with Rey". YouTube. 19 January 2018.
  11. ^ "What This Channel is All About". YouTube. 19 July 2019.
  12. ^ "The Critical Drinker's YouTube Statistics". Socialblade. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Sunny Delights". Sunday Telegraph. 22 July 2012. p. 171.
  14. ^ a b Wilson, Linda (2015). "Betrayal by Will Jordan". Crime Review. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015.
  15. ^ Jordan, Will (2019). Black List. Ryan Drake Series (1st ed.). New York: Canelo. ISBN 978-1-910859-09-4.
  16. ^ Jordan, Will (2019). Deception Game. Ryan Drake Series (1st ed.). New York: Canelo. ISBN 978-1-910859-04-9.
  17. ^ Jordan, Will (2019). Ghost Target. Ryan Drake Series (1st ed.). New York: Canelo. ISBN 978-1-910859-71-1.
  18. ^ Jordan, Will (2017). Shadow Conflict. Ryan Drake. London: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-910859-72-8.
  19. ^ Jordan, Will (2019). Downfall. Ryan Drake. London: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-910859-73-5.
  20. ^ Chan, CHRISTOPHER (19 October 2021). "Book Review: Something to Die For (Ryan Drake, Book 9), by Will Jordan". Mystery Center. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  21. ^ https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Dark_Harvest.html?id=LbeizwEACAAJ&redir_escy}
  22. ^ Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2012. Bloody Scotland.
  23. ^ "Will Jordan – the ScotsCare podcast – Episode 4 | Scotscare". ScotsCare. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
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