Jack Reacher is an iconic character from Lee Child’s and Andrew Grant’s novels. As of now, there are almost 30 novels about the adventures of this legendary private investigator. In 2022, Amazon released the first season of Reacher’s adventures inspired by the book Killing Floor, the first novel from 1997. In upcoming days, Reacher season 2 will premiere, and I had an early peek at the season. Read on to find out what I thought, and how it compares to the previous season.
[Warning: no major spoilers but early impressions from Reacher season 2 below!]
Alan Ritchson IS Jack Reacher
Before Alan Ritchson played Reacher, he was known as Aquaman from Smallville, Hawk from Titans, or Thad from Blue Mountain State. As soon as I heard Ritchson had been cast as Jack Reacher, I thought that there’s no better person to play him. The muscular, charismatic actor is a walking Jack Reacher taken straight from the books. He embodies the character in many ways.
Ritchson’s body posture and voice certainly help when it comes to embodying the character of Reacher. Every line he says, regardless of where or when or how, he just makes them believable. In every scene, he proves he deserves the role of Jack Reacher.
In the past, there were 2 adaptations of the Reacher story where Tom Cruise played the character. Although they were somewhat interesting, fans didn’t like them due to not being faithful to the source material. I didn’t hate those movies, but when you watch Reacher season 1 and 2, you’ll better understand why people loved the character from the books.
But what I want to say, with a big smile on my face, is that Alan Ritchson IS Jack Reacher. Everything he does in the series is just like you took Jack Reacher from the books and put him on the set. Ritchson’s charisma, facial expressions, and way of interpreting emotions/his intentions without saying anything is astonishing.
When we see him in the first episode, he’s a different character than in season 1. But it’s because his story is beginning again, and his character development coming in the future story ahead.
Reacher season 2 features satisfying plot twists and great characters
Season 2 of Reacher is based on a book, Bad Luck and Trouble. It’s the 11th book in the Reacher saga, but don’t worry. It doesn’t matter because the way season 2 is written, it matches perfectly with what happened in season 1 without the need to fill-up the gaps between.
There has been 2.5 years between Reacher season 1 and season 2. Everything starts ordinarily with Reacher acting like Reacher would act, like a hero. And it’s all right before the whole action and future episodes plot starts to unveil.
Jack Reacher is being pulled back again into a murder mystery. This time it’s about one of his fellow Military Police Private Investigators from the 110th unit from his past. There are scenes from the past that show us who they were and what was their job in the past. It aligns perfectly with the plot twists, certain scenes and even the finale of this season. It just works, and you don’t have to wonder that something doesn’t make sense because it all does make sense.
There’s a sense of camaraderie and loyalty showing how Reacher feels towards his people. Among all the other people he met in his life, beyond his late brother, they’re his family. Featuring Reacher’s strong bond with these people adds an emotional depth to his character and to the whole story in season 2.
As Reacher digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding his friend’s death, he uncovers a complex web of betrayal and conspiracy from his past. He’s gathering a team of those friends from 110th who are still alive, and to help with the investigation. Joining Reacher in this story is Neagley (Maria Sten) from season 1, and new characters played by Serinda Swan, Luke Bilyk, Edsson Morales and Shaun Sipos among others.
As soon as Reacher is reunited with some of his friends, the whole plot starts to get more and more complicated. Robert Patrick plays the main villain of this season, a character called Shane Langston. And he is played with such a depth, that from the first moments you know he won’t be an easy target.
What sets season 2 apart from season 1 is that you can watch it without knowing what happened in the first season. Although there are moments that it’s better to watch it for the better understanding, it’s not necessary as season 2 is working perfectly on its own. Emphasizing and telling the story of Reacher from the past certainly helps to explain his motivations. Furthermore, we get to understand more about why he became the private investigator.
Motives like the power of friendship and loyalty work perfectly well here, and are frequently highlighted. Reacher’s interactions with his former colleagues reveal a deeper layer to his character. Making all those bonds that were forged in the past, much more important and authentic to viewers. Especially in the finale, which really blew my mind and made me love this show even more than before.
Reacher has the potential to be one of the best Prime shows ever
Reacher is one of many shows on Prime Video that I watched and loved since the first episode (such as: The Boys, Jack Ryan, Good Omens and Invincible). But it has something more that speaks to me and makes me more interested in it than in the others. Maybe it’s because the series is so grounded, and that Alan Ritchson works his ass off to give one of his best performances.
Adapting Bad Luck and Trouble was a good decision which has definitely paid off. In all eight episodes I watched, I didn’t notice a part of dialogue or scenes that weren’t meant to be there. Everything was so well put together that I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that Reacherseason 2 may be one of the best shows of this year.
Season 2, just as season 1, is written in such a way that you don’t want to stop watching, even If it’s almost 3am, and you have to go to work. Reacher explores the strengths and weaknesses of its main character by showing that he is just a regular guy like the rest of us. You don’t have to be a big, muscular man like him to help other people. But muscles certainly help.
I hope Reacher will get more seasons because the way his story is told, it deserves to be continued. In my opinion, Alan Ritchson was born to play the iconic Jack Reacher. If I can get five more seasons of Reacher, and I’d watch them all.
Reacher season 2 streams on Prime Video starting December 14, 2024. This new season is a fantastic manifesto of Reacher’s adventures and legacy of books that won’t be forgotten for a very long time.
Are you excited to check out Reacher season 2 soon? Did you like season 1? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or The Cosmic Circus Discord channel.
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