Whilst it made sense for a character such as Jack Reacher to be opted for big screen treatment, it wasn’t quite as clear as to why he was realised through Tom Cruise. From an action capability view it worked, and no one could ever question Cruise’s ability to get butts on seats, but the character – the brainchild of author Lee Child – was described as a 6’5, 250 pound, basketball-biceped hulk, so, you know, not exactly a match for Cruise’s aesthetic.
The Cruise-led films – a self-titled 2012 actioner and its 2016 sequel, Never Go Back – were successful enough, but they never did the character justice. Thankfully, Reacher wasn’t put out to pasture and found himself expressed in the televisual format, with an initial 8-episode arc allowing the “bulked-up greyhound” to find his footing as he uncovered a conspiracy in a small town, punching his way through to the answers (you can read our Blu-Ray review of the first series here).
Unsurprisingly, it’s the big guy at the centre of it all as to why Reacher as a series works so well, with Alan Ritchson‘s blend of calm and calamity evoking a stronger sense of comfort for this second season, which, as a whole, propels from episode-to-episode with a smoother motion. Ritchson, who’s almost comically large in stature, delivers each of his matter-of-fact lines with a knowing wink that indicates he’s very much in on the occasional-exaggerated nonsense the show lovingly devotes itself to.
As much as Ritchson makes everything work (it’s no surprise that a third season has already been announced), the ensemble surrounding him that elevate his presence assist in driving this series to an overall more satisfactory conclusion than the first, which, in itself, was certainly not reaching for quality. The action and intrigue is at its best when Reacher, Neagley (Maria Sten, reprising her role from the previous season), O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos) and Dixon (Serinda Swan) are all working as a team, trying to uncover why their close friends and former colleagues are all mysteriously being terminated; their shared background helping us slowly learn more about Reacher’s stance as a protector.
As much as the series presents us with an intricate storyline, there’s still something beautifully simple about the show – much like its titular character. Ritchson makes Reacher impossibly easy to root for as he searches for answers in the most brutal of spaces, with the show’s energy radiating off his own brawn, humour and sex appeal. A mystery that’s best left discovered by audiences week in and out, Reacher‘s sophomore season avoids any slumps.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Reacher Season Two will premiere the first three episodes December 15, 2023 on Prime Video, with one episode available each Friday, leading up to the epic season finale on January 19, 2024.
