A new passport, 212$ in cash, a French World War II medal and a lighter are the inside pocket contents of Amazon’s six foot three inches hunk of a man with chiselled muscles named Jack Reacher. Although the name might be familiar to you as Tom Cruise played the brutal action-hero in the two Jack Reacher films in 2012 and 2016 respectively. This television adaptation by Amazon banishes the memory of Tom Cruise with the strong reactions from the fans of Lee Child’s best selling novel series as evidence.
The good kind, as not only the actor Alan Ritchson ( Titans, Legends of Tomorrow) is the true embodiment of the originally tall ( six feet, five inches in the novels) character and if there is a two inches difference, who cares. Even though fans were quick to point out the same to Tom Cruise who did an okay job playing the action-hero but missed the humanity of this character. This is just my opinion. While contrary to this comparison, the fans have fallen in love and have embraced actor Alan Ritschon as the house-sized vigilante who is smart as a whip who sweeps through the town of Margrave uprooting the seeds of corruption which take a personal turn, and what unfolds next is a binge-worthy series.
Detailed Spoilers Ahead, reader discretion is advised.
The story of Reacher is based on Lee Child’s first novel “ Killing Floor” which came out in 1997, surprising the year I was born. With the story packed into eight fast-paced action-packed episodes, the lone wolf with bare essentials roams the streets of peach slice Georgia to break down the mystery behind a conspiracy. The veteran military police investigator background of Jack Reacher thrusts him into unravelling the conspiracy behind a climbing body count and him being arrested by a police officer, Roscoe Cronklin( Willa Fitzgerald) and detective Oscar Finley portrayed by Malcolm Goodwin. Even though
detective Finley is hesitant to trust Reacher upon first making
his acquaintance, he is left no choice as he is eager to solve the first homicide in twenty years. And the super-computer breakdowns in Reacher’s mind analysing people who are standing in front of him, leave Finley in awe of his skills. This ultimately forces his hand to agree with Reacher by assigning Roscoe as his handler so that Reacher doesn’t go out of control. But, if you have read the novels, Reacher uses his fists to extract information that helps him prove to find out who is behind wanting him dead along with a man named Hubble ( Marc Bendavid) who confesses to a murder that he didn't commit. Reacher and Hubble are both thrown into prison for processing after a humiliating encounter with the police officer who body searches Hubble but dare he put his hands on Reacher. Here is an integral plug by Reacher who knows the law and isn't afraid to say it to the processing officer who is pissing his pants.
The gory action starts when Reacher and Hubble are in a prison shower rubble with bone-breaking action leading to literally bashed heads to protect Hubble. The story progresses with the unfortunate demise of Reacher’s brother Joe Reacher who happened to be working for the Secret Service as the head of the money counterfeiting department. The progression of multiple encounters on the life of Reacher force him to comfort in the arms of a police officer turned handler turned love interest from the night Reacher loses his only family. Reacher goes berserk processing the death of his brother, Joe who with a keen mind and his hammer-like fists rips opens the curtains behind the worshipped Kilner industries. I really appreciate the creative space for gobsmacking action choreographer by Amazon for uplighting his television series to new heights.
Even though Reacher is a brutal house-sized whip-smart badass, the humanity of his character is revealed when he rescues a chained dog from an abusive home while tracking down evidence for the case. As a person who has a dog, this made me fall head over heels for Alan’s Reacher.
Roscoe is stunningly gorgeous and a non-sense straightforward lady who can fight a group of bad guys in the dark while safeguarding a fractured family. Unfortunately, the goons catch up leaving Roscoe and Hubble’s wife and children to land up in a shed processing the fake cash. While the tweed suit-wearing, Harvard educated detective Oscar Finlay who makes a 360’ departure in an epic ending fight alongside Reacher, Hubble and Reacher’s resourceful connection, Frances Neagley ( Maria Sten) to take down an international money counterfeiting ring headquartered in the cow feed filled small town of Margrave. All while rescuing Roscoe and Hubble’s kidnapped family. This closes the chapter in Margrave, Georgia where Reacher finally gets to enjoy a so-so peach slice with Finlay and say goodbye to Roscoe who has stolen his heart.
While the top five ranked most-watched series globally has already been confirmed for season 2, the Nick Santora written Amazon Original will be back. Maybe, the Reacher season 2 will be an adaptation of the next novel in the ongoing thriller series making its way in 2023 perhaps. The second novel is “Die Trying” which is based in Chicago which opens with Reacher and an FBI Agent getting kidnapped. If a novel adaptation such as Jack Ryan( another Amazon Original must-watch for action lovers) is an indication Reacher can easily fit in the same Amazon universe. Definitely, hinting that I want a crossover. Reacher is set to become a franchise in itself given its warm reception and high ratings. In a recent interview with Collider, Roscoe played by Willa Fitzgerald detailed the anthology approach that Reacher will take with a slight detour than the books. The one-book per season model isn’t necessary but entirely possible. While Willa and Alan are confirmed as Roscoe and Reacher, other additions to the team may soon be revealed.
So, what I expect for season 2 of a man with big arms beating people up and solving mysteries of another conspiracy. By breaking jaws, snapping wrists and squeezing necks to extract information. And Reacher saying nothing after goons attempt to intimidate him in classic Jack Reacher style.
Reacher is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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