Reacher is a new Prime Video series based on the popular books and films that has great talent and is action packed, but not without its faults.
Those who already know and love the Reacher books and/or films are likely really looking forward to the Reacher series. As someone who fits in that category I can confirm that it is a great show that does the story justice. It is not without flaws though, including some pacing issues, and a lead performance that takes a little while to settle in. All that said though, it is packed with action, suspense, and intensity.
This first season is based off of the first Jack Reacher book, which is titled Killing Floor. It is very true to the story, and might feel a bit repetitive for those who are familiar with it. That said, because it is a series there is a lot more time to explore and develop the story than the film did, making it a better watch.
Jack Reacher, more commonly known as Reacher, shows up in Margrave, GA to learn about a musician when things go completely different than he expected. As a mysterious outsider who doesn’t talk much, he is instantly blamed for the first murder the town has seen in years.
Newcomer to the Margrave police force, Finlay, recognizes that while Reacher may not be guilty, at the very least he can help in the investigation because of his military police force background. The whole season comprises of solving the mystery of the murder, that Reacher is a lot more connected too than he would have ever wanted to be.
After recently binging iZombie I was thrilled to see Malcolm Goodwin, who plays Finlay, as a member of this cast. He is a great addition to the show, and even though his role is very similar to that of Clive Babineaux in iZombie, he brings something slightly new to the role. Finlay is a by the book cop that, hopefully, will have one of the best character arcs in the series by the time Reacher wraps up, much like Babineaux has in iZombie.
It took a few episodes for me to stop seeing Clive, but once that time passed, I was all in on Finlay. His chemistry with Reacher is subtly hilarious. The two certainly have their issues, but they do learn to work together when it benefits them both.
Tackling this story in series form is extremely smart. It allows for a lot more character and plot development, and gives it all time to breath. It doesn’t feel rushed at all, however, there are some moments that drag. Not a whole ton, and this will likely only be an issue for those who know the source material inside and out, but it should be mentioned.
The first season is just eight episodes long, each with a runtime of less than an hour. Considering this series is based off of books, that have also been made into movies already, I was extremely thankful to see that a certain twist was added perfectly to the end of episode one. Had they tried to drag it out any longer, those of us who know the plot likely would have felt bored waiting for the reveal.
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Alan Ritchson does a decent job as the main character Reacher. As a fan of DC’s Titans who liked his character Hank, but never felt like he brought enough to the table, I am having deja vu. It takes about half the season to start to like Reacher. The problem here is his personality, which Ritchson is just trying to bring to the screen.
He is supposed to be tough, extremely smart when it comes to solving crimes, but also the quiet type. Something about this just doesn’t work in the beginning, however he does warm up a bit as the series goes on. Or perhaps I just got used to it. He is very short and to the point, which is really off putting in the first couple of episodes.
Those going into Reacher that are familiar with it are likely looking forward to the action scenes — and they deliver. Right in the first episode there are some great fights (the second prison one will leave the audience with their jaws on the floor), and they just get better and better as the season goes on. This is where Reacher truly shines.
Willa Fitzgerald perfectly rounds out the trio of officers who are working to solve the murder, and find themselves in much deeper than they ever expected. From the start her and Reacher have great chemistry, which is portrayed by the actors wonderfully.
Reacher may not be perfect, but it is a good start to what could potentially be a phenomenal long running series, following all of the books. Ritchson feels a little out of place at first, but settles in nicely. He feels like a much better, more true to the books, Reacher than Tom Cruise, and that right there says something.
This series is something long time fans will appreciate, and that Lee Child is surely proud of. Fingers crossed for many, many more seasons. It can only go up from here.
Rating: 3 out of 5
About Reacher
Reacher follows Jack Reacher, a veteran military police investigator who has just recently entered civilian life. Reacher is a drifter, carrying no phone and the barest of essentials as he travels the country and explores the nation he once served. When Reacher arrives in the small town of Margrave, Georgia, he finds a community grappling with its first homicide in 20 years. The cops immediately arrest him and eyewitnesses claim to place Reacher at the scene of the crime.
While he works to prove his innocence, a deep-seated conspiracy begins to emerge, one that will require Reacher’s keen mind and hard-hitting fists to deal with. One thing above all is for sure: They picked the wrong guy to take the fall.
Season One of Reacher is based on Lee Child’s first Jack Reacher novel Killing Floor, and is written for television by Emmy-nominated writer Nick Santora (Scorpion, Prison Break), who also executive produces and serves as showrunner for the series as part of his overall deal with Skydance Television.
Further cast includes Malcolm Goodwin (iZombie) as Oscar Finlay, Willa Fitzgerald (The Goldfinch) as Roscoe Conklin, Chris Webster (Most Dangerous Game) as KJ, Hugh Thompson (Blessed Stranger: After Flight 111) as Baker, Maria Sten (Swamp Thing) as Frances Neagley, Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) as Jasper, Kristin Kreuk (Smallville) as Charlie, Currie Graham (Murder in the First) as Kliner Sr., Marc Bendavid (Dark Matter) as Hubble, Willie C. Carpenter (Devious Maids) as Mosley, Maxwell Jenkins (Lost in Space) as Young Reacher, and Bruce McGill (My Cousin Vinny) as Mayor Teale.
In addition to Santora, the series is executive produced by Lee Child, Don Granger, and Scott Sullivan, with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Bill Bost for Skydance.
