Jack Reacher is an anti-hero made flesh by millions of fiction fans who buy his books each year and forge a bond of kinship with a character, courtesy of best-selling author Lee Child. Season 1 of the Prime Video adaptation gave audiences a tight-lipped mountain man in Alan Ritchson (Titans), who blocked out the sun, had no time for bad guys, and used a combination of brains and brawn to carve his own path. Blockbuster versions of Jack Reacher had suddenly been replaced with a portrayal that hit closer to home, made more sense in a long form format, and gave this character an opportunity to find his feet on small screens. Not only making a second season inevitable, but perhaps finally giving audiences an actor that felt destined to embrace every element of this long running fictional franchise without compromise.
Season 2 sets up things quickly, reintroducing Reacher and Neagley (Maria Sten) soon after a former acquaintance gets thrown feet first from a helicopter. Calvin Franz (Luke Bilyk) was part of Reacher’s elite investigators, who spent their time dissecting disruptive elements within the armed forces when the military police failed to deliver. With the disappearance of Franz and the introduction of David O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos) in an explosive opening episode, Reacher really hits the ground running.
As the puzzle pieces start falling into place and creator Nick Santora unpacks everything for eager audiences, this sophomore season soon kicks things up a notch. Above all else, this second season continues to work because these creators understand the importance of getting Reacher right on a basic level. The brains always needed to outweigh the brawn since sheer size and momentum might not always be the answer. With Ritchson that all comes through alongside a vulnerability that underpins the sheer physicality on display, turning that freight train physique into something more formidable when backed up by a fierce intellect. Throw in sarcastic one-liners delivered with blunt force trauma, and suddenly audiences find themselves looking at the full package Reacher style.
With big bads in the shape of Ferdinand Kingsley (The Sandman) and Robert Patrick (Terminator 2), this second outing has more than its fair share of formidable adversaries as well. With double dealing under the table and his compatriots mixed up in business deals out of their depth, this action-packed instalment benefits from a rich fictional history that gives Santora every resource possible. Standouts beyond Ritchson, Sten, and Sipos include Serinda Swan as Karla Dixon, who offers Reacher his greatest challenge by asking for an emotional connection.
Between the guns and ammo and macho posturing of O’Donnell and Reacher, Dixon peels back the onion and reveals a softer side to this gentle giant, that gradually disarms this one-man military investigator bringing out his softer side. As a counterpoint to those heavier moments, it really gives this show a chance to breathe out and make this series another essential entry in the Prime Video canon.
The first 3 episodes of Reacher Season 2 are available to stream on Prime Video now.
