REACHER. Good series in the style of ’80s & ’90s action

Jack Reacher was created by American writer Lee Child in 1997. Today, the series consists of over twenty volumes, and the character’s popularity remains strong. It’s no surprise, then, that filmmakers took an interest in the series. First, Tom Cruise picked up the novel and decided to portray Reacher, despite bearing little physical resemblance to the character. Two fairly solid action films were made, but the lukewarm reception of the second one, titled Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, halted plans for further installments. Several years had to pass before Child’s work found its way back to the screen—this time, the smaller, television screen. So far, the series has two seasons, with the third currently airing.

The first season adapts the inaugural novel of the series, Killing Floor. The adaptation is remarkably faithful, though slightly modernized compared to the original, which is now over a quarter-century old. Unlike the Cruise-led version, this time, the creators opted to cast someone who closely matches the book’s description of the protagonist. Alan Ritchson, a towering figure over six feet three inches tall with a textbook muscular build, plays the title role of the taciturn tough guy with a mix of charisma and effortless charm. In still photos, he might look like a dim-witted brute whose only concern is his next gym session, but that impression fades within minutes. Ritchson carries the series on his broad shoulders, remaining the focal point throughout.

The show doesn’t shy away from brutality—characters smoke and curse, offering a refreshing contrast to many contemporary, artificially sanitized productions. Of course, one shouldn’t expect realism from Reacher—the protagonist couldn’t realistically survive all those fights, shootouts, and chases—but everything is executed so well that it’s better to go along for the ride rather than nitpick. The writer, followed by the screenwriters, portrays the protagonist as almost flawless: taciturn, athletic, morally upright, razor-sharp intelligent, and possessing a mind as sharp as a blade. Reacher should, by all accounts, be a one-dimensional and uninteresting hero. And yet, it’s impossible not to like the towering giant and root for him in his battle against villains. He’s a hero in the old-school style—someone who always does what must be done. And that kind of old-fashioned heroism is something we appreciate.

I read the first book in the series some time ago, and I remember finding it rather dull. The series, on the other hand, is the opposite. Maybe it’s the age of the text, or maybe the creators took the best elements of the novel, slightly modernized them, and presented them in a more engaging way. Reacher follows the well-trodden paths of classic action cinema, particularly from the ’80s and ’90s. There’s a pinch of humor, some romance, and even elements of the buddy movie formula, where two completely mismatched partners (usually cops) are forced to work together to solve a tough case. Here, that dynamic is represented by Reacher and Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin). Their initial mutual dislike gradually turns into a rough, masculine friendship. The other characters are also drawn straight from the crime genre playbook but are played with charm and, at times, tweaked from their archetypal roles. In particular, Officer Roscoe (Willa Fitzgerald) is far from the stereotypical damsel in distress—she has grit, and her charisma makes up for her slight frame. Another standout supporting character is Mayor Teale, played by Bruce McGill (known as MacGyver’s buddy Jack Dalton or from John Landis’s Animal House).

In the second season, based on the eleventh novel in the series, Bad Luck and Trouble, the creators focused on teamwork, giving Reacher a supporting crew from his military days. Fortunately, the show hasn’t been watered down—it remains intense, with truly evil villains. Shifting some of the narrative burden from Ritchson to other characters slightly diluted the overall impact, but Reacher’s old friends are likable enough that the season remains enjoyable. However, realism takes even more of a backseat than before—while the first season required some suspension of disbelief, the finale of the second season ventures into full-blown ‘80s action-movie absurdity. The protagonist’s feats in the climactic action sequence would make John Matrix from Commando proud. That said, I still had a great time watching. I rate this season only slightly below the first one, and casting Robert Patrick as the villain was a brilliant decision. Now, I eagerly await the end of the third season so I can binge it in one go.

Reacher turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I approached the series with skepticism, but it proved to be a well-executed action thriller with likable characters, an engaging plot, and excellent pacing. A fourth season has yet to be announced, but I hope it happens. After all, there’s no shortage of source material, and the lead actor seems keen to continue playing the character.

Written by Piotr Zymelka