Reacher

Believe it or not but there has been a lot of controversy over the character of Jack Reacher in recent years. Based on the hugely successful books from Lee Child, Reacher is known for looking a very specific way.

He is six feet five inches, physically huge, the silent but deadly type. So when Tom Cruise was cast as Jack Reacher back in 2012 for the movie, well what can I say, fans of the books were not happy.

In fact, there were two Tom Cruise films about the character and both did really well at the box office. However, it now turns out that even Lee Childs wasn't overly happy about the casting.

So fast forward to 2022 and Reacher is back but this time as tv series on Amazon prime video. Childs has had far more input into the cast and as such Alan Ritchson (DC Titans) takes on the role much to the delight of fans everywhere.

So What Is Reacher All About?

The first season of Reacher (Amazon) is based on Killing Floor, Child's 1997 first novel and it follows Jack Reacher a decorated former major in the U.S. Army military police.

We first see him as he hops off a greyhound bus in the small town of Margrave, Georgia. He makes his way to a diner and is very quickly arrested for a murder that occurred the night before.

He is then sent to prison with Paul Hubble, a man who actually confessed to the crime and because there are sooooo many dirty cops and corrupt people in Margrave, the duo are put in general population. The idea of course is that they are supposed to die, tying up the whole murder case nicely.

But in true Reacher form, what actually happens is a huge and brutal fight with Reacher, now clearly innocent and the wrong guy to pin a crime on, walking out of the prison.

However, having been drawn into the case, he decides to try and figure out what actually happened.

So Jack Reacher teams up with Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald) and Detective Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin, iZombie) as they uncover a deadly conspiracy that could destroy the town.

Is Reacher Worth Watching?

Absolutely yes, a million times yes. I confess that I wasn't a huge fan of the character having never read any of the books but I like Alan Ritchson and Malcolm Goodwin so I gave it a go. And I couldn't be happier that I did.

It was such a pleasant surprise to watch a well written, well-constructed action series that wasn't over the top and overacted.

Alan's brilliant embodiment of Jack Reacher starts out a little lukewarm but it soon heats up in this undeniably bingeworthy series.

The story is great, and each episode unravels a little bit more about the scheming politicians and shady businessmen that control the town of Margrave, Georgia.

Just when you think you have a handle on everything that is going on, bam another twist comes flying at you.

The action sequences are topnotch and the casting is 100% on point. Reacher is a total delight.

How Many Episodes In Reacher?

Reacher has an eight episode first season with one complete story that has a beginning, middle and an end.

Thankfully there are no cliff hangers but over the course of the story, we do get to see the origins of the titular character through flashbacks to young Reacher and his relationship with his brother and parents.

More of that can be explored in future seasons but for now, season one has completely wrapped up.

Will There Be A Season 2 Of Reacher on Amazon?

The good news for fans of the Amazon show is that yes, there will be a second season of Reacher.

The slightly bad news is that it hasn't begun filming yet as the first season only dropped in February 2022.

Plus, based on the ending of season one, the entire Reacher team will not be back as Jack's adventures take him elsewhere.

So with a script required and a new cast undoubtedly needed for a brand new story, filming may not start for quite some time.

Overall it took nine and a half months to get the first season of Reacher to our tv screens from the day filming started. So it will be at least 2023 before we see Jack back on Amazon Prime video on another crusade.

What Happens In Season Two Of Reacher?

There is a lot to speculate about here as nobody yet knows how season two will play out.

We do know that Jack Reacher finds it almost impossible to adjust to civilian life, hence why he drifts from town to town.

There are 27 books in the series with season one based on the phenomenal debut, Killing Floor.

If creator Nick Santora (Scorpion) sticks to the order of the books then the next one could be Die Trying, the second book published.

That one is based in Chicago where Reacher and a young woman he randomly stops to help, are both kidnapped at gunpoint. Finding themselves 2,000 miles away, they must work out who has kidnapped and why.

All that said, it's highly unlikely that there are going to be 27 seasons of this show so the writers may skip ahead and pick a completely different book to adapt.

Either way, we'll know the plot of the second season very soon. But with Roscoe Conklin and Oscar Finlay back in Margrave, we probably won't be seeing them again.

Speaking to Variety, creator Nick Santora said: “The entire Reacher team — cast, production, writers, etc… is so happy with the wonderful reception the show has received.

“Amazon, Skydance, and Paramount have been such fantastic partners and everyone is excited to roll up their sleeves and get to work on what will be a great Season Two.”

Cast Of Reacher On Amazon Prime Video

Forget Tom Cruise, if you want to watch Jack Reacher in all his unpretentious glory then Alan Ritchson is your man.

But of course, he can't do it all by himself so here are the rest of the cast from the Lee Child hit Amazon show…

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, a decorated former major in the U.S. Army military police and drifter. Maxwell Jenkins plays the young Reacher.

Malcolm Goodwin as Oscar Finlay, a police captain and Margrave's chief detective, formerly a detective in Boston

Willa Fitzgerald as Roscoe Conklin, a police officer in Margrave who joins Reacher and Finlay in their investigation

Currie Graham as Kliner Sr., the owner of Kliner Industries, the company that financially supports the town

Chris Webster as KJ, Kliner Sr.'s only son

Bruce McGill as Grover Teale, Margrave's corrupt mayor and interim police chief

Willie C. Carpenter as Mosley, an elderly barber and longtime resident of Margrave

Maria Sten as Frances Neagley, a private detective and former army investigator who was a member of Reacher's military police squad