By: John M Jerva

The first season of Reacher only debuted a few days ago but Amazon Prime didn’t waste anytime to announce that the hit series is already renewed for a second season. The Lee Charles adaptation has quickly become one of the highest rated shows for the platform thus leading to the fast turnaround.

Season one of Reacher was based on the first novel from Child called Killing Floor and is essentially an origin story for the character that was first made into two movies starring Tom Cruise.

The first season 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.

Alan Ritchson takes over the time from Cruise as it was widely reported that Child was not happy with Cruise playing the character as the best selling author envisioned Reacher to be much bigger and formidable. Ritchson definitely fits the profile for Child’s original vision and it looks like the casting has paid off. Some people aren’t happy with Ritchsons portrayal but, hey, to each their own.

Starring along with Ritchson are Malcolm Goodwin as Oscar Finlay, Willa Fitzgerald as Roscoe Conklin, Chris Webster as KJ, Hugh Thompson as Baker, Maria Sten as Frances Neagley, Harvey Guillén as Jasper, Kristin Kreuk as Charlie, Currie Graham as Kliner Sr., Marc Bendavid as Hubble, Willie C. Carpenter as Mosley, Maxwell Jenkins as Young Reacher, and Bruce McGill as Mayor Teale.

“Whoaaaaaa!!! This is incredible!

Unlike Reacher who chooses to say nothing, I’m simply speechless. In just our opening weekend you’ve made Reacher one of Prime Video’s most watched shows EVER! That is insane.

There are so many people I’m grateful to for making this show as enjoyable as it is. But all of the creative genius and unwavering commitment by all those behind this would amount to nothing if you weren’t enjoying the world of Reacher.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

If you’ve enjoyed the show tell somebody. If you haven’t had the chance to dive in yet… all aboard,” Ritchson stated on social media.

Although the series is headed for season 2 it is unclear which novel will be adapted for the sophomore effort. It would make sense that the second novel which is called Die Trying would be next in line.

The second novel finds “Jack Reacher as an innocent bystander when he witnesses a woman kidnapped off a Chicago street in broad daylight. In the wrong place at the wrong time, he’s kidnapped with her. Chained together, locked in the back of a stifling van, and racing across America to an unknown destination for an unknown purpose, they’re at the mercy of a group of men demanding an impossible ransom. Because this mysterious woman is worth more than Reacher ever suspected. Now he has to save them both—from the inside out—or die trying…”

Personally, I’m three episodes in on the first season of the highly anticipated series. I’m holding off on doing a full review until I finish it and unfortunately I’m not able to binge it all right now. A few thoughts though as I’m a third of the way in and star Alan Ritchson looks like he literally stepped out of the pages of the novel and unlike some complaints, I feel that he’s got terrific charisma and is nailing Reacher’s persona.

The first season is keeping it tight to the source material which might be a bad thing if you’ve read the novels. Although it’s not as cinematic as the Tom Cruise movies, it still is a solid and brutal crime procedural. It’s like watching CSI but with devastating and unforgiving fight sequences.

I’m definitely looking forward to the other five episodes and this has the feel of an 80’s action-drama from start to finish. Plus I love a decent knife fight. I’m enjoying the adult nature of the show and the violent action and even though I loved the films, Amazon’s adaptation hits the target.

The series producers can virtually pick and choose where they want to go next as there are 26 books on the series or they could simply make a new plot for Reacher. We will have to wait and see. I would love to see an original story as the first season was a faithful interpretation of the curse novel.

Stay tuned for more details to come as we are your destination for everything action in 2022 and beyond!

Source: Deadline