How Technology Has Changed Thrillers: A Reacher Season 2 Perspective

The Evolution of Reacher and Technology

Jack Reacher made his literary debut in 1998's Killing Floor, with the book's surprise success leading to a bestselling series. Reacher himself is defiantly old-school; he doesn't carry a phone, use the internet, or have anything resembling a presence online. His only real possession is his foldable toothbrush. Of course, the world has changed quite dramatically since the late '90s, so the books have had to reflect that too. Reacher season 1 adapted Killing Floor, and while some changes were made to update the story for modern times, it remained surprisingly faithful. Reacher season 2 adapts Bad Luck and Trouble, which featured more technologically advanced villains. In fact, the main threat of this series is 'Little Wing,' which is a missile capable of 'knocking anything out of the sky.' Despite this, Reacher and his Special Investigators unit can still take down most threats with a combination of punching or gunplay, proving that despite the advance of technology, the old ways are still valid.

Alan Ritchson's Jack Reacher reading a document in Reacher

The latest episode of Reacher reveals another way technology has taken some of the fun out of thrillers. In Bad Luck and Trouble, there is a chapter where they go to Tower Records and are forced to buy a Jimi Hendrix album as a sticker covers the track listings; they eventually discover the track is called 'Little Wing.' In the Amazon adaptation, all the 110th have to do is use Google to learn the Hendrix track is 'Little Wing.' Logically, they could have probably done this in Child's novel too, but this whole CD treasure hunt was a much funnier way of approaching it. Using Google to solve this particular mystery is a funny subversion for those who've read Bad Luck and Trouble, and realistically, Reacher would have been ridiculed had it attempted to recreate the Tower Records section.

Serinda Swan as Dixon googling on her phone on Reacher season 2 episode 4

The Impact of Google on Detective Work

Reacher episode 4 'A Night at the Symphony' opens with the title character and the 110th poring over documents they stole from defense contractor New Age. They find some emails between New Age's Director of Operations and their old friend Swan, who works at the company too. Swan makes references to a particular track from a Jimi Hendrix album, 'Little Wing.' Season 2 decides to cut straight to the case by having the 110th use Google to learn the Hendrix track is 'Little Wing.' Realistically, Reacher would have been ridiculed had it attempted to recreate the Tower Records section. This is another example of the way technology has taken some of the fun out of the thriller genre.

Maria Sten as Neagley and Alan Richtson as Jack Reacher in Reacher season 2

Using Google to solve this particular mystery is a funny subversion for those who've read Bad Luck and Trouble, and realistically, Reacher would have been ridiculed had it attempted to recreate the Tower Records section. There's not much need for detectives to head to libraries or do traditional legwork when they have a mobile database of information right in their pockets. Googling or doing research online is one of the least cinematic things imaginable, but some movies or shows have little choice but to show such scenes. While Reacher season 2 didn't go that far with its 'Little Wing' reveal, it does underline the way that tech has changed how these types of mysteries tend to play out. That's not inherently a bad thing, but again, the CD hunt sounds like the more cinematic option.

Calvin Franz (Luke Bilyk) in Reacher season 2

The Cinematic Impact of Technology in Thrillers

Reacher season 2 drops new episodes every Friday on Amazon Prime Video. The series, while adapting to the modern world, still manages to capture the essence of classic thrillers. Despite the advance of technology, the old ways are still valid, as Reacher and his Special Investigators unit can take down most threats with a combination of punching or gunplay. However, the use of Google to solve a mystery in the recent episode underlines the way that tech has changed how these types of mysteries tend to play out. While it's not inherently a bad thing, the CD hunt from the original story sounds like the more cinematic option. The evolution of technology has undeniably impacted the thrillers we love, and Reacher season 2 provides an intriguing perspective on this change.

Neagley and Reacher try to remain composed in Reacher's season 2 premiere