Netflix's Terrifying Reacher Reunion Unleashes Unprecedented Horrors

Warning: Major spoilers for Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher

Summary

Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher reunites Willa Fitzgerald and Malcolm Goodwin, providing viewers with an exclusive glimpse of their reunion, something that Amazon's Reacher series failed to deliver. Fitzgerald's character in The Fall of the House of Usher displays her versatility as an actor, transitioning from her previous optimistic role in Reacher to embodying a ruthless villain.

Roscoe and Finlay will not be making a return in Reacher Season 2, as the series adheres to the book's formula of Reacher always embarking on new adventures.

Netflix's new horror miniseries, The Fall of the House of Usher, provides the reunion that Amazon's Reacher series has withheld from viewers. While the Jack Reacher movies featuring Tom Cruise have been financially successful, the choice to cast Cruise himself has been and continues to be a point of controversy among fans of the books. Amazon's Reacher, however, has found the perfect embodiment of the vengeful protagonist in Alan Ritchson, who possesses the stoic humor, charm, and physicality necessary to bring the imposing character to life. Ritchson's co-stars in the first season also deserve equal commendation for their performances.

In Reacher season 1, Willa Fitzgerald portrayed Roscoe and Malcolm Goodwin played Finlay. The season adapted the first novel, Killing Floor, from Lee Child's series. Finlay, a devoted Roscoe fan, assists Reacher in investigating his brother's murder, uncovering a criminal conspiracy in Margrave. The trio of Reacher, Roscoe, and Finlay is highly likable, and although they survive the events of the story, viewers were disappointed to discover that Fitzgerald and Goodwin would not be reprising their roles in Reacher season 2. In the following season, which jumps ahead ten books to Bad Luck and Trouble, neither Roscoe nor Finlay appear or are even mentioned.

Reacher's Willa Fitzgerald & Malcolm Goodwin Reunite In Fall Of The House Of Usher

Fitzgerald and Goodwin, known for their roles in Reacher, unexpectedly reunited in Netflix's highly acclaimed series, Fall of the House of Usher. This horror series, directed by Mike Flanagan, marks his final project for the streaming platform and is based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. In the show, flashbacks to the past showcase the younger versions of Mary McDonnell's morally corrupt Madeline Usher, portrayed by Fitzgerald, and Carl Lumbly's Auguste Dupin, played by Goodwin. Despite limited interaction due to the story's nature, both actors deliver compelling performances in Fall of the House of Usher, offering a satisfying viewing experience in light of the news that they won't be returning for Reacher season 2.

Willa Fitzgerard's Usher Villain Is The Total Opposite Of Reacher's Roscoe

Goodwin's Dupin holds a more positive outlook and lacks the cynicism seen in Reacher's Finlay. However, the events in The Fall of the House of Usher quickly reveal to Dupin the ugliness of his feud with the Ushers. Despite this, Dupin and Finlay share a common belief in the triumph of justice. The same cannot be said for Fitzgerald's Madeleine, whose ambition knows no bounds, even to the extent of committing murder - a stark contrast to Reacher's Roscoe.

Although Fitzgerald's Roscoe is perhaps the most hopeful of the central trio, she still possesses an inner strength and sense of responsibility that compels her to solve the case. It is this inherent goodness that resonates with viewers, as well as with Reacher himself. In fact, Child himself has praised Fitzgerald's portrayal of Roscoe, stating that it surpasses the one presented in Killing Floor. This is what makes the actor's performance in The Fall of the House of Usher so shocking, as Madeleine displays a complete absence of humanity.

Her brother Roderick (Zach Gilford) is seemingly the sole person she genuinely cares about, though that assertion is open to debate. This implies that the dynamic between Fitzgerald and Goodwin alters significantly when they share scenes, as the former's character always bears a subtle undercurrent of malevolence. This adaptability should work to Fitzgerald's advantage as she transitions away from Reacher - and hopefully signifies that she will be offered more antagonistic roles in the future.

Why Roscoe And Finlay Aren't Returning For Reacher Season 2

While Roscoe and Finlay gained immense popularity, the Jack Reacher novels follow a consistent pattern where the protagonist embarks on fresh adventures. Childs' books feature only a handful of recurring characters, and Reacher, after the events of Killing Floor, never revisited Margrave or crossed paths with Roscoe or Finlay again.

Amazon's show will undergo the same approach. Although it is not out of the question that Fitzgerald or Goodwin might appear as guests in future series, they will not be returning for Bad Luck and Trouble. Consequently, their unexpected reunion in The Fall of the House of Usher becomes even more enjoyable. While it would have been preferable for their characters to have more substantial interactions, it still showcases the reunion of Reacher, something that Amazon was unable to deliver.