Reacher Pays The Highest Compliment To One Of Season 1's Missing Main Characters

Reacher Season 2 Explores Jack Reacher's Backstory

Reacher season 2 pays the highest compliment to a missing season 1 character. Based on Lee Child's Bad Luck and Trouble, Reacher season 2 is not as novel as season 1 because audiences have grown accustomed to the titular character's offbeat crime-solving methods and stoic charisma. However, the season effectively raises the stakes of its drama by getting the Alan Ritchson character involved in a bigger conspiracy that connects to his military past.

Finlay and Reacher in Reacher season 2

By introducing his former military team members as its main characters, Reacher season 2 also creates more room for exploring Jack Reacher's backstory. Owing to this, the show keeps drifting back and forth between timelines to highlight the developments in Reacher and his team's present investigation while walking viewers through how they got to know one another when they were in the military.

Finlay returns in Reacher season 2

Apart from focusing on Reacher's dynamic with his former military team members from the 110th Special Investigations Unit, Reacher season 2 also highlights how the titular character cannot help but praise one of his allies from season 1.

Reacher and Finlay in season 1

Finlay's Role in Reacher Season 2

One Reacher season 2 moment proves Finlay could have joined the 110th Special Investigators. In Reacher, season 2's episode 4, Jack Reacher formulates a plan that involves one of his old 'friends.' Although David initially doubts whether Reacher's 'friend' would be reliable and come through for them, Reacher assures him that if his 'friend' had been in the military with them, he would have recruited him in the 110th MP Special Investigations Unit. This police friend Reacher refers to turns out to be Finlay, who puts his badge to good use by helping Reacher and his team interrogate Daniel Boyd, Senator Lavoy's legislative director.

Malcolm Goodwin as Finlay in Amazon's Reacher-1

Finlay shows up despite being called at short notice and lies for the team by accusing Boyd of doing drugs with Karla to make him tell the truth about Little Wing and its connection to New Age. When Boyd talks about the inner workings of Little Wing and how dangerous it could be, Finlay also proves that his moral compass is in the right place by being genuinely concerned about the harm it could cause. Once they are done interrogating Boyd, Finlay also opens up about how retirement did not suit him, proving that, like Reacher, he wishes to solve crime and bring justice to wrongdoers as long as he can.

Reacher season 2 Malcolm Goodwin Finlay

He even asks Reacher if he kills a lot of people. When Reacher responds, 'here and there,' Finlay does not judge him. Instead, he asks him if he needs his help. This shows that Finlay trusts that Reacher would never kill someone for no reason and proves his loyalty to him. All these traits establish that Finlay would have been the perfect candidate for joining the 110th Special Investigators if he had been in the army with Reacher.

Reacher Season 2's Main Character Replacements Are Worse In 2 Major Ways

Reacher's Trust in Finlay and Future Appearances

Season 2 establishes how much Reacher trusts Finlay. When Reacher and Neagley visit Franz's home to learn more about his connections and line of work, Neagley recalls how Franz was first recruited in the 110th Investigations Unit. She says that Franz resolved a fight between two huge soldiers and even made them shake hands. This helped Reacher determine that he could keep his composure even in the gravest situations, making him a good fit for his team. Neagley's recollection of Franz's recruitment proves that Reacher put immense thought into hiring people for his team. The fact that Reacher asked Neagley to join the team, despite knowing she was enlisted, also proves how he cared little about ranks and more about one's skills.

Owing to this, Reacher's comment about Finlay being suitable for joining the 100th Special Investigators is the highest possible compliment. It shows how Reacher believes that Finlay's morals are in the right place and appreciates that he stays calm and collected even during tough times. More than anything else, it also highlights how Reacher knows that even though Finlay is a police officer, he has all the right skills to become an elite military investigator, capable of doing a lot more than solving local crimes in Magrave.

Reacher season 2 establishes that even though the titular character has nearly cut all ties with Margrave, he wishes to stay in touch with Finlay because he understands that he can help him in ways no one else can. This hints that this may not be the last time he asks Finlay for help. In the future, if Reacher lands in trouble with the police or needs Finlay to flex his badge to make someone like Boyd spill their secrets, he can always rely on Finlay to come to his aid.