Reacher Season 2, Episodes 1-3: Jack Returns with a Bang
Reacher Season 2 kicks off with an enthralling start as Jack embarks on his most personal and thrilling mission yet While the villains could have been more compelling, the overall experience earns a respectable 3/5 review score
Prime Video's Reacher received praise from both fans and critics for its adaptation of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels in Season 1. Now, as Season 2 begins, the question remains: does it maintain the same level of quality? Based on the first three episodes, it certainly seems to be on track. Drawing inspiration from Child's 11th novel, Bad Luck and Trouble, the initial installments stay true to the spirit of the series.
With lots of action and mystery, along with a touch of romance, the heroes, particularly Alan Ritchson's Reacher, are consistently appealing. The villains are undeniably villainous. Overall, these three episodes set the stage for an exciting new season of television. While they may not be worth risking your job over, they will still leave you happy that Jack is back.
Reacher embarks on his most personal mission yet
In Reacher Season 2, our muscular protagonist delves into the investigation of his old army buddy's murder. Assisting him in this pursuit are three of his former colleagues: Frances Neagley (Maria Sten), Karla Dixon (Serinda Swan), and David O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos).
The group is enjoyable to be around, and their personal mission makes the early episodes of Reacher Season 2 particularly intriguing. Showrunner Nick Santora and directors Scott Sullivan and Penny Cox have the opportunity to delve deeper into Reacher's backstory. These scenes from Episodes 1-3 provide valuable insight into Reacher's past before he became a nomad. However, the present-day scenes featuring Jack and his colleagues, particularly those that rely on Ritchson and Swan's chemistry, are more inconsistent.
Reacher Season 2’s villains need to step up
But then, Reacher has always excelled when the spotlight is squarely on Reacher himself – or, more specifically, Reacher in action. This remains true in the first three episodes of the second season, featuring plenty of our big guy cracking skulls and hunting for clues to make up for any rough patches.
Reacher Season 2’s villains need to step up
One such rough spot is Reacher Season 2's villains. It's not that Robert Patrick and Ferdinand Kingsley are bad as Shane Langston and A.M, respectively – it's just that Season 1's antagonists were so good.
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Reacher’s latest run still has five more episodes to bring Langston and A.M. to an elite level, and both villains show promise. However, at this early stage, they’re not fully developed enough for us to despise them as much as Season 1’s KJ Kliner. Nonetheless, Kingsley's understated lethality as A.M. contrasts nicely with Ritchson’s formidable Reacher. It will be intriguing to see them finally face off.
Reacher Season 2, Episode 1-3 review score: 3/5
Reacher Season 2, Episodes 1-3 are ultimately meant to pique interest. And they do just that, effectively capturing your attention and leaving you disappointed that Episode 4 is still a week away.
Reacher's second small screen quest for justice could benefit from some improvements going forward. However, it's still impressive television at this point - and it's great to see Jack back.
Catch the premiere of Reacher Season 2, Episodes 1-3 on Prime Video at 7 PM ET on December 14. For the latest news and updates on Reacher, visit Dexerto for full coverage.
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Editor's P/S
As a passionate fan of the Reacher series, I am thrilled with the start of Season 2. Alan Ritchson's portrayal of Jack Reacher continues to be captivating, and the action sequences are as intense and satisfying as ever. The addition of Reacher's former colleagues adds a new dynamic to the show, and I am eager to see how their relationships develop over the course of the season.
While the villains in Season 2 may not be as immediately compelling as those in Season 1, there is still plenty of time for them to develop and become more formidable adversaries for Reacher. Overall, I am very excited about the direction of Reacher Season 2 and can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store.
