Reacher Season 2: The Plot Armor Predicament

The Captivating Opening Arc

Reacher season 2, inspired by Lee Child's Bad Luck and Trouble, embarks on a captivating journey in its opening arc. The narrative skillfully delves into the evolution of the main character's relationship with his former team members from the 110th Special Investigations Unit, providing a compelling back-and-forth timeline that highlights their dynamic over the years.

Serinda Swan as Karla Dixon, Shaun Sipos as David O'Donnell, Maria Sten as Frances Neagley, and Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Amazon's Reacher

Dixon, Neagley, and O'Donnell prove to be worthy replacements for the season 1 characters, bringing a fresh perspective to the team dynamics. The high-stakes mission and character beats drive the storyline forward, setting the stage for what could have been a captivating team journey.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Amazon's Reacher

However, despite the promising narrative threads that suggest a shift in the plot armor issue, the show fails to fully commit to this direction, leading to a new level of plot armor concern as the season progresses.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Reacher season 2, episode 8

The Escalating Plot Armor Issue

Throughout Reacher season 2, the main characters, Neagley, Reacher, Dixon, and O'Donnell, are portrayed as invincible, effortlessly overcoming challenges and overpowering their enemies. Even in the face of outnumbered confrontations and hired snipers, they emerge unscathed, exacerbating the plot armor issue.

Alan Ritchson's Reacher hanging on a helicopter

The season's finale presents an opportunity to raise the stakes and vulnerability of the characters. Instead, it exacerbates the plot armor problem as characters like Dixon and O'Donnell display unrealistic resilience, downplaying the sense of risk and danger in the action sequences.

Robert Patrick as Langston in Reacher

Reacher's superhuman abilities are further emphasized as he defies injury and maintains his strength in unrealistic scenarios, diminishing the believability of the characters' vulnerability.

Addressing the Plot Armor Issue in Season 3

Reacher season 2 missed the opportunity to rectify its plot armor problem, but the potential for improvement lies in adapting Lee Child's Tripwire for season 3. Unlike previous narratives, Tripwire presents a vulnerable side of Reacher, depicting the character's human limitations after sustaining a severe injury.

By incorporating Tripwire into the storyline, Reacher season 3 can strike a balance between over-the-top action and realism, portraying Reacher as formidable yet human, adding depth and relatability to the character.

The adaptation of Tripwire offers the opportunity to address the plot armor issue, infusing the narrative with a sense of risk and vulnerability while maintaining the essence of the character.