Reacher Season 2: The Tragic Ruin of a Promising Pairing

The Paving of New Dynamics

Reacher season 2 was paving the way for its best pairing, but a tragic death completely ruined it.

Gaitano Guy Russo intensely looking at someone in Reacher season 2

Based on Lee Child's Bad Luck and Trouble, Reacher season 2 begins with the titular character hearing about the murders of his former team members from the 110th Special Investigations Unit. To get to the bottom of these murder mysteries and serve justice to the perpetrators, Reacher joins forces with the surviving members of his team, Neagley, Dixon, and O'Donnell.

Alan Ritchson looking surprised as Jack Reacher in Reacher season 2, episode 6

Although Reacher's dynamic with season 2's main characters does not necessarily replace what he had with Roscoe and Finlay in season 1, it adds some novelty to the series, allowing audiences to see a different side of the titular character. At the same time, it also makes room for the show to explore Reacher's military background.

Jack Reacher prepares to fight inside the prison bathroom in Reacher

The Tragic Loss of Russo

Russo's Death Spoils Reacher Season 2's Best Character Pairing

Domenick Lombardozzi as Gaitano Guy Russo in Reacher season 2

In many ways, Reacher's dynamic with Russo almost seemed reminiscent of his relationship with Finlay in season 1's early episodes. Reacher season 2 introduces Neagley, David, and Dixon as the titular character's new allies, but the character's best pairing in the season has been with Russo.

Domenick Lombardozzi as Russo taking cover from gunfire behind a car in Reacher episode 6

From the season's initial moments, Reacher and Russo had a typical buddy-cop dynamic where their methods and personalities contrasted. Unlike Reacher's former team members from the 110th Special Investigations Unit, Russo was never technically his partner. However, solving the murder case of Reacher's former team members forced them together, leading to humor and even conflicts they had to learn to resolve together.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Reacher season 2, episode 6

The gradual evolution of their relationship in Reacher season 2 makes them the season's best pair, but Russo's sudden death ruins it. In season 2, Reacher mentions that if Finlay had been in the military with him, he would have recruited him in the 110th Special Investigations Unit. Although Reacher does not explicitly say the same about Russo, Russo's sacrifice in Reacher season 2, episode 6 proves that he, too, was worthy of getting the same level of respect from Reacher as Finlay.

Maria Sten's Neagley holds Russo's hand in Reacher episode 6's finale

The Unfulfilled Promise

Reacher Season 2 Can't Pay Off Its Exciting Fight Tease Now

Season 2 kept teasing a rematch between Russo and Reacher after Reacher kicked his car and deployed his airbag. Even during their confrontation at the cemetery in Reacher season 2's episode 5, Russo firmly stands up to Reacher and confronts him by saying he will give him the beating he owes him. Reacher fires back at him by responding he will take up the fight anytime he wants.

Given how the two were at the end of their wits on the scene, they likely would have duked it out if so many people were not watching them. Although Reacher likely would have won the fight, it would have been interesting to see how a tenacious man like Russo would have challenged the seemingly invincible character. The fight would also have been hilarious in more ways than one, given how the two would try to win without gravely injuring one another. Sadly, with Russo's death, Reacher season 2 cannot pay off the exciting fight tease.

The Necessary Sacrifice

Why Reacher Season 2 Killed Off Russo

Reacher season 2 significantly deviates from its source material by portraying Russo's death. It takes this risk because Reacher season 2 somehow had to raise the stakes for the main characters to make its villains appear more serious and formidable. By highlighting how a skilled police detective lost his life in the pursuit of serving justice to season 2's antagonists, Amazon's Reacher has upped the danger for the main character and his team before the finale. Owing to this, even though Russo's death spoils the season's best character pairing and even prevents the season from paying off a fight tease, it seems necessary for Reacher season 2's overarching storyline.