Reacher Season 2: The Unraveling of Villain Theories
An in-depth analysis of Reacher season 2 and its resolution of major villain theories ahead of the finale.
The Culmination of Jack Reacher's Latest Mission
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Reacher season 2, episode 7. Reacher season 2 has only one episode left, but it has already debunked all its major villain theories ahead of its finale. Jack Reacher's latest mission is already coming to an end, but unlike his case in Margrave, Georgia, his current endeavor, which involves the fate of his 110th Special Investigations Unit from his days in the military, its culmination is shaping up to be less compelling.
Shaun Sipos as David O'Donnell in Reacher season 2
More than two years since he helped Roscoe Conklin and Oscar Finlay take down the Kliners and their illegal operations, Jack finds himself recruited by Frances Neagley into a peculiar case, delving into the mysterious deaths of their fellow Special Investigators. So far, Jack's main foe in Reacher season 2 is Shane Langston of New Age. Per Marlo Burns' confession, the former police-turned-executive has been illegally selling weapons. AM, on the other hand, is functioning as the middleman between Langston and his buyers. The Nick Santora-created show is adapting Lee Child's 11th book from the series, but it takes some creative liberties to keep audiences hooked, making it difficult to predict how the show's sophomore year will end. That being said, considering everything that happens in Reacher season 2, episode 7, 'The Man Goes Through,' and everything else before that, all of its biggest villain theories have now been squashed.
Hortense Fields (Josh Blacker) speaks to Alan Ritchson's Jack Reacher in Reacher season 2
The Truth about David O'Donnell
O'Donnell has been ruled out from the list of possible 110th traitors. The 110th Special Investigations Unit is questioned in Reacher season 2 when Tony Swan became a suspected co-conspirator in New Age Technology, which led to the deaths of Calvin Franz, Manuel Orozco, and Jorge Sanchez. While the show piled on Swan, however, David O'Donnell's actions started becoming questionable. He was quick to pass judgment on Swan while the rest of the team needed more time to process his potential betrayal. O'Donnell also has the motive to partner with a corrupt corporation like New Age, considering that he has a growing family that he needs to support.
Shannon Kook as Tony Swan at a crime sceen in Reacher season 2
Before Jack, Neagley, and Karla Dixon even notice how suspicious O'Donnell is acting, Reacher season 2 already rules him out as a traitor. After Guy Russo's emotional death in Reacher season 2, episode 6, 'New York's Finest,' the squad splits up, leading to Dixon and O'Donnell being captured by Langston. If O'Donnell was dirty, it wouldn't make sense that he would be badly beaten. If anything, the theorized secret partnership should have already been revealed by now, since there's no reason to hide it anymore. This would clear the finale up for the fallout from that supposed betrayal, ensuring an even-paced resolution to all the mysteries in Reacher season 2.
Ferdinand Kingsley as AM in Reacher season 2
The Mystery of Hortense Fields
Hortense remains absent in Reacher season 2's present-day timeline. Another potential secret villain in Reacher season 2 is Hortense Fields — the 110th Special Investigations Unit's old military supervisor. So far, the character has only been seen through flashbacks, but the show's penultimate episode offers additional context as to the kind of relationship he had with Jack and his team. As it turns out, they had a falling out towards the end after the Special Investigators disobeyed orders for them to turn a blind eye to the illegal drug operations in the military and cover up Operation Kite. This could have been additional proof that he is somehow linked to New Age and Langston.
Robert Patrick as Shane Langston in Reacher season 2
That being said, aside from their final time working together in the military, there isn't any other concrete connection between Hortense and what's happening to the Special Investigators. At this point in the series, there should have been more clues to back up this idea, if Reacher season 2 is indeed setting him up as the narrative's secret villain. Unfortunately, not only is there no mounting evidence against him, but it's also too late in the series to start building him up as a master manipulator in cahoots with Langston without the reveal feeling rushed and unearned.
Robert Patrick as Langston in Reacher season 2
