Reacher Season 2 Theory: Is O'Donnell the Real Villain?

The Obvious Theory

With Jack Reacher's sophomore outing nearing an end, one popular Reacher season 2 fan theory is way too obvious \\u2014 but it's also probably right. Based on Lee Child's Bad Luck and Trouble, Reacher season 2 put its titular character at the center of a conspiracy that's targeting his former hand-picked Army unit. A drifter in his post-military days, Reacher (Alan Ritchson) has been wandering around since the first season's Margrave, Georgia-set counterfeiting case. When Reacher's fellow former military police officer Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) sends him a distress code, Jack learns that one of their old pals, Calvin Franz (Luke Bilyk), was murdered.

Shane Sipos as O'Donnell in Tony Swan's apartment in Reacher season 2

Tossed out of a helicopter that was flying high above the Catskills, Franz's death wasn't an accident. In fact, Neagley and Reacher believe it's just the first in what will become a series of murders targeting the former members of Reacher's 110th Special Investigations Unit. Unlike Reacher season 1's small-town drama, the show's sophomore outing makes things much more personal by putting Reacher at the center of a life-threatening conspiracy. Plus, season 2 confirms that, unlike his buddies, Jack Reacher is stuck in the past. As Reacher reassembles his old crew, a hard-to-stomach suggestion lingers: the unit might've been betrayed by one of their own.

Reacher surrounded by the new season 2 cast looking at some documents on the hood of a car

Is O'Donnell the Culprit?

In addition to Jack Reacher, who hand-picked his 110th comrades, one character stands out \\u2014 David O'Donnell (Shaun Sipos). O'Donnell is often the first member of the reassembled 110th to point fingers, and there are moments hinting at his involvement in the sinister events. However, the evidence pointing toward O'Donnell could be purposefully misleading, as the show has made efforts to change his character from the books. Making O'Donnell a family man is convenient shorthand for making him less suspicious \\u2014 perhaps too convenient. While O'Donnell's actions raise questions, labeling him as the villain might lead to a huge letdown for the audience.

Reacher and O'Donnell sitting at a diner table in Reacher season 2

There are other oddities in the early episodes of Reacher season 2 that point to O'Donnell being a questionable character. However, having virtually any member of Reacher's hand-picked 110th Special Investigations Unit turn on the titular character wouldn't be satisfying. Jack Reacher has hammered home the fact that he doesn't believe anyone he hand-selected is capable of betraying the team; it would undermine Reacher's always-right intuition and sense of self. The series deserves a better twist, and having virtually any member of Reacher's hand-picked 110th Special Investigations Unit turn on the titular character wouldn't be satisfying.

Alan Richtson as Jack Reacher, Serinda Swan as Dixon, Shaun Sipos as O'Donnell, Dean McKenzie as Lowrey in Reacher season 2

The Real Villain

As the investigation uncovers more truths about New Age, Little Wing, and the murders of various ex-MP officers, the 110th's real traitor in Reacher season 2 seems more and more like it'll be Hortense Fields (Josh Blacker). From the character's shoehorned introduction in episode 3 to Fields' awkward appearances in subsequent flashbacks about the 110th's early days, Hortense seems like a prime suspect. If he isn't involved, Fields' appearances are just bizarre set dressing. However, even if Hortense Fields is the character from Reacher's past who's involved in the fatal conspiracy against the 110th, that doesn't completely absolve O'Donnell. If Reacher season 2 wants to implicate O'Donnell in a way that doesn't completely compromise his character, it's possible he's been set up to sell out the 110th \\u2014 his former family \\u2014 to protect his wife and children. In that sense, O'Donnell might not have been directly involved in the murders.

Maria Sten as Neagley looking at key and her laptop in Reacher season 2 episode 1