Reacher Season 2's Trailblazing Decision to Skip 9 Books Proves Amazon's Genius Move

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The Reacher season 2 trailer proves that skipping 9 books was the right move for storytelling, as it effectively lays the groundwork for a new story and piques interest.

Reacher season 2 seamlessly continues Jack's story, incorporating new settings and characters while maintaining its organic flow. With the freedom to selectively choose storylines, the show can successfully adapt books 2-10 in upcoming seasons.

The new trailer for Reacher season 2 proves that skipping 9 books was a smart choice for its storytelling. Alan Ritchson's hobo character is returning for another adventure after his time in Margrave, Georgia. Based on Lee Child's novels, the first season of the Amazon Prime Video project adapted the series' debut book, Killing Floor. Similar to the source material, Reacher will adopt an anthology approach, with each season focusing on a different novel's case. However, instead of following a chronological order, season 2 will tackle book 11, Bad Luck and Trouble. This creative decision may seem confusing at first, but considering Reacher's anthology nature, skipping installments doesn't complicate the narrative and allows for a more straightforward approach. Despite concerns from fans who started with Child's books, Amazon Prime Video effectively argues that Bad Luck and Trouble is the best storyline to explore in Reacher season 2 after Killing Floor.

Reacher Season 2's Trailer Looks Great - Despite Skipping 9 Books

Reacher season 2 trailer inspires confidence.

The highly anticipated return of the series on Amazon Prime is accompanied by the release of the gripping first trailer for Reacher season 2. This promotional clip effectively sets the stage for the show's new storyline, focusing on the mysterious deaths of the members of the US Army 110th MP Special Investigations unit. While showcasing the perilous mission undertaken by Jack and his team, the trailer also provides glimpses of humor, giving viewers an idea of the dynamic cast for this season. This is especially significant considering the outstanding performance of the cast in Reacher season 1.

While it is advisable to reserve final judgments about the show's second season until its official release, the Reacher season 2 trailer instills confidence. It not only has the potential to attract new viewers, but also captivates those who enjoyed the first season. Despite skipping nine books and diving straight into "Bad Luck and Trouble," the narrative still maintains a seamless connection to Jack's experiences in Margrave, with the exception of the absence of Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald) and Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin) by his side.

Reacher Season 2's Story Makes Perfect Sense After Season 1

Reacher season 2 feels like an organic continuation of Jack's story.

The Reacher season 2 trailer fails to capture Jack's previous experiences from season 1. Not only are Finlay and Roscoe missing, but there is no mention of their roles or their involvement in his recent pursuits. It is important to note that Bad Luck and Trouble primarily takes place on the West Coast, making it logistically impossible for Jack to reunite with either of them. The show introduces new landscapes and visuals, setting it apart from its predecessor and offering viewers something fresh. Despite these changes, Reacher season 2 seamlessly continues Jack's story.

Aside from Jack being the driving force behind the story, Reacher season 2 will also witness the return of Frances Neagley (Maria Sten). In season 1, Neagley was introduced as Jack's former military comrade and played a crucial role in taking down the Kliners in Margrave. Although she was introduced later in the inaugural season, her history with Jack was firmly established, allowing season 2 to delve deeper into their relationship. This seamless narrative transition is remarkable, especially considering the omission of 9 books in between seasons.

Amazon's Reacher Can Still Adapt Books 2-10 After Season 2

The Reacher show can cherry-pick which arcs to tell.

Jumping from Killing Floor to Bad Luck and Trouble doesn't indicate that Reacher is unable to revisit the books he initially skipped. There are multiple captivating storylines that the show can choose to explore in his upcoming adventures, and many of them would be excellent to adapt. One such example is Tripwire, the third installment in Child's series, where Jack emerges from retirement after a private investigator is hired to track him down. It is often regarded as one of the franchise's finest entries.

Regardless, the fact that Amazon Prime Video successfully makes Bad Luck and Trouble feel like a natural continuation of Jack's story, despite skipping 9 books, suggests that they have the flexibility to return to those skipped stories if they choose to do so. It remains uncertain if the platform intends to adapt every single novel in Child's collection, but the freedom to selectively choose which story arcs to tell is creatively liberating for the Reacher show.

Reacher season 2 will premiere with its first three episodes on Dec. 15 on Amazon Prime Video.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of the Reacher series, I have mixed feelings about the decision to skip 9 books for the second season of the Amazon Prime Video show. On the one hand, I understand the desire to keep the storytelling fresh and avoid potential repetition. By jumping ahead to book 11, "Bad Luck and Trouble," the show can introduce new settings, characters, and storylines that might not have been possible if it had followed the books in chronological order.

On the other hand, I am concerned that skipping so many books will leave out important character development and plot points that could have been explored in more detail. I am also worried that new viewers who have not read the books may be confused by the sudden jump in the storyline.

Overall, I think the decision to skip 9 books is a risky one, but it could also pay off if the show is able to maintain its high quality and engage both new and existing fans.