Reacher's Latest Hit and Run

The Mystery of Roscoe's Absence

Reacher season 2 finally offers a tangible explanation for Roscoe's absence, but this paper-thin reasoning actually makes the situation even harder to understand.

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

Since Reacher's title character is a self-styled hobo that deliberately avoids making permanent ties to people and places, Willa Fitzgerald's Roscoe was not expected to appear in season 2 - especially since she also doesn't return in Lee Child's books.

Ben Ritchson as Reacher and Willa Fitzgerald as Roscoe Conklin sitting next to each other from behind

Nevertheless, Amazon's adaptation dropped hints that Roscoe might join the Reacher season 2 cast, if only for a cameo. Firstly, Reacher season 1 ended with Roscoe giving Reacher her phone number. Secondly, Finlay's season 2 cameo already proved Reacher is willing to call upon his allies from Margrave.

Reacher's Excuse For Not Calling Roscoe

Reacher barely acknowledged Roscoe's existence during season 2's first six episodes, almost going out of its way to avoid giving her a mention. Reacher season 2, episode 7, 'The Man Goes Through' finally references Roscoe by name, but then goes further by actually offering an explanation for her absence.

Discussing potential places to hide Marlo Burns and her daughter, Reacher decides against sending them to Roscoe because Senator Lavoy had already drawn the connection between Reacher and Margrave. According to Reacher, that means his enemies could make the same deduction, so even Roscoe cannot keep the witnesses safe.

On the surface, Reacher's logic for not calling Roscoe makes sense. Shane Langston and AM are powerful, well-connected enemies. With a little digging, they certainly could attach Reacher to the Margrave incident and identify Roscoe and Finlay as potential allies. For this reason, sending Marlo and Jane to stay with Roscoe would indeed be foolish.

Season 2 Has Teased Reacher's Ulterior Motive

Various clues in Reacher season 2 point towards Ritchson's character having a more personal motivation for not calling Roscoe: his blossoming romance with Dixon.

Very quickly after reuniting, Reacher and Dixon rekindled an unfulfilled romance from their days in the 110th. It was shortly after his first night with Dixon that Reacher involved Finlay in season 2's investigation, despite Roscoe being the more natural choice.

When Reacher was last in Margrave, Finlay was teasing retirement and Roscoe was an active cop. If Reacher needed someone to stage a drugs bust, therefore, Roscoe was the obvious option.