The Complex Relationship of Reacher and Neagley in Amazon's Reacher

The Unspoken Connection

In Amazon's Reacher TV show, the character of Frances Neagley is introduced and appears standoffish because of her disinclination to touch people, but there is a deeper reason behind it. Neagley is shown to be a counterpart to Reacher, introduced in scenes where she is shown as just as formidable in combat, despite not having Alan Ritchson’s six-foot-five figure. Reacher and Neagley clearly have a history, but a lot is left unsaid in the series for viewers not familiar with the books.

Maria Sten as Frances Neagley in Reacher

Neagley (Maria Sten) is introduced in Amazon’s Reacher TV series when Reacher decides that the services of a trusted private detective would help in the Margrave situation. Neagley and Reacher served in the military together and, when he was charged with setting up the U.S. Army 110th Military Police Special Investigations Unit, she was one of his first choices. When an officer offers to shake Neagley’s hand, she stares at it, and Reacher explains that she doesn’t like to touch people. When the two part ways at the end of the episode, after almost being killed by one of the officers, Reacher and Neagley stand facing each other for a moment before, instead of shaking hands or hugging, they give each other a strange semi-ritualistic wave to say goodbye instead.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher and Maria Sten as Frances Neagley in Amazon's Reacher

The Depth of Their Bond

The way Jack Reacher and Neagley interact with one another, especially in season 1, can make the two appear estranged or businesslike. However, it is clear in other scenes that the two feel friendly towards each other and are happy to tease one another. In fact, the way they treat each other actually shows the depth and knowledge of the pair’s friendship and helps to further characterize their relationship. In Lee Child’s books, it is explained that Neagley has haphephobia, a rare condition that is identified by the fear of being touched or touching others. The semi-ritualistic nature of their wave in season 1 makes it clear that this is a method of farewell that the two have developed over their years of close friendship to be able to communicate affection without triggering her haphephobia.

Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) in Reacher season 1

While Reacher season 1 is based on Lee Child’s first Jack Reacher book, Killing Floor, Neagley is not featured in that book and not introduced as a character for the series until Without Fail, the sixth book in the series. The novels are more explicit about Neagley's haphephobia and the matter is raised in the prequel novel Night School (set one year before the events of Killing Floor) by the NSA senior Deputy Marion Sinclair. Sinclair suggests that Neagley wants to sleep with Reacher, and Reacher assures him that their relationship is purely platonic - and, furthermore, explains that she has haphephobia. Sinclair inquires about whether it was caused by trauma, but again, Reacher shuts him down and explains she claims to have been born with it.

Reacher season 2 trailer features Neagley and Jack

The Portrayal and Significance

Introducing Neagley so much earlier in the Reacher TV series than she appears in Lee Child’s novels might seem like an odd choice from the showrunners. However, her role and relationship with Reacher make her the perfect way to tie the series together. As Reacher moves from place to place, he is often one of the few consistent characters in the novels, and that element might strain audiences who could be surprised to not see Roscoe (Willa Fitzgerald) and Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin) return for Reacher season 2. With Neagley introduced as someone that Reacher can rely on wherever he is in the United States, she can easily appear in each season of Reacher and provide an important portrayal of a platonic relationship between a man and a woman.

Maria Sten as Frances Neagley and Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Amazon's Reacher

In Reacher season 2, Karla Dixon also gets curious about Neagley's relationship with Reacher and struggles to understand why Reacher trusts her so much. Neagley explains they are close because they respect each other's boundaries and maintain a strictly platonic relationship. While Reacher understands that Neagley does not like being touched and has other sets of boundaries that he should never cross, Neagley does not judge Reacher's lifestyle choices and only reaches out to him when something urgent comes up.

Reacher Season 2 Will Prove How Important Neagley Really Is

Amazon's Reacher does not explicitly mention whether Neagley is asexual. However, the show seemingly hints at it in Reacher season 2, episode 1. As Reacher and Neagley open up about their professional and personal lives, Neagley starts teasing him with their former team member, Karla Dixon. When she asks him if he slept with her, he denies it, claiming that it would have been inappropriate. Neagley still tries to tease him by saying that he found her attractive. When Reacher asks her, 'Who wouldn't?' Neagley replies that she would not. She also adds that she does not find anyone attractive, which seems to confirm in the Reacher season 2 episode that she is asexual.

Maria Sten as Neagley on the phone in Reacher