Reacher's Solid Season 2 Start
After a great first season, Reacher returns with similar murder-mystery vibes
I thoroughly enjoyed the first season of Reacher, so it should be no surprise that a second season was on my radar. The main character Jack Reacher (played by Alan Ritchson) is a drifter who loves not being tied to anything, but he quickly finds himself in familiar territory with a familiar face in the first episode.
After a body is dropped out of a helicopter in New York, Neagley (played by Maria Sten) contacts Reacher to let him know one of their own has been murdered. A fallen member of their former unit, the “Special Investigators,” is enough for them to start digging into what happened, but unanswered phone calls from former members of their unit might mean many more have been killed the further they get into their investigation.
What Makes Reacher a Solid Series?
Reacher is a no-nonsense kind of guy and so are his most trusted friends. Not that he relies on them often, but it’s clear there is a strong sense of loyalty attached to whoever he calls friend. Neagley is a private investigator, well paid, and uses her financial resources to fly him up to New York to help with the investigation, but we’ve already seen what she’s capable of from season one; intelligent, charismatic, and a well-trained shooter.
The first episode of Reacher season 2 gives us a murder mystery that drives the entire story. When you add some flashback sequences to highlight Reacher’s former unit, it’s easy to understand how important they all are to him. Even though he doesn’t know how their lives have changed beyond the Special Investigators, he still cares about them.
Also, Reacher has a solid eye for seeing things out of place. He notices a car following them, to which viewers see the driver with a list of names looking after them, but it’s unclear why his former military unit is being targeted. Reacher gives viewers a puzzle and the main character is the solver, so everything (more or less) comes to the surface as he uncovers things.
Reacher S2 Episode 1: Entertaining
The first episode of season 2 seems to mimic the first season’s premiere where it presents a murder investigation that Reacher needs to solve. Although the main character isn’t the main suspect like season 1, it still gives similar circumstances where he can shine in his investigative abilities. Plus, Neagley is an integral part of season 2 right off the bat, as she was the one to bring to light their friend’s death and help with the investigation.
On top of that, you see some humorous interactions, quick fight scenes, and a gigantic mystery revolving around a mysterious man with various identities who kills people to remain anonymous. Reacher does a great job at getting right to the point and not letting the storyline become too drawn out or ambiguous. There is a clear understanding of good versus evil, at least at first glance, so it will be interesting to see if any of that changes as the season progresses.
If you’re looking for a TV series with straightforward characters with an intriguing storyline, Reacher is an optimal choice amongst your viewing options. I’ve already described Jack Reacher as my “standout character” of 2022, so it probably shouldn’t surprise anyone that I’m happy with the first episode and look forward to where the second season takes us. The storyline seems streamlined in a way where it’s hard to imagine anyone not liking this show. It is a suspenseful action drama, blended with some humor, and I hope to see Reacher smash some more villains along the way.
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than seeing the bad guy get taken down.