Reacher: Season One

Not to take anything from the talent and acting skills of Tom Cruise because he is a very talented actor but in this particular role there is just no comparison to Alan Ritchson portrayal of the character of Jack Reacher. Ritchson was made for this role. his demeanor, physicality, and emotional portrayal of the character is absolute. I am not usually a big fan of action movies or shows but this series is written so well and the actors playing the roles are so on point it is easy to become a fan. One thing I like is that the story is the main character and everyone is not dropping F-bombs and gutter talk every five minutes or having a bunch of pointless sex scenes. Great writing and acting will draw the viewer in and the show doesn't have to sink to pointless F-bombs and gratuitous sex scenes to draw in viewers, write a great story and that will draw in your viewers. Ritchson is amazing in this role and of course Maria Sten as Neagley is superb in her portrayal of her character. These two in particular bring real talent and believability in their roles. One does not feel like we are watching actors play a part or role, these two bring a feeling that these characters are real. Looking forward to the next season and hopefully many more seasons. I would also love to see a Neagley version focused in the same way but with her as the main character. I think Sten could carry off her own series as well, but of course she and Reacher have to keep tag teaming in their adventures! Great original idea and creation by Lee Child, great series writers, great production crew, and amazing actors to bring it all to life. I think Amazon definitely has a winner here!

I am shocked I have not written a review for this yet. I binge watched it when it was released and have probably rewatched it seven more times. It doesn't get boring no matter how many times I watch it.I've been a fan of Alan Ritchson from back in his Smallville days. It is good to see him get a role that seems to have been made for him. The one scene that defines this character, this series, and the tone of the show is the one in episode 1 outside the diner when the weak man is mistreating his girlfriend for leaving too big a tip and all Reacher has to do his fold his arms and glare at the man to get him to stop and grovel for mercy basically. The second scene that encompasses the emotion of this story is when Reacher and his brother are boys and the neighborhood bullies threaten them. Reacher readies himself for a fight and his brother joins him, even though Reacher says he doesn't have to and that this is Reacher's fight. His brother doesn't let him stand alone and they confront the bullies together. It speaks volumes to family loyalty, standing up for what is right and not letting evil win, no matter the personal cost you may face.Reacher is a breath of fresh air in a world that seems to be inundated with nefarious people, poorly written and filmed stories. Masculinity is not toxic and Reacher personifies why masculinity is important. We need Alpha males in this world to stand up to evil and Reacher is the ultimate Alpha. Even the "secondary" characters are portrayed well. While Findley is not Reacher's size he doesn't let him intimidate him and they go toe to toe. Two Alphas, working together, fighting evil and kicking butt. Roscoe doesn't let the men have all the glory either. She holds her own but the show doesn't make her a super hero and it realistically portrays her strength as well as her weakness. Yes, women are capable and have their own strength, but defying natural laws to hold up women artificially makes for poor story telling in my opinion. The show is also called Reacher for a reason and the writers, producers, actors all respected this.While I am not a fan of the writing in the book, I have to give credit to Lee Child for bringing the Reacher character to life and to the show producers for going back to Alan Richtson for casting and for all involved for creating such a fun, exciting, engaging, captivating series. I am eagerly awaiting season 2. Until then, I'll watch season 1 for the 8th time.

The final fight in the episode where Reacher lies in wait for the mercenaries/killers in the abandoned home of the one accountant who is on the run seems somewhat incongruous and incredible to me as Reacher seems to have an unexpected and inordinate amount of trouble with one guy who pushes him into a pool and nearly kills him seemingly having the upper hand during their whole fight even though he is a minor character who has not shown any comparable abilities during the whole season prior to that point.The very last episode of Season 1 not only feels rushed to me, but suffers from another glaring issue in my opinion that is even more of a concern in Season 2: Reacher pretty much never feels like he is in actual danger nor that he ever really faces significantly high stakes. The whole scene from when he and his friends storm the burning counterfeiting plant to him fairly quickly defeating the unhinged antagonist and then walking out from the burning building seemed too easy and almost comical in its pacing and execution.In summary I still love the show, Reacher, and part of me wishes to not only realize my own dreams of being an unchained, free-roaming American bada** who helps people and stops corruption wherever he goes, but to also wish that someone even a quarter as epic and incorruptible as Reacher exists or could exist in the world. I'd like to hope that he exists somewhere. Maybe he exists in each of us, but also I can't shake the feeling that Amazon and other such high powered corporate and government entities know how to harness even, and maybe especially, something as beautiful and honorable as Jack Reacher, package him, commodify him, and sell him to us as an escapist salve so that we remain fat, docile, and continually lining their pockets. Something to think about...but I still generally like the show very much, and for me I watch pretty much nothing else other than Real Time and Stranger Things. I don't consume any Youtube, Television, Video News, Movies (In Theater or through streaming, etc.) or any other visual entertainment almost at all anymore. The only two movies that I can recall going to theaters to see in the last decade both happened in the last couple of years: Maverick and Oppenheimer. Anyway that is enough from me for the moment. Cheers.

Loved it! Binge watched it in one day! Much more believable Reacher than Tom Cruise.

Love it! I hope you capture the season 1 essence on the seasons to come