Whoever did the casting for AMAZON Prime Video’s Reacher–based on Lee Child’s first Jack Reacher novel from 1997, The Killing Floor–should get a raise. Fans and critics mocked Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. Reacher–in the novels–is 6’5″ and 250+ pounds. Cruise doesn’t come close to those attributes.
I’ve only watched two of the eight episodes in Season One, but from what I’ve seen, this series is going to stick closely to Lee Child’s debut novel. Alan Ritchson plays Jack Reacher. He’s smart, big, and powerful. Every few minutes someone is dumb enough to challenge Reacher…who pounds them them into submission. I like Malcolm Goodwin as Oscar Finley, Margrave Police Department Chief Detective–with a police career in Boston and a Harvard degree–who starts out antagonistic to Reacher, but realizes that he’s a ally. It’s early in the series, but I’m fond of Willa Fitzgerald as police woman Roscoe Conklin. She’s also very smart.
Reacher arrives is Margrave, Georgia and is immediately arrested. The police suspect this “drifter” killed two men outside of town. Reacher proves he had a alibi for the time of the killings, but gets drawn into the investigation.
If you’re a Jack Reacher fan, you’re going to love this. GRADE: A (so far)
I’ve been reading the novels since the beginning but the recent ones have been really bad and I’ve given up on them, but this series is looking pretty good after four episodes. I’ve never seen Ritchson before but he’s just about perfect as Reacher, although I must admit that I had no significant objections to Cruise and thought the first movie (but not the second one) was quite good. The rest of the cast, especially the two you mentioned, was also fine. My only major objection is the plot, which is way too complicated. The novels tend to have relatively simple plots that fit nicely into a two hour movie, but blow them up to eight hours and they look pretty bloated. It doesn’t seem likely that REACHER is going to reach the astonishing heights of Amazon’s BOSCH series, but it’s going to be fun for Reacher fans.
Michael, excellent assessment of REACHER! I agree with you on Lee Child’s last few JACK REACHER novels. I suspect Child got tired of writing those novels and passed them off to his brother (I haven’t read any of those). TV streaming services need content badly so to them a 8-episode series is worth more than a 2-hour movie.
Yeah, I gave up on the books when he passed them off to his brother too.
He stepped off that bus and was Reacher. I was very glad to see Willa Fitzgerald, who played a very different part on DARE ME, was in the cast. A terrific actress. But thinking along those lines I guess each season will have a different supporting cast.
Patti, I think Willa Fitzgerald is terrific! The plan for the REACHER series seem to be to do one novel per season.
I binged the entire series and have to give it a thumbs up. A bit too many flashbacks for my taste and a bit too many Reacher vs. a bunch of bad guy fights made me wonder if he was going to take on the hordes from TARAS BULBA single-handedly next. But all in all, a highly recommended series. I especially liked the goring relationship between Reacher and Finley. And who could find fault with cute as a button Willa Fitzgerald?
Jerry, glad to have your confirmation that the series is a winner! I’ll probably watch a couple more episodes this weekend while Diane watches Olympic skating. And, you’re right: Willa Fitzgerald just pops off the screen!
We watched the first episode last night and Jackie (who hasn’t read the book) was raving about it. I liked Fitzgerald too. Clearly, the people involved (including Lee Child) knew exactly what they were doing. Nice job.
Jeff, I’m hoping AMAZON Prime Video does most of Lee Child’s novels. DIE TRYING would be the next novel in the series.
I remember there was a Reacher’s Creatures party in San Francisco during the B’con there (no, I didn’t go), and for a long time before what a big hit the books were. Barbara read a bunch of them. On her recommendation I read one, 61 Hours. He was killed at the end. The series continued, so I knew it was a cliffhanger trick. Bah. The plot was just okay, setting sketchy. No reason to read another. No reason to watch this either. Why would I want to see “ Every few minutes someone is dumb enough to challenge Reacher…who pounds them them into submission.”?
Rick, I liked Lee Child’s early REACHER novels. The later ones, no so much. But, this AMAZON Prime Video version captures the intensity of THE KILLING FLOOR. And, a good cast, too.
On another note: the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies were, um, boring and flat. Split screen commercials are a nod to commerce over sport, though that doesn’t surprise me. NBC and Comcast make it difficult to know what is on when, but it’s obvious they’re going to shove a bunch of hockey down our throats. No, thanks to that.
Rick, I have ZERO interest in the Olympics. Having dictatorships host the Games–Russia and now China–shows how corrupt International Olympic Committee has become.
That’s not the fault of the athletes, George! You shouldn’t let politics get in the way of enjoying good sports performances, unless you don’t like any winter sports.
Rick, I like hockey. But, the NHL wouldn’t let their players compete in the Olympics. I’ll keep track of the Women’s Hockey teams.
I read the first Reacher book many years ago and liked it. Despite buying several more over the years, I didn’t read another one until recently. Don’t remember the title, but he ended up in the town that his father had left as a teenager. And of course getting into a few fights. Couldn’t see Cruise as Reacher so may try this new series. As for the Olympics, I have little interest other than checking to see how Canada does in curling.
Kent, I think the Jack Reacher book you read was PAST TENSE. The U.S. Women’s Hockey Team beat Russia today 5-0, but they will lose to the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team.
I read one Reacher years ago and didn’t like it! When the movies came out and The Smirking Dwarf/Scientologis Scumbag was tapped to play the role I studiously ignored them! When Lee Child retired he tapped his brother, Andrew Grant, to write the books! Grant is the husband of major babe Tasha Alexander and they live in secluded splendor in Wyoming! I’ll say this about Child, he doesn’t forget his fans! At the San Francisco and Chicago Bouchercons he picked up the bar tab for scores of drinkers one night! I hoisted a couple myself! I heard the bill came to $30,000 in S.F.
Bob,The Smirking Dwarf/Scientologist Scumbag you refer to bought the rights to some of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels. So he actually “tapped” himself to play the role.
I’d like to tap him in the face!
This makes me wish I had prime. Sigh The Reacher Creature party in SF was the first one open to all attendees (the others were invitation only but they didn’t refuse entry to crashers) as he was the GOH at Bcon. The tab was in excess of $60k, and that was the last one.
I’ve heard nothing but good things about the series so far, though a high body count was mentioned
Maggie, I’m amazed that AMAZON gives free access to their PRIME VIDIO as a perk of also getting free shipping on their orders. Diane and I order from AMAZON constantly so the free shipping saves us a lot of money. Well worth becoming a member!