Intro:
Jack Reacher is a popular character created by author Lee Child, who has appeared in 25 novels and two movies starring Tom Cruise. Now, the former military policeman is back in a new TV series on Amazon Prime Video, with a different actor in the lead role. Alan Ritchson plays Reacher, a drifter who travels across the US and gets involved in various crimes and mysteries. The first season of the show is based on the first novel, Killing Floor, and the second season is based on the eleventh novel, Bad Luck and Trouble. How does the TV series compare to the movies and the books? Let’s find out.
 Rating: 4/5 stars
If you are a fan of action, crime, and thriller genres, you will enjoy watching Jack Reacher. The show is fast-paced, suspenseful, and entertaining, with plenty of twists and turns. The TV series is more faithful to the books than the movies, and captures the essence of Reacher’s character and personality. Ritchson does a great job of portraying Reacher’s physicality, intelligence, and charisma, and he has a good chemistry with the supporting cast. The show also explores Reacher’s backstory and his relationships with his former Army colleagues, adding more depth and emotion to the story.
The show is not perfect, however, and it has some flaws. Some of the dialogue is cheesy, some of the villains are clichéd, and some of the scenes are unrealistic or over-the-top. The show also has some violence and gore, which may not be suitable for everyone. Overall, Jack Reacher is a thrilling ride that will keep you hooked and entertained.
Plot Summary
The TV series follows Reacher’s adventures in different locations and situations. In the first season, Reacher arrives in Margrave, a small town in Georgia, where he is arrested for a murder he did not commit. He teams up with two honest cops, Finlay and Roscoe, to clear his name and uncover a conspiracy involving counterfeit money, corruption, and a powerful family. In the second season, Reacher is contacted by Neagley, a former member of his elite Army unit, when one of their own is killed. He reunites with his old team to find the killers and avenge their friend, while facing a new enemy who knows their secrets.
Love interests:
The TV show features more diverse and interesting love interests for Reacher than the movies, such as Roscoe Conklin, a police officer who helps him solve a murder case in Killing Floor, and Karla Dixon, a former Army major who reunites with him in Bad Luck and Trouble. The movies only have Helen Rodin, a defense attorney who defends a sniper suspect in One Shot, as Reacher’s main romantic interest.
Villains:
The TV show also has more complex and compelling villains than the movies, such as A.M., a mysterious arms dealer who has a personal connection to Reacher, and Shane Langston, a former NYPD detective who becomes Reacher’s rival and nemesis. The movies have The Zec, a former Soviet prisoner and gang leader who orders a sniper shooting, and Charlie, his right-hand man and assassin, as Reacher’s main antagonists.
Other characters:
The TV show introduces more of Reacher’s former teammates from the 110th Special Investigations Unit, such as Frances Neagley, Oscar Finlay, David O’Donnell, and Jasper, who join him in Bad Luck and Trouble. The movies only have Robert Duvall as Cash, a former marine sniper who helps Reacher in One Shot. The TV show also gives more screen time and development to other characters, such as Martin Cash, a former marine and Reacher’s helper in Killing Floor, and Roscoe Conklin, a police officer and Reacher’s love interest in Killing Floor.
Directors and producers:
Nick Santora, who has experience in creating action and crime shows, such as Prison Break and Scorpion, developed the TV show. Lee Child, the author of the Jack Reacher novels, also produced the show and had more creative input and control over the adaptation. Christopher McQuarrie and Edward Zwick, who are more known for their work in other genres, such as drama and thriller, directed the movies. Tom Cruise, who does not fit the physical description of the character in the books, played Reacher in the movies and also produced them.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The TV series has many strengths that make it worth watching. One of them is the casting of Ritchson as Reacher. He fits the description of Reacher from the books, being tall, muscular, and blond, and he delivers a convincing performance as a tough, smart, and charismatic hero. He also shows Reacher’s softer side, such as his loyalty, humor, and compassion. Another strength is the adaptation of the books.
The show follows the main plot and characters of the novels, but also adds some changes and updates to make it more relevant and interesting. The show also pays attention to the details and references from the books, such as Reacher’s love for coffee, his habit of buying cheap clothes, and his knack for solving problems with his fists or his brain.
A third strength is the action and suspense. The show has many exciting and tense scenes, such as fights, chases, shootouts, and explosions, that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The show also has some surprises and twists that will keep you guessing and intrigued.
The TV series also has some weaknesses that may affect your enjoyment. One of them is the dialogue. Some of the lines are cheesy, corny, or clichéd, and they may make you cringe or laugh. For example, Reacher says things like
I’m not a hero, I’m a drifter,
I don’t like bullies,
I’m the guy you didn’t count on.
Another weakness is the villains.
Some of the antagonists are stereotypical, bland, or cartoonish, and they do not pose a real threat or challenge to Reacher. For example, the Kliner family in the first season are a typical crime family, with a ruthless father, a spoiled son, and a corrupt mayor. The enemy in the second season is a mysterious and powerful figure, but his motives and identity are not very clear or compelling. A third weakness is the realism. Some of the scenes are unrealistic or exaggerated, and they may break your immersion or suspension of disbelief. For example, Reacher survives multiple injuries, fights, and explosions, without showing much pain or fatigue. He also manages to outsmart, outfight, and outrun everyone, without facing much resistance or consequences.
The Movies
Tom Cruise stars as Reacher in two action thriller films based on two of Lee Child’s novels. The first film, Jack Reacher (2012), adapts the ninth novel, One Shot. The second film, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016), adapts the eighteenth novel, Never Go Back. Christopher McQuarrie and Edward Zwick direct the movies, respectively. Other actors in the movies include Rosamund Pike, Cobie Smulders, Robert Duvall, and Werner Herzog.
The movies are similar to the TV series in terms of the genre, the plot, and the action. They also follow the main events and characters of the books, but with some changes and adaptations. The movies are different from the TV series in terms of the casting, the tone, and the reception. The movies cast Cruise as Reacher, who is much shorter, older, and darker than the character from the books. Many fans of the books were disappointed by this choice, as they felt that Cruise did not match the image of Reacher they had in their minds.
The movies also have a more serious and dark tone, compared to the TV series, which has more humor and light-hearted moments. The movies also received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, with some praising the performances, the direction, and the action, and others criticizing the script, the pacing, and the lack of originality.
The Difference
The main difference between the Jack Reacher movies and the TV series is the actor who plays Reacher. Ritchson is closer to the book’s description of Reacher than Cruise, and he brings a different energy and personality to the role. Ritchson’s Reacher is more imposing, more confident, and more charismatic, while Cruise’s Reacher is more reserved, more serious, and more intense. Ritchson’s Reacher also has more interactions and connections with other characters, while Cruise’s Reacher is more isolated and independent.
The TV series also has more episodes and seasons, which allows it to explore more stories and aspects of Reacher’s life and history, while the movies are limited by their runtime and scope. The TV series also has more creative freedom and flexibility, as it can make changes and updates to the books, while the movies have to follow the books more closely and faithfully.