By
Dhruv Sharma
Published 28 minutes ago
Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns.
Before Screen Rant, he was a Senior Writer for The Cinemaholic, covering everything from anime to television, from reality TV to movies.
After high school, he was on his way to become a Civil Engineer. However, he soon realized that writing was his true calling. As a result, he took a leap and never looked back.
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Lee Child's Reacher books have always had one major problem, but the Prime Video show is gradually fixing it in one significant way.
For a long time, the Reacher brand was only recognizable because of the original books. The Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher movies did not do justice to the source material and struggled to prove Lee Child's books could translate well to the screen. Fortunately, Prime Video's take on the Jack Reacher books changed everything.
The show not only delivered a loyal take on the original novels but also found the perfect actor, Alan Ritchson, to portray Jack Reacher. A closer look at the Prime Video detective show also reveals how it has been fixing one issue from the books by making Alan Ritchson's Jack Reacher slightly different from his original counterpart.
Alan Ritchson’s Reacher Is Far More Likable Than His Book Counterpart In 1 Major Way
Alan Ritchson staring at someone in Reacher season 3
Prime Video's Reacher accurately captures the titular character's mannerisms, cold humor, outlook towards morality, and stoicism. Alan Ritchson, too, convincingly carries himself as the same Jack Reacher Lee Child described in his books. However, the show does one thing rather differently. Instead of giving him less dialog and presenting his thoughts as inner monologs, the show finds creative ways to make him speak more.
The Jack Reacher in the books has his own charm, and it is hilarious when the line "Reacher said nothing" constantly shows up in the source material. In the show, however, portraying him as a silent figure who internalizes most of his thoughts would have been disastrous. Owing to this, the series uses characters like Neagley as vessels to externalize Reacher's thoughts and motives.
This makes Reacher seem a lot more charming and likable without taking away the essence of the traits that define him in the books. He is still blunt, insanely strong, and carries himself with an unwavering moral compass. Even his dialogues are crafted in a way that makes them seem minimal, which highlights how he is not a big fan of talking but does not leave audiences with long stretches of silence.
Reacher’s Return In The Neagley Spinoff Will Make Him Even More Different From His Books’ Version
By marking Jack Reacher's return in the upcoming Neagley spin-off show, the Prime Video franchise will make him look even friendlier and more approachable than his book counterpart. In the books, Jack Reacher rarely crosses paths with characters from his past. He is a one-man show, while Neagley plays a significantly smaller role in his narratives.
The show has changed their dynamic by often portraying them as a compelling detective duo. Neagley, so far, has had a role to play in every Jack Reacher story on the small screen. With Reacher's return in the spinoff, the two characters' relationship will only grow stronger, making Jack Reacher seem more vulnerable and emotionally grounded than his book counterpart.
The Show’s Book Change Makes Him Less Of A Lone Wolf, But That’s Okay
Alan Ritchson as Reacher looking to the right
Reacher's primary appeal has always come from his defiance of societal expectations. In both the book and the show, he proudly calls himself a hobo and lives his life on his own terms. By making him less of a solo figure and more of a team player, the Prime Video show slightly chips away at the core element that defines his lone wolf persona.
However, since this book change makes the show far more accessible to a mainstream audience, it should be seen as a strength. Despite making the character seem friendly, Prime Video's Reacher never dilutes his independence or imposing presence, which arguably enhances his original appeal.
Reacher
TV-MA
Crime
Drama
Action
Thriller
8/10
641
9.2/10
Release Date
February 3, 2022
Network
Prime Video
Cast
Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald, Serinda Swan, Chris Webster, Shaun Sipos, Bruce McGill, Ferdinand Kingsley, Robert Patrick, JD Smith, Kelsey Falconer, Lee Villeneuve, Eli Ham, Emeka Agada, Hazel Gorin, Nathaniel McParland, Connor Laidman, Darrin Maharaj, Drew Moss, Peter Skagen, Rohan Mead, Kaz Morgan, Zachary Gallegos, Scott Barker
Showrunner
Nick Santora
Directors
Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent
Writers
Cait Duffy
Franchise(s)
Jack Reacher
Main Genre
Action
Genres
Crime, Drama, Action, Thriller
Creator(s)
Nick Santora
Producers
Agatha Barnes, Don Granger, Marcy Ross, Scott Sullivan, Nick Santora, Lee Child, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Paula Wagner, Sam Hill, Derek Rappaport, Sean Ryerson, Adam Higgs, Aadrita Mukerji, Penny Cox, Bill Bost
Seasons
3
Story By
nick santora
Streaming Service(s)
Prime Video
Where To Watch
Prime Video
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