While Reacher is quickly becoming one of the best action thriller TV shows of all time, it is not immune from criticism, and even the series' biggest fans tend to have the same thing to say. Reacher can be frustratingly, if reassuringly, predictable. Each series begins with Jack Reacher discovering a new kind of trouble in a different place in the US. Despite being a man of few words, he inevitably charms a new love interest, who accompanies him throughout the season before he moves on once again.
This formulaic approach is not always a bad thing, as new viewers can start watching Reacher at any point, but it could be the show's downfall if it continues indefinitely. Fortunately, it appears that showrunner Nick Santora has already anticipated this, as the series is about to take an extremely different turn after season 4, with season 5 of Reacher switching to a brand new genre and adapting Lee Child's book, Make Me. All five seasons of the show are based on Child's Jack Reacher novel series, but Make Me is set to change the series for good.
The Reacher TV show book adaptations so far | |
|---|---|
Season | Book |
1 | Killing Floor |
2 | Bad Luck and Trouble |
3 | Persuader |
4 | Gone Tomorrow |
5 | Make Me |
Like many other successful action franchises, including James Bond and Die Hard, Reacher is fun, pulpy, and often hilarious. However, with season 5 centering on a snuff film business masquerading as a euthanasia clinic, many of Reacher's best running gags feel like the wrong tone. Make Me features multiple suicidal characters, some of whom are planning to die together, with one death that is more brutal and heartbreaking than any seen in the show so far. After the events in Make Me, Reacher will no longer be the same series, or character.
How Adapting Make Me Will Change Reacher As A Series
The three aired Reacher seasons have had their disturbing moments, from season 1's murder by torture to the death of Reacher's protégée, Dominique, in season 3, but these pale in comparison to what is to come. Make Me takes Reacher away from its fun and often ludicrous tone by entering horror movie territory, with subject matter that is likely to affect the viewer, with many people living with depression and mental turmoil. To do the subject justice, the show must treat these storylines with the gravity they deserve, and this will include making a necessary change from the books.
Lee Child discussed Make Me with The Big Thrill, confirming that Reacher is pushed harder, both mentally and physically, than he has been before, with the final tone being that "he can defeat the people in front of him, he can win the battle, but he’ll never win the war. I think it leaves him a little disconcerted." However, in the next chronological book, The Midnight Line, Reacher is his usual self. While the possibility of Reacher going to therapy feels out of character and out of the question, he must still learn from what he witnessed.
This means that the series must make some changes going forward. The book for season 6 is currently unknown, as Reacher's adaptation of Make Me was just announced, but as the novels are being adapted out of order, it is unlikely that it will be The Midnight Line. Child explained that as readers find comfort in the familiarity of the books, when it comes to Reacher, "I try very hard to not change him." That said, there is room for the character to grow without drastically altering who he is or the factors that have made him so popular.
Reacher may be famously solitary, with his longest-running companion being his toothbrush, but if Make Me teaches him anything, it is that mental health can be just as important as his near-superhuman physical strength. His support network has already been increased, with his friendship with Frances Neagley expanded on for the show, but he could develop connections with other characters, or be more sympathetic to a struggling character in later episodes. Having seen the truly dark path laid out in Make Me, this should quietly inform Reacher storylines and character decisions for seasons to come.
Source: The Big Thrill
Alan Ritchson Effectively Seals Reacher’s Long-Term Fate On Prime Video
A surprise move from Alan Ritchson effectively seals the long-term fate of Reacher on Prime Video. Following its successful debut in 2022, the action-adventure series immediately became a hit for the streamer. This is despite being burdened by the previous big-screen adaptation of Lee Child's novels. Tom Cruise's movie take on Jack Reacher had its fans, and it remain enjoyable upon rewatch now. That said, it's safe to say that Ritchson's portrayal as the former military-turned-wanderer is widely regarded as its definitive version, especially after three seasons of Reacher.
While its sophomore year wasn't able to be as universally beloved as its freshman year, it never really impacted the public's interest in the Prime Video series. Reacher season 3 posted the highest viewership for the show in its history and considering the hype surrounding what's next for the character, the wait for season 4 has been frustrating for some. Based on "Gone Tomorrow," the next installment of the Prime Video project has long finished production, with a release date supposedly sometime this year. Beyond that, however, Ritchson has effectively confirmed Reacher's long-term fate thanks to a new update.
Alan Ritchson's First-Look Deal With Prime Video Solidifies Reacher's Future
Proof of Prime Video's confidence in the series is the fact that it has already renewed for Reacher season 5 before it could even come back with new episodes this year. Admittedly, that's unsurprising, considering the show's popularity. Looking after that, however, the fate of the project is still uncertain. That said, Ritchson's new three-year first-look television deal with the studio via his production company, Dancing Skeleton (via Deadline), effectively solidifies Reacher's return throughout the terms of that new agreement.
This means that if the show maintains its yearly release, it can run for two to three more seasons after Reacher season 5. Obviously, that doesn't factor in the possibility that Prime Video and Ritchson will extend their current deal, or that the streamer will renew the show even after the first-look agreement is done. However, considering that there are about 30 books in Child's novels, Reacher can definitely stay on the air for more years to come.
Why Reacher Has Resonated With The Public
Reacher is arguably the biggest breakout hit of the last few years. Granted that it had built-in fans, thanks to Child's novels and Cruise's films, it would be hard-pressed to find anyone who could have predicted just how big it was going to be. Streaming and traditional broadcasters have their respective action-adventure book adaptation shows, but very few come close to the success of the Prime Video series. The project has been so popular, the streamer has started to expand the franchise via its very first offshoot, Neagley.
What sets Reacher apart from its peers is how it has been able to perfectly balance being faithful to its source material while also offering viewers something new. This way, fans of the books can still enjoy them without being able to predict every single twist that's coming their way. Beyond that, the fact that Reacher has also made sure to have a yearly release despite being on streaming somehow helps in keeping it relevant amid an influx of other shows in the genre.
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