Reacher review: Alan Ritchson is the life force of thriller series

While Tom Cruise last played the character from Lee Child’s novels on screen before, Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher does justice to the character from the novel.

Story: Former U.S. Army military policeman Jack Reacher, who is now a drifter, finds himself helping in an investigation after he was accused of murder apon arrival at the rural Georgia town of Margrave. Things soon become personal for Reacher, as he finds himself in the middle of a massive conspiracy while he and his new partners uncover some secrets.

Review: An enormous frame of 6 foot 5 inches, all brains and Braun, with military training that helps in taking down multiple bad guys at the same time and deduction skills that could go head to head with the great Sherlock Holmes. This is the easiest description of Jack Reacher from Lee Child’s novels.

In the Amazon Prime Video thriller series Reacher which is an adaptation of Lee Child’s 1997 novel Killing Floor gets it absolutely right with its casting, with Alan Ritchson playing the character to perfection. While we got to see Tom Cruise play the role in the Jack Reacher movie, there was a lot the makers got wrong with the casting, from his height to the build.

Ritchson on the other hand, is tall, absolutely jacked and unmissable, very much like the character from the novels. It is safe to say Ritchson as Reacher carries much of the eight episode show, while characters such as Willa Fitzgerald’s Roscoe Conklin, Malcolm Goodwin’s Oscar Finley and Bruce McGill’s Mayor Grover Teale all have their own say.

Former U.S. Army military policeman Jack Reacher, who is now a drifter, shows up in a small town called Margrave, only to be apprehended by the police in suspicion of murder. He soon ends up working closely with two police officers, trying to uncover secrets of the seemingly peaceful town, with the investigation soon turning personal for Reacher.

Another impressive thing about the series is that it gets many small details right from the book, which the Tom Cruise led movies did not get right or simply did not try to get right. With a longer runtime to work with, the series makes use of all the extra time, giving its characters more life while leaving a bit of added information for the readers of the action series. From addressing the protagonist's mother calling him “Reacher” to his sense of music are all things the readers of the fiction would appreciate in the series.

But above all, the fighting style of Jack Reacher in the show is something that is right off the source content. Always facing his opponents down, and being one step ahead of them like in the books, Reacher’s punches in the show are not held back while at the same time making use of a lot of headbutts and kicks to the groin, moves that the former military man uses in abundance in the books. The action sequences are all well choreographed and Ritchson once again, does a seamless job turning into Jack Reacher in such scenarios.

While there has been a long list of investigative thriller series on streaming platforms lately that are based in small time towns, Reacher in itself has more than enough firepower to stick out on its own. With a story that has its own mysteries to moments, scenes that keeps you on the edge and more than enough bloodshed and murders, Reacher is a series that both fans of the original content as well as first timers can thoroughly enjoy binge watching.

The only question now is if fans will get to see more seasons from the makers, considering that Killing Floor was Lee Child’s first book in the series. The eight episode series has seriously impressed, with not dialing down on action and content at the same time, giving us more than enough of a solid Jack Reacher through Alan Ritchson.

Verdict: Reacher is an enjoyable investigative thriller series that gives more than enough for the fans of the original novels to celebrate, while it is also appealing to people who are exposed to the character for the first time. While Alan Ritchson is the life force of the show, it holds firm in the story front and provides a good thriller series.

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