Reacher season two

Alan Ritchson returns as towering private investigator Jack Reacher for the second season of Amazon Prime’s Reacher. After thwarting the counterfeiting operation at the end of the first season, the ex-military wanderer is back to his nomadic lifestyle. However, within minutes of the latest instalment, he’s called back into action after learning that somebody from his former squad was killed. Teaming up with other squad members, they soon discover that somebody is hunting them down. What follows is an action-packed and gripping opening two episodes, which get the second season off to a roaring start.

The series begins by reacquainting viewers with the powerhouse of muscle that is the main character as he effortlessly neutralises a carjacker while shopping at a thrift store. As ever, Ritchson’s Reacher is a force to be reckoned with, who’s able to throw foes from scaffolding like ragdolls and kick a car so hard that the airbag deploys. However, the eponymous hero is more than an imposing brawler this time around. By centring this season around his past, viewers not only get to learn more about the character, but they get to see a softer side to him too.

While this dimension to the character is conveyed through flashbacks where he grins broadly alongside his squad mates, it’s the present-day interactions between Reacher and his former companions where the second series is at its best. There’s a real sense of chemistry and history felt between each of these new characters that makes spending time with them an enjoyable experience, with quips from series newcomer Shaun Sipos being a particular highlight.

The show rarely pauses to take a breath from the moment the protagonist is called back into action. The investigation moves at a sharp clip, throwing out new twists and clues in almost every scene and the action sequences likewise still pack a punch despite the violence being toned down this time around. The only time things slow down is when the old friends talk about what’s changed since the old days. Although the pacing takes a blow, spending time with these characters is never a bad thing.

Season two of Reacher is off to a fantastic start. More impressive, though, is the new twist to the titular character that looks to put a new and refreshing spin on the familiar action-heavy formula.

Andrew Murray

Reacher season two is released on Prime Video on 15^th December 2023.

Watch the trailer for Reacher season two here: