Once upon a time, the only Jack Reacher that audiences knew wasTom Cruisewith his series ofJack Reacherfilms.The Tom CruiseJack Reacherfilms were received relatively well, but at the end of the day, they didn’t make it past movie 2.The last time audiences would get to see the character would be in 2016’sJack Reacher: Never Go Back.
Come 2022, Amazon Prime Video released a streaming series calledReacher, also based on theLee Childbook series. This time,Alan Richardsonwould helm the title of the popular protagonist. Upon its initial release,Reacherwas met with worldwide praise.Not only did that first season give fans of the novels an accurate adaption to make them happy, but it was just an incredible start to the series in general and hooked people everywhere. With two seasons currently under their belt, the crew atReacherhave provided numerous episodes that are so good, they’re well worth a rewatch.
10"First Dance"
Season 1, Episode 2
With such an impressive pilot to follow up,ReacherSeason 1, Episode 2, “First Dance"had a big act to follow up. The episode is very well paced.While still bringing up the action a bit, it also manages to slow downand take its time further developing the characters audiences have been introduced to. The further growth and exposition makes this an episode that continues to hook audiences.
This episode leans a bit heavier intoone of the best things about the series, which is its dialogue and character interactions.Reacher and his supporting cast are some of the heaviest hitters when considering the best parts of the series. This fact begins to really get established here in this episode as relationships begin to grow, and more bodies appear across town.
Season 1, Episode 6
Viewers get to watch Reacher trek to New York as truth begins to unfold regarding the season’s mysteries. This episode did a lot to help begin bringing the story together and make details a lot clearer, which serves to bevery satisfying as audiences begin to have their theories and guesses either subverted or confirmed.
Viewers get to learn more about the Kleiner family business.Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin) also gets a good chunk of character developmentin this episode, as more is revealed about his wife.This adds some great depth to the character and greatly connects his and Reacher’s relationship. Finlay is certainly a fan-favorite, especially given the reaction to his return inReacherSeason 2, Episode 4, “Night at the Symphony”, so this is a great episode for those fans.
8"Picture Says a Thousand Words”
Season 2, Episode 3
As his old friends get thrown into more danger and another fall victim,Reacher decides to bite the bullet and team up with the hardened detective, Gaitano Russo (Domenick Lombardozzi).There is some wonderful action in this episode alongside Reacher getting some more of his usual witty and sly dialogue to talk himself in and out of things. Not only does he talk a gun shop owner into selling him goods without waiting the typical seven-day period, but he basically talks himself out of interrogation with Russo when they bond over information regarding the case.
The action set pieces found inReacherSeason 2, Episode 3, “Picture Says a Thousand Words"are thrilling as well, with the two sequences featuringthe team breaking into New Age (by ramming their car through the wall) and infiltrating Saropian’s suburban home, standing out the most.Episode Director,Omar Madha, proves his ability to direct a great action sequence with these thrilling scenes.
7"What Happens in Atlantic City”
Season 2, Episode 2
Reacher and company find their way over to Atlantic City as they continue to dive deeper into Franz’s murder case. Much likeReacherSeason 1, Episode 2, “First Dance”, the second episode of the season, while still being action packed, decides to slow down a bit and take time to give audiences a chance to get more acquainted with the team.
ReacherSeason 2, Episode 2, “What Happens in Atlantic City"seesReacher seeing Karla Dixon (Serinda Swan)again for the first time in years while in airport parking, beginning to rekindle their old flame. Butthe highlight of the episode most certainly comes from the team getting to work together again during the big action sequence at the construction yard,where there are a good handful of unique kills, most notably being the one whereReacher suffocates a man in wet cement.Some consider this the most brutal kill of the season.
6"In a Tree”
Season 1, Episode 4
After finding Spivey (Patrick Garrow) dead in the back of a car, Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald) and Reacher begin to go meet their contact at Homeland Security, Molly Beth (Lara JeanChorostecki). But when they arrive at the meetup point,they discover that Molly Beth has been murdered in cold blood.
This episode manages to pack a bunch into one single episode. Roscoe and Reacher get a good chunk of development together as they get stuck in a hotel room with each other. Reacher takes down two assassins, and it becomes obvious that, in some way, there have been leaks within the Margrave P.D. It’s an exhilarating episode with a lot going on, keeping it consistently engaging.There’s action, romance, a developing mystery and murder.What more could someone want?
Season 2, Episode 1
The first episode of Season 2 kicks the season off with a bang and, much like the first episode of Season 1, does a perfect job at hooking viewers for Reacher’s second big adventure on television. Reacher andNeagley (Maria Sten)discover thata member of their old squad, the 110th, has been murdered.Upon investigating, they discover that the killer could be seeking out the rest of their old squad.
The best part of the episode is easily the opening scene, depicting a typical day in the life of Reacher. As he waits in line for an ATM in Murfreesboro, Arkansas,his smarts help him conclude that the woman in front of him is getting carjacked,and her child is in the backseat. In response,he goes over to the vehicle, punches straight through the driver’s-side window, beats up the thug without even having to open the car door and saves the woman’s son.It’s a scene that is the perfect example of what people love about Reacher as a show and character. He has a heart of gold and will go to whatever length necessary to do the right thing.
4"No Apologies"
Season 1, Episode 5
Mayor Teale has fired Roscoe for a miniscule mistake she’s made and Reacher discovers that the town of Margrave is the cornerstone of Kliner’s (Currie Graham) counterfit ring. Due to all of this, Roscoe begins to suspect that Mayor Teale is responsible for the murder of her old boss, Gray. As a result, she punches him straight in the mouth.Everything culminates in Finlay discovering that Kliner has, in fact, been murdered.
At the end of the day, there’s no one thing that makesReacherSeason 1, Episode 5, “No Apologies”,a great episode. It is just the overall quality in general.It’s an incredibly strong episode that’s written well, and includes great performances and a chilling twist.It’s a great example of what makes a great quality crime-drama episode.
3"Reacher Said Nothing"
Season 1, Episode 7
Reacher springs a trap for a hit team at Paul Hubble’s (Marc Bendavid) house and takes all of them out.Soon after, Reacher and Finlay discover a batch of counterfeit bills at Jobling’s home. But when they go to meet up with Picard (Martin Roach), Reacher has a trap sprung on him, as KJ (Chris Webster) and Mayor Teale are waiting for him. The name of the episode is also a reference to a book of the same name that follows author Lee Child throughout the writing process of the next Reacher book.
The action scene inReacherSeason 1, Episode 7, “Reacher Said Nothing”, is easily one of the best in the entire series, with Reacher stealthily taking out an entire hit squad.It feels like a fight one would find in theBatman: Arkham Cityfranchise. The fight was so intense that while filming,Alan Ritchson actually was struck in the head by accidentand began bleeding from the head. But like the tough guy he is, Ritchson took it like an absolute champion.
Season 1, Episode 8
The season finale of Season 1 ofReacherwas a high-quality and satisfying episode to end the season out on a bang. With Hubble’s family being held hostage, Reacher must save both Hubble and Finlay. Afterward,they meet up with Neagley to strike Kliner’s warehouse and end the plot once and for all.
ReacherSeason 1, Episode 8, “Pie"successfully wraps up all the loose threads laid throughout Season 1 and ends everything in an incredible action sequence. It proved that if the writers of Reacher know how to write a great finale. DirectorM.J. Bassett showed off her ability to direct great action sequences while also balancing them out with stellar emotional sequences,especially with Reacher’s goodbye to both Roscoe and Finlay.
1"Welcome to Margrave”
Season 1, Episode 1
There’s a reasonReacheris as successful as it’s become.A show can’t get a fan base if it doesn’t hook audienceswith its pilot episode.After recently being discharged from the army, Reacher ends up in the town of Margrave and is arrested as a suspect for the first murder in the town in 20 years.After he’s proven innocent, he gets wrapped up in the murder case.
The pilot ofReacheris one of the best pilots in recent television history. Writing and directing a good pilot is no simple task. In fact, it’s one of the most difficult hurdles to jump over when creating a series.So, when a genuinely good pilot comes around, it’s a disservice not to note and give credit to the teambehind the episode. If it did such a great job of hooking viewers upon release, going back for a rewatch would only reignite viewers' love for the show.
