Reacher series (S2) focuses on Jack Reacher, who reaches out and hunts friends’ killers. He fights an unknown terrorist broker, a crooked government contractor and other bad guys.
The second season of this series is based on the “Bad Luck and Trouble” novel by Lee Child. This is the 11th book in the series about the character of Jack Reacher. As per the author Lee Child, his hero Jack Reacher served thirteen years in the United States Army Military Police Corps. He was “mustered out” and honourably discharged at the rank of Major.
Trailer of the Reacher (S2/2023-2024) Series
Synopsis of the Reacher (S2/2023-2024) Series
Reacher (Alan Ritchson) is pulled from his vagabond life by a coded message informing him that a member of the 110th – his elite group of Army Special Investigators – has been murdered. He and some of his former military cohorts reunite to investigate and soon realize the case is bigger than they ever could have imagined. However, when members of Reacher’s old military unit start turning up dead, Reacher has just one thing on his mind—revenge.
Spoiler Free Review of the Reacher (S2/2023-2024) Series
The introduction
According to its creative team, Jack Reacher is an itinerant former military policeman. He solves crimes and metes out his brand of street justice. So, it seems that Jack Reacher is like a Jack Hammer. He is a forceful human tool to break up and destroy the bad guys, literary, without a hint of qualms and remorse.
Reacher leads a team of good people
Let us meet and learn about Reacher and his friends in season two. Please note that these characters have been created by the book author and show creator.
#1 Jack Reacher – the leader {Alan Ritchson}
He is a retired Major – a special investigator for the U.S. Army Military Police. And he wants only to walk the country and explore the nation he once served. He has no home, no phone, and carries just a few basic items (clothes and a toothbrush) on his person. It should be a simple life, but never is… Then there are a bunch of simple rules that he follows in his life.
Reacher's Rules:-
-> Never back off.
-> Hit early, hit hard.
-> Confront your enemies.
-> Make the first shot count.
-> Never say no to a cup of coffee.
-> Show them what they're messing with.
-> Never get distracted from the job at hand.
-> Look like you mean it, and people back off.
He is a man of principles.
He keeps it simple but has his rules to live by.
#2 FRANCES NEAGLEY- Private Investigator {Maria Sten}
In the past, Frances Neagley was recruited by Reacher to be part of the 110th MP Special Investigations Unit. It was an elite investigation arm of the Military Police. So, she served for 10 years in this Military Unit as an Army Master Sergeant. Interestingly, she is one of the only people Reacher trusts with his life. Now retired from Army, Frances is a private investigator in her present life, and season two.
#3 DAVID O’DONNELL – Private Investigator {Shaun Sipos}
Like Frances, Captain (retd.) David too served with Reacher in the 110th Unit in the past. He is funny, physically fit wise-ass, and like a brother to Reacher. Since leaving the Army he went to law school at Rutgers, got married and had three children – a huge departure from his wild younger days. Now, he leads a regular family life and works in the private sector.
#4 KARLA DIXON – Forensic Accountant {Serinda Swan}
Major (retd.) Karla also served with Reacher in the Army’s Unit of Special Investigators in the past. She is an extremely intelligent, stunning, physically fit private investigator who has no problem jumping fences and holds her own in a fight against men much larger than she is. While it has been years since they have seen each other, the mutual attraction between Reacher and Dixon is still present.
"Special Investigators - You do not mess with special investigators." [Their Mantra]
#5 Gaitano ‘Guy’ Russo – honest NYPD Cop {Domenick Lombardozzi}
Russo is a thick-necked, broad-shouldered, bald NYPD officer in his 40s. He’s investigating a case that involves several of Reacher’s former Army cohorts (members of the 110th MP Special Investigations Unit) and the two begrudgingly begin to share information and work together. He is a tough-looking man. But beneath his tough exterior, he is soft and helpful.
What is the basic storyline?
Ten years out of the Army, Reacher carries an ATM card, a set of clothes, no cell phone, no tie, and no address. Now a woman from Reacher’s old unit does the unthinkable: calls Reacher from Chicago. Using a signal that only eight members of her elite team of military investigators would have picked up, she finds Reacher.
She shares a heartbreaking truth—the brutal murder of a man they had both served with… their elite team of ex-army investigators is being hunted down one by one.
Reacher soon finds himself reunited with the surviving members of his old squad, struggling to revive the living, exhume the dead, and piece together a mysterious puzzle that grows more mysterious by the hour. The more they search, the more they uncover about two other friends who have suddenly disappeared—and a path that leads into the bright lights of Vegas and the dark shadows of global terrorism.
Jack Reacher is thrust into the depths of a treacherous plot that claims the lives of his closest companions…and is steadily progressing towards an even graver threat.
So, what did we like?
This American series is packed with funny wisecracks as well as well-executed action sequences. The story is fairly predictable. But in the case of Reacher, we like this kind of certainty, where the “Good People” win in the end. And the “Bad People” are badly punished. Mind you, this usually happens in the reel life and not in real life, okay!
We love the towering presence of Alan Ritchson (Jack Reacher) in the show. His presence calms our nerves. And to be honest, we often cheer for him, as he beats the bad guys into submission and oblivion. Since the first season of Reacher, we have seen good growth in the acting, his funny dialogues and the overall screen presence of Alan in season two.
In this second season, Alan is very well supported by other cast members – Maria Sten (Frances Neagley), Shaun Sipos (David O’Donnell), Serinda Swan (Karla Dixon), Domenick Lombardozzi (Gaitano “Guy” Russo), Robert Patrick (Shane Langston), Ferdinand Kingsley (A.M.) and others. They have played their parts and entertained us.
The ending of this season (details shared in spoilers below) was satisfying. And we loved that. Barring a few exceptions, almost all of them got some kind of happiness in the end.
The conclusion
In the end, the good people led by the hero take down the New Age as well as their Project Little Wing. We had a lot of fun while watching this thrilling crime drama.
Focus:- Alan Ritchson read all 24 Jack Reacher novels in preparation for his role as Jack Reacher. For the brutal fight scenes where seasoned stuntmen would typically be used, Alan Ritchson insisted on being immersed in the activity himself, suffering a variety of bumps and bruises for his ambitions. {Info. Source: IMDb)
The author Lee Child has written and published the Jack Reacher Book Series, which includes (29 primary works and 46 total works), so look forward to its next (third) season. However, given the above IG post by Alan Ritchson, “Welp… we’re back. Season 3 of Reacher… crustier than ever.” It seems that we are getting a brand-new story next time.
Till then, grab the popcorn and enjoy the action scenes where Reacher intimidates the bad guys with his mere presence. It is a fun entertainment. Okay! Cheers to Jack Reacher!
Rating of the Series
FM Rating | 4.00/5 |
FM Short Comments | We like the fact that Alan Ritchson (Jack Reacher) is trying to become the new age action hero “Arnold Schwarzenegger” (I’m Back), as the poster suggests. Truly, Alan reminds us of the physique and deadpan style of Arnold. Like, Arnold, he speaks less and fights more. While playing the good guy, Reacher is brutally entertaining. |
Spoilers Alerts – Episodes Summary & Ending Explained
A peek into the Eight (8) Episodes (from 15 December 2023 to 19 January 2024) of season two of this show
ATM (S2, E1) | 56 minutes
Reacher and Neagley investigate the murder of a member of 110th, a group of Special investigators assembled by Reacher, only to realize the whole unit may be at risk.
Focus:- In this episode, the henchman is telling his employer Shane Langston, played by Robert Patrick, that Neagley was checked in under "Sarah Connor". This is a very tongue in cheek nod to Patrick's role in Terminator 2: Judgement Day as the formidable T-1000 that was hunting the main character: Sarah Connor.
What Happens in Atlantic City (S2, E2) | 50 minutes
The investigation into Franz’s murder takes Reacher and the surviving members of his former Army unit to Atlantic City where the mystery deepens, danger awaits, and an old flame is rekindled.
Picture Says a Thousand Words (S2, E3) | 47 minutes
After more of his friends fall victim. Reacher forges an uneasy alliance with a dogged detective, and their only clue in the case leads the 110th to a troubling discovery.
Night at the Symphony (S2, E4) | 46 minutes
Reacher and his team head to Boston to track down a political aide with insider knowledge of a top-secret military defence contract that may be the reason behind their friends’ deaths.
Burial (S2, E5) | 43 minutes
Neagley and Dixon discover shocking information about an old friend in Denver while Reacher and O’Donnell learn more about the nefarious and mysterious A.M..
New York’s Finest (S2, E6) | 45 minutes
As the mystery continues to unfold, Reacher and his team set a trap to even the score.
The Man Goes Through (S2, E7) | 45 minutes
As the team close in on Langston, two members of the 110th face danger, compelling Reacher to devise a dangerous plan to rescue them.
Fly Boy (S2, E8) | 42 minutes
Reacher and Neagley make a final desperate attempt to save O’Donnell and Dixon, stop A.M. and avenge their friends’ murder.
Ending Explained (A) – who died in this season and its season finale episode?
The fate of Swan (Shannon Kook) – one of the good people
In the final episode, we learn that Swan (a member of the 110th Unit) has been killed by Shane Langston and his goons. However, Langston kept Swan’s finger and eyeball in a jar to use them to forge Swan’s biosignature. He made it look like Swan had been signing off on the Little Wing missiles. Thereby he created a perfect scapegoat.
The fate of Sahne Langston (Robert Patrick) – leader of the bad people
In the final episode, Reacher killed Shane Langston. He did so by dropping him out of the helicopter. It was just like he said that he would do so to the killers of his friends.
The fate of A.M. (Ferdinand Kingsley) – one of the bad people
In the final episode, A.M. was shot dead by Reacher and his surviving colleagues from the said army unit.
A.M. was the mysterious middle-man and an arms broker. But he was also the killer of Reacher’s friends from the 110th Unit. He wanted to buy the Little Wing-equipped missiles with $65 million in bearer bonds. So, he made a deal with Shane Langston of New Age Technologies who had the technology for the said missiles.
The fate of the pilot and the scientist – the bad people
Both of them were killed. Their helicopter was blown to pieces by the missile fired by Neagley in the final episode.
The fate of the Senator Lavoy (Noam Jenkins) – the bad people
Homeland Security arrested Senator Lavoy and the members of his security members in the final episode. This mission was accomplished because of Reacher.
Ending Explained (B) – who received the chunk of the “$65 Million” Money?
The fate of the “$65 Million” Money
In the final episode, we watch a series of scenes depicting the recipient of a huge (USD 65 million) money payout distributed by the thoughtful Jack Reacher.
- Kid Mikey Franz and his mother Angela Franz, the wife of late Major Calvin Franz (of the 110th unit), received the cheque (of $ million) in her mailbox.
- The late detective Russo’s (Domenick Lombardozzi) brother and nephews, each of them received the cheques (of $ million) in their bank accounts.
- Waitress Milena was a close friend of Manuel Orozco and Jorge Sanchez (both were the deceased members of the 110th Unit. So, she received the ($ million) payouts.
- Marlo Burns (a good friend of Swan at New Age Technology) and her young daughter Jane Burns got the bagful of cash.
- Late Swan’s dog Maisi got a big bundle of cash donations in his name.
And the fate of the Remaining Portion of “$65 Million” Money
- Neagley’s dad got round-the-clock medical care for life from Chicago Home Health. So that, Neagley would not have to worry about her dad’s healthcare anymore. Then, there is extra money for Neagley deposited in her dad’s bank account.
- David O’Donnell’s kids received enough money in their Credit Union accounts. So, the kids can go to private school, college, trade school, and do whatever they like.
- Karla Dixon received all the startup money for her new firm. That firm was set up as a fully funded Delaware LLC in her name. That will allow her to choose her work going forward. No need to work for anyone else. Do her own thing.
- Reacher bought a bus pass that could take him anywhere in the country for an entire year, in the end scene.
Season two ends with Reacher saying goodbye to Neagley. Then he hops onto a bus full of strangers, without any destination in mind, as a new adventure awaits.
Poster of the Series
Key Details about the Series
Genre | Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller |
Original language | English (USA) |
Age-restrictions | U/A 16+ |
Aired | December 15, 2023 – first episode to January 19, 2023 – last episode & season finale |
Season | Second (2nd) |
Episodes | Eight (8) |
Creator | Nick Santora |
Cast | Alan Ritchson (Jack Reacher), Maria Sten (Frances Neagley), Serinda Swan (Karla Dixon), Shaun Sipos (David O’Donnell), Domenick Lombardozzi (Gaitano “Guy” Russo), Robert Patrick (Shane Langston), etc. |
Network | Prime Video |
Lastly, you can check out the article about the FUBAR (S1/2023) Series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in our magazine, too.
Featured Image & Posters of the Reacher (S2/2023-2024) Show | Pics. Credit: Prime Video.