Reacher 2: Even Better than Reacher 1

Hey, I liked Reacher 2 even better than Reacher 1, which means I immensely enjoyed every moment in the eight-episode second season, and my only regret is that I couldn't watch the eight episodes all at once, and keep the adrenalin flowing for the nearly eight hours.  (Right, I watched each episode as it was put up on Amazon Prime Video, and saw the finale episode a few weeks back, but didn't get around to reviewing it until now.)

And adrenalin is the word for this second season of Lee Child's book series brought to life, which I haven't read.  There's barely a minute or two that goes by in any episode without maximum octane action, punctuated with Reacher's razor-sharp commentary and rapid-fire retorts.  People get pushed out of helicopters, have high-speed car chases, and exchange gunfire and physical blows in a plot that brings back Reacher's military team that we meet for the first time.   This opens up all kinds of possibilities ranging from a rekindled (or, actually kindled) romantic relationship, more humor, and some rivalries.

One of my favorite threads in this sharp suit of a story involves the NYPD detective Guy Russo played by the one and only Domenick Lombardozzi (The Wire, Ray Donovan, etc).  Since I'm trying hard to not provide any spoilers -- it gets tedious warning you about them, I know -- I'm not going to tell you anything specific about how Russo's story plays out, except to say it's one memorable story that you're not going to forget.

The villain, Shane Langston played by Robert Patrick, is memorable, too, one of the most driven, vicious evil masterminds I've seen on the screen in a long time.  As I said in my review of Reacher 1, Jack Reacher definitely has some Bondian characteristics, and Langston is close to a worthy Bondian antagonist.  Patrick has played many a policeman, of all ages over his long career, and it's good to see him branch out.

Alan Ritchson was perfect again as Reacher, Maria Sten was back and fine again as Neagly, and it was fun to see Serinda Swan in and out of bed with Reacher.  Kudos too for Shaun Sipos's wise-cracking David O'Donnell.  I have no idea who other than Ritchson will be on hand for season 3, but bring it on.

See also Reacher 1: Peach Pie, Stirred Not Shaken

 

Reacher 1: Peach Pie, Stirred Not Shaken

Hey, see Reacher on Amazon Prime Video.  At its best, and that's more than some of the time, the lead character named Jack Reacher but known just by his last name has some of the quick thinking and lethal delivery of another Jack, last name Bauer, on 24.  And sometimes Reacher even recalls James Bond, with his wit and penchant for the sharp retort.

And Reacher has two assistants all his own:  Roscoe, a bright and beautiful and deadly when necessary young cop in a small town down in Georgia, and Finlay, detective captain in the same small town, who came down there from Boston.  There's almost constant action, unpredictable twists, bad guys and worse guys in this thriller based on the Jack Reacher book series by Lee Child.

Which I haven't read.  Come to think of it, I've been saying that about a lot of series and movies I've been streaming and reviewing here in the past few years, and that's likely because there are so many good series and movies out there and up there to stream.  Reacher is one of the best.

Here are some of the things I liked most in this eight-episode series which I'm sure will have some sequels:

• Reacher and the peach pie (I figured I'd start the list with a rhyme)
• Reacher and the dog (which Finlay names Jack -- ok, a spoiler)
• Reacher's tendency to say no to things he doesn't want to do, even when that answer is not socially advantageous
• The folk wisdom of even the minor characters, like the woman who says about her dead husband, something like it's amazing what a woman will put up with, if her man "throws" her a good "hump"
• The range of cities in which the action takes place, not just the small town, but Atlanta, New Orleans, and New York.
• Alan Ritchson as Reacher, Willa Fitzgerald as Roscoe, and Malcolm Goodwin as Finlay.

So, ok, you get the picture.   See what you think when you see the picture, actually, the series.  And I'm wondering where possibly up north I can get a piece of that peach pie, and happy I was able to deliver this review with no real spoilers at all.

See also Reacher 2: Better than Reacher 1