This first season of Reacher plays out a little like Law & Order or SVU, but with a bigger story arc and continuity, and a very rated R feel for violence, sex, and a bit of gore. Not only that, Tom Cruise is not the title character this time around, leaving Reacher fans rejoicing those size requirements. It's known that Tom Cruise is about sixty inches tall or somewhere near there, which is definitely not the correct way to describe Jack Reacher. This imposing character is way over six feet tall and has more muscles than a greek god. That's where Alan Ritchson enters the picture as Jack Reacher who just owns every scene he's in. Ritchson was seen in the hilarious Rooster Teeth film Lazer Team and was Aquaman on Smallville. But here in this first season of Reacher, he's calm, cool, collected, until those henchmen try and kill him.
This first season acts as somewhat of an origin story, although Reacher is already ex-military here, known through many parts of the world, and is traveling around the states, which leads him to a small town in Georiga to look up a famous, dead blues musician he enjoys. He sticks out like a sore thumb in this small country town due to his intense size. Sooner than later though, he is brought into the police station for multiple murders.
It doesn't take long for his handcuffs to come off and start helping the local law enforcement solve this case, which seems to keep growing bigger and bigger, with more dead bodies turning up, and loads of minions for Reacher to fight and eyes to gouge. Reacher becomes super attached to the case when one of the murder victims hits very close to home, which allows him to open up to Roscoe (Willa Fitzgerald), the lovely police officer, and Malcolm Goodwin playing the chief detective Oscar Finley.
Much like those police criminal of the week shows that were mentioned above, there isn't much in the way of big twists or turns that can't be figured out early on. The good guys are good and the bad guys are villainous to a tee with a couple of exceptions. But this is the first season and no doubt will the creators including Nick Santora (Sopranos) will have something cooking for Reacher in future seasons in that regard. Episodes leave on big cliffhangers much like 24 did back in the day, but the big character twists are not all here yet in this show that is completely shocking.
Ritchson is just dynamite in this show from top to bottom. His physical prowess is not to be tested and just mows through the bad guys in such a fun and energetic way. He may be by the book and love a slice of pie, never deviating from that path, but Ritchson gives him a high amount of charm, wit, and dry humor that is laugh-out-loud funny in the best ways as he delivers some sarcastic lines throughout each episode. The song cues and music are fantastic that flash through some old blues tunes and American rock n roll that always feels right.
This first season of Reacher is a strong one and paves the way for future seasons of violence and dry comedy. Ritchson was born to play this role and he owns the screen every time he's on it. There are about 26 Jack Reacher books (and counting) with plenty of stories to tell, so let's all hope Reacher and Ritchson are given the chance to tell all of them because this first season is outstanding. Highly Recommended!
