Over the last year or more, it’s been hilarious seeing headlines pondering which new action thriller will be the “Reacher” replacement. I didn’t realize we needed one. After watching Season 4, apparently Jack Reacher doesn’t either. From “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” to “The Night Agent” to “The Day of the Jackal” to “Hijack,” these are all solid franchises, depending on your tastes. Still, a replacement seems premature. There’s nothing like “Reacher.” With Season 4 almost here and 5 on the way (along with a spin-off in next month’s “Neagley”), this big brawling, heroic-antihero detective thriller isn’t done yet.
The wandering Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) makes his latest stop this season in Philly. Without a doubt, he needs a 2 AM cheesesteak. That’s a mistake. There’s a nervous woman on the train. Reacher tries to help, things go terribly wrong, and he ends up in the custody of Philly PD.
It’s a mess, but unfortunately it seems like a too-common tragedy until a few government agencies and politicians get involved. Very quickly, Reacher meets three pivotal people: Detective Tamara Green (Sydelle Noel), Lila (AGNEZ MO), and Officer Jacob (Chris Rodriguez-Marquette). Each has a part to play in piecing together the deadly mystery behind the woman on the train. And because things might’ve gone differently if he hadn’t said too much, Reacher can’t let this one go.
Created by Nick Santora and based on Gone Tomorrow, the 13th book in Lee Child’s best-selling series, Season 4 might be the best one yet. It has everything that launched “Reacher” into a monster hit: compelling cases, brutal high-octane action, three-dimensional characters with stakes, killer quips, and a lead who straddles the four quadrants like a deadpan yet sexy and highly skilled blend of Batman and the Punisher. (Someone call James Gunn and tell him his Bruce Wayne/Dark Knight is over on Prime Video.) Ritchson is not only an action hero, but he allows us to see past Reacher’s hardened shell to the traumas and compulsion to do good that rule him.
In season 4, “Reacher” enhances all the elements that action-thriller fans love about the series, using its tropes and style to peak effect. The tension keeps building, the character dynamics keep flipping, and the storyline will leave you holding your breath. It’s emotionally thrilling too, with personal and public tragedies that hit hard, brought to us by creatives and a cast with the chops to deliver on every shifting perspective and motivation.
While Prime Video has employed a weekly cadence with this show (after a three-episode premiere), this is the kind of season the binge model was made for. As the story gets deadlier, the past and present collide in both frustrating and heartbreaking ways. There’s even a touch of romance beyond the expected Bond Girl-styled entanglements. The heart on this show balances the crime and violence.
If your enthusiasm waned with S2 and S3, this might be the return to form you’re waiting for. If this show has held you rapt the entire time, you’re about to be bouncing on your seat cushions. There’s a rumor that I might’ve finished the 8-episode run in two sittings. Those rumors are true. I’m watching it again now.
It all comes down to whether you like twisty action-thrillers that are cold-blooded with warm hearts, and high on charm. If so, pop the corn, pour the beverages, and dodge the blood splatter; “Reacher” is back. No replacements necessary.
Whole season screened for review. Season 4 premieres on August 12.