Sharp writing, an engaging mystery and a well-crafted setting make Reacher a solid watch regardless, but the series’ premiere season is elevated immensely by the charm of its protagonist and an eclectic cast of supporting characters that give life to an otherwise unremarkable plot. Throw in the skilled cinematography and some especially vigorous action scenes, and Reacher proves to be an unexpected delight in just about every way.

I can’t say I’m at all familiar with the world of Jack Reacher – I’ve not read any of Lee Child’s original book series, nor have I seen either of the Tom Cruise Jack Reacher films, although I am well aware of the ironic disparity between Cruise’s physique and the way that Reacher is described on paper. It’s a good job then that the brand-spanking new Amazon adaptation of Child’s book series snatched up the hulking Alan Ritchson for the titular role, and although I’m not usually partial to action-packed crime thrillers, a promising trailer and a whole load of free time meant had me well-equipped to get stuck into the series, and in all honesty I’ve come away pleasantly surprised.

Spoilers ahead!

Based on Child’s first book, The Killing Floor, the first season of Reacher sees our titular character, a former military investigator, arrive in the fictional town of Margrave, Georgia with nothing but the clothes on his back and an itch for musical history. However, when he’s arrested for a murder that took place the night before, Reacher is wrongfully imprisoned alongside another man who was blackmailed into a confession for the same crime and must endure a night in prison where corruption and murder attempts make it clear that a conspiracy is afoot. Although the pair are quickly released once their innocence is proven, Reacher’s plans to get out of dodge are soon upended when he discovers that the murder victim is in fact his brother Joe, and with the help of the Chief Detective and a young sergeant from Margrave’s police department, he sets out to uncover the conspiracy and track down his brother’s killer. It serves as a straightforward and effective character motivation that keeps Reacher believably tied to the story, and from there the mystery remains packed with plenty of twists and satisfying payoff; keeping it engaging throughout the entire season as the truth behind the murders in Margrave comes to light – that being a massive counterfeit cash operation that has been operating in the local area under the guidance of the wealthy Kliner family and the bribed or blackmailed officials under their thumb.

Action scenes are plentiful between the stretches of mystery-solving and character study, but not so much that they’re overbearing, and they’re certainly a whole lot of fun to watch thanks to some visceral yet grounded choreography. The show is well-shot in general, with solid camera work and an inclination for the use of vibrant colour that many series of this calibre would tend to avoid as to appear “serious” or “gritty” – something that Reacher knows how to do at the right times, while also using a lot of subtle comedy to avoid feeling overly dismal. The writing is largely just competent across the board, with virtually nothing in the way of plot discrepancies that I could identify, and the dialogue is both deft and well-flowing, which all goes a long way in giving the show a strong foundation that elevates the content of the story where it can feel predictable, and even a little drab at times. Nevertheless, as the mystery finally unravels, Reacher delivers an action packed season finale that sees our titular character and his allies launch a daring rescue that brings him face to face with his brother’s murderer and the nefarious cabal behind the Margrave conspiracy. Naturally, our protagonists win the day, and even if it isn’t the most revolutionary storyline in the world, by the time Reacher‘s first season wrapped up I was still adequately satisfied with both the writing and the general quality of the show across the eight episode run.

While its plot was certainly competent, the clue’s in the name for where Reacher really excels – the show delivers a brilliant titular protagonist with Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher, and not just because of the screen presence that the actor’s immense muscle mass lends to the role. From the get-go he has your attention – a bona fide beast of a man turning up in a town in the middle of nowhere with no possessions feels like a mystery in and of itself, which is only compounded by the fact he hardly says a word for much of the first episode, and many of his strange behaviours exhibited thereafter. However, we certainly get to know Reacher well, with intermittent flashbacks framing his relationship with his family, especially his deceased brother, and a blossoming romance between the ex-special investigator and Margrave P.D. Sergeant Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald) shows off his more sentimental side. Outside of this, Reacher is smart, intimidating and level-headed all rolled up in one, and although it runs the risk of portraying him as obtusely flawless, his skills are firmly rooted in the character’s backstory. With his characterisation demonstrated through his actions more than overbearing expositional dialogue, Reacher is a well-crafted character through and through, and when brought to life by Ritchson’s fantastic performance, he proves to be the best aspect of the show by far.

Still, Reacher isn’t the only skilfully written character the show has to offer – the aforementioned Roscoe quickly becomes a close ally for our protagonist thanks to her history with the town and vested interest in uncovering the conspiracy that took the life of her mentor. She doesn’t always have the most agency in the story, but she’s certainly capable when needed, and her romance with Reacher doesn’t reduce her down to solely being a love interest. Reacher also makes fast friends with Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin), a city cop who relocated to Margrave to escape the memories of his dead wife; giving him a strong air of the “fish out of water” archetype that clearly separates him from the corruption rooted in the town. The three protagonists have chemistry by the bucketful, giving the story some much needed heart, but even outside of that many of the smaller characters feel realised through strong performances and apt characterisation. Unfortunately the villains don’t feel quite so fleshed out, especially the crooked FBI agent Picard who’s relationship with Finlay and subsequent betrayal were in desperate need of elaboration, but again thanks to strong performances and the overall quality of the writing, they’re nevertheless serviceable for the most part, and I will say that they do lend a lot to the setting and your understanding of how the counterfeiting scheme operates.

Perhaps my middling expectations for Reacher have painted it in a decidedly positive light, but I’m nonetheless impressed by what its first season has to offer; most of all its titular character, who I don’t doubt will be cemented as one of television’s most popular action heroes in years to come. With a wealth of source material to draw from in the twenty-six entries of the book series, there’s no shortage of inspiration for potential future instalments, and given the quality of the show I don’t doubt that audiences will be keen for a surely inevitable second season – myself included. It might not amaze, but Reacher is some good bloody television anyway, and it’s certainly won my seal of approval.

7/10