Reacher

Amazon scores with a surprise series right off the turn of the year. Reacher seemed pretty unremarkable, but it's a hit and noteworthy for fans of gritty stories. Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise was just OK to me, but this is a different cup of tea. Alan Ritchson is a B-list actor, but you have to admit that he handled this role very well; he has charisma, he's a buffed up dick who commands respect, he has great lines and almost no weaknesses, so the viewer can easily forgive him for his acting ineptitude. The series probably reminded me most of Banshee and maybe that's what won me over. A small town, one police station with a new backup, murders and a well-built story that never gets boring and is spiced up with excellent action. For me the first episode remained unbeaten (the fight in the restroom had me screaming until my living room walls were cracking – prison scenes are always the best), and over the course of the series there were probably only two or three decent fights and a couple of shootouts, so in the end it isn't that action packed, but the nasty murders that have a touch of Se7en (a crucified guy with his balls in his mouth!), a great central likeable trio and a decent bad guy make this a fine affair that isn't about dead bodies or a decent twist by a long shot. Decent stuff for me, after all those crime-drama series this is downright something for me. Story 4/5, Action 4/5, Humor 3/5, Violence 4/5, Fun 4/5 Music 3/5, Visuals 4/5, Atmosphere 4/5, Suspense 4/5, Emotion 3/5, Actors 3/5. 8.5/10. (14/02/2022)

Tom Cruise is a better actor, but Alan Ritchson is better as Reacher. Let everyone choose their own. (02/03/2024)

A perfect blast of testosterone! Alan Ritchson absolutely excels in the role of his life, which fits him like a glove. Excellent casting choice, great supporting cast, and a meticulously crafted script. Overall, I appreciated the depth, character psychology, and plot dynamics. The action scenes are brilliantly executed, offering adrenaline-packed moments, and the direction demonstrates a high level of professionalism. I admit, I did not expect such high-quality production from Prime, especially in a TV series format. Thanks, and I look forward to the next episodes! (31/05/2024)

Reacher is, for me, the series surprise of the year. A rather unassuming eight-episode series that leaves most of its competition far behind. I haven’t read the books, so I can’t compare much, but most people say that the casting in the series was spot-on. Alan Ritchson, who was unknown to me before, surprised me; he's not just a two-meter-tall muscle giant you wouldn’t want to challenge to a fistfight, but he also showed that he has acting chops, delivering emotionally charged scenes without coming off as wooden. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting in a small American town. The rest of the cast didn’t disappoint either, and the abundance of humorous situations was delightful. I especially enjoyed the action, whether it was physical combat or shootouts. On top of that, Reacher didn’t shy away from delivering some pretty brutal scenes, which I didn’t expect even in my wildest dreams. I’m eagerly looking forward to the second season; this project definitely has a bright future ahead. For me, it’s 8/10. (05/05/2022)