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Reacher on Prime Video: I Review My Husband’s Favourite Amazon Show

Published

6 hours ago

March 21, 2025

I’m not sure how it happened, but Reacher Thursdays have become a thing in my life. As I settle down after dinner, ready to doomscroll in peace, my husband will catch my eye and smirk as the Prime Video logo appears, ominously, on our TV.

But try as I might not to care about what’s happening on screen, I can’t help but end up dropping my phone in favour of the insane action… and maybe that’s the secret to its success.

It’s currently racking up huge numbers on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming platform, and it’s no real mystery as to why. Lee Child’s novel series about the former army military police major turned drifter, Jack Reacher, has consistently flown off bookshelves (perhaps quite a lot of those in airport bookshops), while all three seasons of the TV adaptation went straight to number one.

But it’s not because Reacher is groundbreaking TV. This series is like a never-ending bucket of fast food that you want to chomp on as fast as you can. Addictive and greasy, it provides immediate gratification but leaves a lingering aftertaste of unanswered questions – and sometimes regret.

Reacher is to the action genre what Bridgerton is to historical romance – but rather than steamy scenes in horse-drawn carriages, its basis is a bunch of guys beating each other up in a warehouse or something.

From my passive watch-through, there are three key things I’ve noticed that make this series just as silly as it is significant. I consulted my resident Reacher expert for additional information to aid my analysis.

Big men equal big success

My partner informs me that every narrative by Lee Child (or at least, those with his byline – many are written by his brother) can be boiled down to a snappy ‘What if…’ premise. In the sixth book, Without Fail, it’s: ‘What if Reacher has to protect the Vice-President?’ For the latest title, In Too Deep, it’s: ‘What if Reacher had amnesia?’

Season three of the show, based on the book Persuader, has a very simple premise: ‘What if Reacher had to fight someone EVEN BIGGER than him?’ While sure, that may sound dumb, it’s gone down a treat in this household.

Jasper Savage/Prime

Alan Ritchson, the actor portraying Reacher, is an absolute tank. He’s six foot three inches of unalleviated, gristly muscle, which is inexplicable, given that his character claims never to have done a bench press in his life… and let’s be reasonable, nobody could obtain gains like that without a gym membership.

Sometimes, you just want to see a big man fight an even bigger man

So, how do you make this man seem small? Easy. You hire an actor who is seven foot two (yes, seven, not six) and weighs 160kg/350lbs. That would be Olivier Richters, also known as The Dutch Giant – a former bodybuilder turned actor, now playing Paul Masserella, known affectionately by his adorable nickname, Paulie.

Every time Paulie appears onscreen, my husband will exclaim, “Look how BIG he is!”. The cameras make no effort to try and disguise his height difference from the other performers. Instead, they use techniques to exaggerate it – including shots of him standing next to someone else with his head and neck comically cut off like Nearly Headless Nick.

Season 3 is very clearly building towards a WWE-style showdown between Paulie and Reacher, constantly reminding us of the antagonist’s hulking stature – he barely flinches from a punch from our boy Jack. And I hate to admit it… but I am invested. I need to know how our hero will take this guy out using more than just his trademark brute strength.

Sometimes, you just want to see a big man fight an even bigger man. It’s simple but effective. The showrunners know what people want.

The stereotypes are non-stop

Think of every action flick trope you can. Whatever just crossed your mind, it’s probably appeared in Reacher.

Take the end of episode three as an example. He sets a house ablaze to destroy evidence, then runs away as it explodes – not taking a second to look back as he sprints in slow motion. He jumps in his getaway car, and the credits roll to ‘Firestarter’ by The Prodigy.

At the time, I turned to my in-house Reacher fanboy to complain about the rather on-the-nose song choice, and he just replied, “But he IS a Firestarter”, and that’s about as far as that debate went.

Christos Kalohoridis/Prime

There are plenty of shootouts, interrogations, and a love interest who can’t decide whether she wants to hit him or kiss him… so she goes for both. Reacher is the classic ‘men want to be him, and women want to be with him’ character.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an action series without some smart-arse comments from the man himself.

The standout one-liner of the season that caught my attention is: “She said the cream came from your mother. Probably because she’s a big fat cow.” It’s subtle yet clever, don’t you think?

Interestingly, my husband finds Jack’s portrayal on TV as someone who “talks too much,” a major complaint. In the books, much of the plot is delivered through internal monologue, which is challenging to translate on screen. Despite our love for the strong, silent type, understanding what goes on in Reacher’s muscle-bound brain is essential.

Ritchson’s dedication to the role is commendable. He perfectly embodies a character as blunt, badass, and bulky as Reacher, although not as bulky as Paulie.

Realism takes a backseat when it comes to Reacher’s lifestyle. He only owns what he’s wearing at the moment, wears the same clothes for days until they’re dirty, and tosses them out for new ones. This disregard for waste and personal hygiene is concerning, as pointed out by Reddit users.

Carrying only a toothbrush, hiding a burner phone in his shoe, and lacking basic amenities like a watch or entertainment, Reacher’s unconventional methods raise questions about his well-being. His ability to calculate time precisely without a watch is impressive yet puzzling.

Despite these inconsistencies, what viewers truly desire is to see Reacher taking down bad guys. The illogical aspects do not hinder the enjoyment of the series, as the focus remains on the action-packed narrative.

While initially skeptical, I found myself drawn into the thrilling world of Reacher. The show embraces its madness, offering a larger-than-life experience that captivates audiences.

Catch “Reacher” on Prime Video, with the final episode of season 3 airing on Thursday, March 27. Don’t miss out on the action-packed adventure by signing up for Amazon Prime.