‘Reacher’ Season 3 Review - Alan Ritchson Returns With His Beefy Muscles

Given the state of the current streaming landscape, "Reacher" has to be one of the perfect shows out there. There is often a lot of gap between seasons. Take Stranger Things, for instance; we first ventured into the eerie world of Hawkins in 2016, yet it wasn't until the much-anticipated return in 2022 that we reunited with Eleven and her friends. Now, as we gear up for the fifth season, we face the daunting choice of either binge-watching all episodes from the beginning or plunging in with only fragmented memories of previous adventures. The mere thought of such a monumental task can feel tiresome. Remember when movies and TV shows used to be...fun? When you could effortlessly dive into a series at any point and still find yourself entertained? This is precisely why "Reacher" is so perfect. Each of its three seasons invites viewers to jump in without the burden of needing to know the entire backstory to comprehend the ongoing events. This approach to storytelling makes sense because the titular character (Alan Ritchson) is the kind of man who constantly moves from one place to another. He is a drifter - he keeps making new friends; he keeps seeing new locations.

The one thing that remains constant in Reacher's life is that trouble always ends up knocking on his doorstep. The people who know him are familiar with this aspect of his existence. Then again, who wants to watch this former U.S. Army military police major doing laundry or browsing Instagram? This chunk of muscle is best served with a heavy dose of action, and in the third season, he finds a worthy opponent in Paulie, played by Olivier Richters. Paulie is bigger, though not necessarily better, than Reacher. When this brawny brute collides with the eponymous hero, the screen erupts with excitement. This is why a part of you feels underwhelmed by Paulie's treatment as a sideshow attraction. He should have had a more prominent presence - his sturdiness should have created more tension in the show and more trouble for Reacher. "Reacher" gives us a solid reason to hate the main villain, but he never feels like a threat. Still, Brian Tee does a damn good job looking like a cold ogre.

But speaking of tension, "Reacher" doesn't offer it much. Some scenes have the potential to put us on edge, though their power remains theoretical. We are never too perturbed because we never think Reacher would fail to overcome any obstacle. This could have been a severe drawback in any other show, but here, these scenes are saved by the wonderful writers (Sam Hill, Gary Fleder). A Russian Roullete game, a punching bag, a joke about throwing Reacher into the stormy water, a chat about using brain over brawn - it all comes back later during appropriate moments. A bad screenplay would have heavily highlighted these setups and payoffs. Everything, however, is casually executed here, as "Reacher" trusts its audience to pay close attention. Even clichés like no phone network during a crucial situation are handled with some intelligence. Reacher tells a colleague that we copy some things because they work. And these "somethings" absolutely work in "Reacher" because the show doesn't just borrow clichés; it digs into them to reveal their mechanism. This is why it's also able to slightly and smartly tweak them. The characters extensively discuss their strategy, and the camera diligently records the whole process. It's a pleasure listening to Reacher as he tries to quickly come up with last-minute solutions. Having said that, most of the dialogues sound like recaps for the ADHD audience, and they can come across as weird, as in that scene where Reacher "explains" his colleague's action during an interrogation.

Reacher's life is like James Bond. With a new mission comes a new Bond Girl. After Willa Fitzgerald's Roscoe and Serinda Swan's Karla, Season 3 introduces Sonya Cassidy's Susan. Of course, Reacher hooks up with her. He swims through stormy waters at nighttime and meets Susan in his underwear. She's charmed. There are several moments in the third season where Reacher appears half-naked. With a body like that, who wouldn't want to show off their muscles? Physically, I have nothing in common with this retired military police officer, but like him, I also prefer my ice cream to come with chocolate or vanilla flavor. "Reacher" is not just concerned with serious business; it has plenty of space for humor. I think I may have smiled more while watching this show instead of feeling nervous about Reacher's mission. That isn't necessarily a bug. Is it a feature? Why not? Here is a show that doesn't indulge in emotional manipulation and has a protagonist who gives headshots. How can you not enjoy such good taste, such intelligence? "Reacher" has its share of flaws, but the plusses outweigh the minuses. It's lean, mean, and enjoyable.

Final Score- [7.5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times
Note: All 8 episodes are screened for this review.
Premiere Date: February 20, 2025, on Prime Video