One badass scene from Reacher season 2 shows exactly why Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher deserves to be in the upcoming Neagley spin-off.
Since the upcoming Neagley spin-off show is not based on any Lee Child books, it can be a little hard to predict how it will turn out. However, Maria Sten’s portrayal of Frances Neagley in Prime Video’s Reacher, so far, has already won the character many fans. What makes the spinoff even more exciting is that it will mark Alan Ritchson’s return as Jack Reacher.
While the capacity in which Reacher will show up remains unknown, behind-the-scenes footage has confirmed he will be assisting Neagley with her spinoff mission. Some might argue that Reacher should not be in the spinoff as Neagley’s sidekick, but one season 2 scene from the parent series highlights the real reason why the show needs him.
Reacher’s Smaller Role In Neagley Feels Strange But Makes Sense After Season 2 Scene
In both Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books and the Prime Video adaptation, Reacher has been portrayed as the main character. The Neagley spin-off, however, is finally going to change this by featuring him as a sidekick while focusing primarily on Maria Sten’s Frances Neagley.
Since all fans of the Reacher franchise are used to seeing the world through Jack Reacher’s perspective, his demotion to a supporting role will seem strange at first. However, Jack Reacher has never cared about being the center of all attention. Instead, his narrative is often driven by his pursuit of serving justice and uplifting the people around him.
…Reacher has never cared about ranks, hierarchies, or forced leadership.
As viewers would recall, he recruited Neagley in the 110th Special Investigation Unit despite knowing that she was not an officer. In one of the most badass scenes from the series, Reacher also defended her when an officer looked down on her and tried to throw her out of the officer’s bar in a season 2 flashback.
These moments in the series have established that Reacher has never cared about ranks, hierarchies, or forced leadership. He does not mind stepping back for a while to ensure that Neagley gets the credit she deserves. In the spinoff, he will have a similar role where he will let her shine as a private detective while only helping her when she truly needs him.
Neagley’s Spinoff Is Risky, But Could Change The Reacher Franchise Forever
Since the world of Reacher has almost always been portrayed through the eyes of the titular character, it is hard to deny that the Neagley spinoff is a risky endeavor. However, if it is executed well, it would not only give the Maria Sten character more depth but also allow Jack Reacher to shine in a completely new light.
By showing how Alan Ritchson’s Reacher is willing to temporarily sacrifice his lifestyle choices and go out of his way to protect and help Neagley, the Prime Video show will only make him more likable. Spinoffs often struggle to be as good as their parent series, but the upcoming Neagley series seems like a win-win for the franchise.
