After appearing in Reacher’s upcoming Neagley spin-off show, it seems like Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher will never be the same. Since Reacher season 1, the Alan Ritchson character has significantly changed in more ways than one. Even when it comes to his appearance, it is hard not to see how much he has matured since he first arrived in Margrave.
As seen in Reacher season 3, Jack Reacher remains a lone wolf who prefers embracing the open road instead of settling down and seeking stability. He still prefers to carry only a toothbrush with him as he moves from one town to another as a drifter. However, his return in the Neagley spin-off show seems to confirm that one thing about him is gradually starting to change in the series.
Behind-the-scenes footage of the upcoming Neagley show has confirmed Alan Ritchson will reprise his role as Jack Reacher in the spin-off. While the capacity of his role remains a mystery, he will likely have more of a cameo, where he will briefly help the Maria Sten character. This alone will be enough to prove how much he has changed.
Reacher Will Seem Less Like A Lone Wolf After His Neagley Appearance
In his recent non-fiction book, Reacher: The Stories Behind The Stories, Lee Child recalled how he decided to have Neagley in more than one Jack Reacher novel because she worked incredibly well as a character. However, he also mentioned that he did not plan to have her in too many Reacher narratives because he wanted his novels to counter the typical soap-opera narratives.
The author also added that most threats and conflicts that serve as drivers for almost all typical thrillers can hardly bother Jack Reacher. He is already homeless and refuses to attach himself to anyone. He is free in ways most other crime thriller protagonists are not, which explains his enduring appeal as a solo figure.
As Lee Child explains, Jack Reacher’s appeal has always been his detachment from real-world pressures, expectations, and fears because he has the courage to walk away from societal rules. Unfortunately, it looks like the Prime Video detective series is diminishing this aspect by marking his return in the Neagley spin-off.
Neagley has been a part of all three Reacher seasons, so far, which goes against how the books portray her and her relationship with Jack Reacher. By featuring another collaboration between Jack Reacher and Neagley in the spin-off, the live-action franchise will walk through another mission where Reacher is not the lone wolf he is supposed to be.
Not to mention, since Neagley will be the primary focus of the upcoming spin-off, Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher will come off more as a sidekick. By portraying him as a supporting player, the spin-off could significantly harm the very qualities that have made many love Jack Reacher so far.
Reacher’s Neagley Appearance Will Highlight A Positive Evolution In His Characterization
On the bright side, though, Reacher’s return in Neagley will highlight that as much as the Alan Ritchson character loves embracing the hobo lifestyle, he is starting to value his relationships a lot more. Reacher season 2 features a scene in which the titular character questions his lifestyle after realizing how he knows little about his former team members’ personal lives.
While the filming of the Neagley spin-off has already been wrapped, Reacher season 4’s production is underway.
Towards the end of the same installment, he secretly feels elated and grateful when Neagley asks him to consider her and their former team members his family. It is scenes like these that highlight how the Alan Ritchson character in Reacher is gradually changing, which justifies his return in the Neagley spin-off.