TV Critique “Reacher” Episode 1

Jack Reacher was arrested for murder and now the police need his help. Based on the books by Lee Child.

• Network: Amazon Prime Video
• First episode date: 4 February 2022 (USA)
• Program creator: Nick Santora
• Cast: Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9288030/

Under the pen name of Lee Child, one would be hard-pressed to deny the prolific works of British author Jim Grant’s dedication to his best-selling thriller novels revolving around the fictional Jack Reacher – a former soldier and military police investigator with the rank of Major. Away from the feature film stage, streaming service Amazon Prime have optioned and produced an eight-part series of “Reacher”, based on Child’s first Jack Reacher book namely called “Killing Floor” with hulking actor Alan Ritchson portraying the lead role.

Setting the Tone

Episode one opens hard to a prologue of night, frantic sounds of an unbeknownst man running from certain death through a corn field. His face is never met with camera, however the supressed gun muzzle that puts him down tells the audience a much more sinister plot is to come by the perpetrator and the victim.

From the pitch-black of midnight hours, the audience receives a slamming title card of “REACHER” before the stark contrast of the next day to a swelteringly humid and rainy morning that is Child’s fictional town of Margraves, Georgia, USA.

Cinematic shot selections along with a predominant Blues soundtrack of Howlin’ Wolf’s famed “Smokestack Lightning” instantly piques audience attention with the mystery of an outsider, heavily stepping off a coach line bus, tall build, face unknown. There’s a determined and lonesome walk toward town that tells the audience this is our central protagonist – Jack Reacher himself.

No less does the audience see Reacher sit down to escape the relentless rain of Georgia’s climate in a stereotypical diner, sirens and skidding police patrol cars outside cause Jack to sigh heavily. Shotguns pointed; the “famous” diner peach pie proclaimed by the waitress to be the best will never be tasted as Jack tolerates and obliges calmly to the artillery aimed in his direction as he’s accused of murder. A confused look upon his face, he never says a single word of dialogue as the following scene shows him brought into the local police station, where the main protagonist characters professionally inhabit within this world.

Character Dynamics

In John Truby’s “The Anatomy of Story”, the author presents a clear paradigm of the “Four Corner Structure” between characters. This paradigm relates to role interactions, wants and needs, whilst contrasting each player within their possible similarities. It creates richly defined arcs, whether or not they themselves can accept that within the story. The tactic also pushes actors (and writers) to create deeper conflict, small resolutions and diversity which leans them toward the far “corners” of said relationships. This clever strategy maintains the connective tissue between story and person.

Malcolm Goodwin plays detective Oscar Finlay, a Harvard graduate stereotype whom Reacher has previously put as “A short, black Sherlock Holmes in tweed, who’s presence is odd in the realm of Georgia”. This shows not only Finlay’s position, but Reacher’s in their competitiveness of intelligence. Finlay’s never pronounced his story, however, Reacher’s forthright and smug exception to the rule infuriates Finlay on a personal level that comes to light soon enough.

Officer Roscoe Conlin, played by Willa Fitzgerald offers another corner ally. Her goodwill, kindness
and inquisitive smarts are displayed in her actions by asking questions, analysing the situations and
people around her. This adds depth to her definition of self in her ambition of a future in becoming a
detective, rather than a pencil-pushing police clerk or traffic officer.

Character actor Bruce McGill takes the role of another eventual corner of the paradigm in Mayor
Grover Teale, a portrayal of which is ordinarily well intentioned, but holds malevolent motives and
consequences for others.

The “four-corner paradigm” can and does expand outside of these initial relationships to include
more personas and their own interconnectivities.

Captivating the first episode for an accepting audience of a thriller genre is the use between problem
solving, observation, and necessary violence in order to keep safety, as unconventional as it may
seem by its rite. The clear and conscious writing of a mystery thriller, speckled with witty dialogue,
gives rhyme and reason to inevitably darkly comedic opportunities for future episodes in a way
which is understood and anticipated by the audience.

Demographic Relations

Reacher mixes genres of thriller, action and neo-noir seamlessly for its audience whom of which
would range from mid-teens to older devotees of the book series and anyone in between.
It’s unlikely that families would spend time together in watching episodes, mainly because of the
high-level violence and lack of family conventions, as the main troupe are single, however form their
own pseudo family unit. Characters are portrayed by adults, only flashbacks of memories offer
insight into Reacher’s history as a young adult, so younger audiences wouldn’t be as inclined to
relate to their grown counterparts. Male teenagers would likely find the show highly entertaining
with the physically intimidating mass that is Alan Ritchson distributing vengeance upon his enemies
as Jack Reacher.

Whilst the story and characters are completely fictional, aspects of the show do indeed reflect real
world corruption and conspiracies within law enforcement and government that plague the current
capitalist American socio-economic climate. The main protagonists of Reacher are what could be
considered the last line of defence of morality and justice in an unjust system. At times the ethical
lines are blurred in some of the decisions made by them, though the end tends to justify the means.
This approach in and of itself challenges viewers to take a more proactive role in their own lives to
question the motives of higher authority figures and not simply believe that these institutions always
have the public’s best interests at heart.

Production and Set Design

The setting of a rural Southern town in the United States is very familiar to audiences, places where
tradition tends to remain higher on the area’s list rather than innovation. Institutional businesses
such as barber shops and diners sprinkle Margraves, along with the customary pride of the people –
a town statue dedicated to one of the pioneers of the municipality.

Colours in the overall look of the show are saturated in sunburnt yellows and browns to give the
impression of the hot and humid climate. However, in its saturation to convey heat, the production
has left out quite a key detail – no one is sweaty. It could be understood that locals would simply be
accustomed to the heat, but still, no one shows physically or verbally any discomfort. Once this
aspect of the look is acknowledged, it’s challenging not to notice later.

Costumes are very intentional in their design, often being addressed in expository dialogue which
whilst slightly on-the-nose is enjoyable nonetheless in its delivery. The choice of dressing highlights
key character details such as Reacher’s no-nonsense, travelling light t-shirt and jeans, to Finlay’s
highly educated and even more highly strung outfit of a would-be tweed-wearing school principal.
The antagonists also have specific attire which further gives insight to the audience on their personalities and effectively, their arrogant demeanours.

Is the series Reaching you?

Reacher’s pilot episode is successful in creating a suspenseful and fascinating plot that doesn’t shy away from its ambitiousness. Dialogue interactions sound genuine and natural, high-quality writing of conflict and setting, creating a believable impression within fictional Margraves and its inhabitants conceivable. As the finale scene of the pilot is realized, a solid foundation has been built to attract viewers with more questions and answers to follow.