Netflix’s Reacher Replacement Reveals Its Biggest Strength

Reacher has consistently followed a problematic trend since the beginning, but its Netflix replacement highlights the harsh truth that this trend might be more of a boon than a bane.

Considering how Reacher consistently delivers what it promises, it is hard to ever be disappointed with what it brings to the action thriller genre. Like the original Jack Reacher books, the Prime Video series features everything from corny one-liners to spectacular action sequences where Reacher dominates his enemies. Even the overarching mysteries in the show are compelling throughout.

However, many viewers have had one criticism about the show’s character beats. While this criticism makes sense, Reacher‘s Netflix replacement proves it does not need to change.

Like Reacher, The Night Agent Has Dropped Its Female Lead In Season 3

Courtesy of Christopher Saunders/Netflix

In every Reacher season, Alan Ritchson’s character encounters a new female lead, collaborates with her to solve crime, and then eventually bids her farewell. Although The Night Agent, too, has followed a similar anthology format since season 1, where each installment focuses on a new conspiracy, its connective thread between seasons 1 and 2 was its female lead, Rose.

Reacher‘s approach of changing the main female character every season reflects the books’ story. However, it was starting to feel slightly problematic because it risked reducing the women Reacher encounters to fleeting narrative devices.

Interestingly, after having Rose in seasons 1 and 2, The Night Agent, too, doubles down on the anthology approach by not featuring her in season 3 at all. While this approach slightly reduces the narrative cohesion between seasons, it actually works quite well for the series.

It not only allows new viewers to start watching it in whichever seasons they please but also allows the show to have more diverse stories to tell. Instead of revolving around the same villains and heroes, the show can now easily adopt a fresh story in each season and effectively raise the stakes without worrying about continuing previous arcs.

The Night Agent Season 3 Proves Reacher Is Better Off Sticking To What Works

Reacher‘s approach has often been criticized by viewers. However, The Night Agent proves that it should stick to it because of how well it works. Like Peter Sutherland, Jack Reacher is also portrayed more as a solo figure. In fact, one of the key traits Jack Reacher is known for is his ability to stay self-reliant no matter where he ends up going.

He never allows his relationships to tie him down, which is reinstated when he parts ways with the female leads in each season.

Trying to anchor him in a long-term romantic arc would completely change how the original Jack Reacher books portray him. Owing to this, it is hard not to see how, like Peter Sutherland, Reacher is better off forming temporary alliances.

Roscoe’s Return Would Still Be Great, But Reacher’s Story Has Grown Too Far From Her

Even after three seasons, Roscoe remains Reacher’s best ally and romantic interest. This is why many viewers still hope she will return in a future installment of the series and join forces with the Alan Ritchson character again. However, as Reacher season 3 establishes, the titular character’s arc has already drifted too far from her.

With season 4 adapting Lee Child’s Gone Tomorrow, Roscoe’s return seems even more unlikely. Her return in a cameo would still be a fun reminder of her Reacher season 1 arc. However, at this point, the Prime Video show would be better off sticking to its regular approach like Netflix‘s The Night Agent.