Jack Reacher TV series, 4 February, 2022

[Mercury]

Loved this. Big fan of the books and this doesn’t try to do anything different. So easy to watch - binged in two nights which I haven’t done for ages. 
 

Can see this running for a while like Bosch did - loads of material to use. 

[smac]

We're actually coming down off a Bosch binge watch; hard act to follow.

[g wings]

Finished it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. No complaints really (even the cheap FX kind of fitted  )

 

I hope they get on with getting the next season done. 

[Captain Kelsten]

Phenomenal interview with Alan Ritchson here 

 

 

 

There’s a section where he talks how shooting Reacher literally nearly killed him. 
 

WARNING: There’s lots of serious talk about depression, suicide, bipolar and things of that nature. 

[Ork1927]

Half way through episode 1 and I'm sold once

 

Spoiler

Reacher headbuts the guy in the cell on the count of 2

 

 

[Ork1927]

Ended up binging the whole thing today and thought it was great.

 

I'm a fan of the books and this was a great adaptation, Ritchson was a very good Reacher  and just a very good show on its own and 8 episodes was the right amount.  

 

Favourite Reacher kill

 

Spoiler

Hanging the guy on the Fire Escape in New York

 

[JohnC]

I wouldn’t spot it because I have no idea what he looks like, but Ritchson arranged a Lee Child cameo

 

Spoiler

at the diner in the last episode. He’s leaving the diner as Reacher enters apparently. 

 

[Jimmyzilla]

14 hours ago, JohnC said:

I wouldn’t spot it because I have no idea what he looks like, but Ritchson arranged a Lee Child cameo

 

  Hide contents

at the diner in the last episode. He’s leaving the diner as Reacher enters apparently. 

 

Wasn't it obvious?

 

Spoiler

That half beat pause made me check up who the cameo was!

 

[Monkeyboy]

He was in both Jack Reacher movies as well, so I was expecting it at some point.

[Couch Corpse]

On 10/02/2022 at 08:31, Doctor Shark said:

But there was that one bit where he stomped on a guy’s neck. 

 

I meant the bit where

 

Spoiler

the old guy jumps out from a bunch of boxes neatly stacked in the middle of the floor

 

I get Bruce is in his 70s, but still.

[Gotters]

Really enjoyed this, even if it's just an extended A-Team episode with more violence.

 

My enjoyment really came from it being something from a simpler time story wise and the character of Reacher himself - I do wonder where they go with it for a second run. 

 

Are the books self contained, simply new town new baddies to bash, or does the world or character get expanded on in some wider over arching narrative ?

[Monkeyboy]

1 hour ago, Gotters said:

Are the books self contained, simply new town new baddies to bash, or does the world or character get expanded on in some wider over arching narrative ?

Pretty much self contained with new baddies to bash in each book. As for any sort of arc, I already feel they’ve done more in the flashbacks in the first season than in all of the books. I wouldn’t be surprised if they lean on flashbacks again in the coming seasons.

[Gotters]

That was what I suspected, did a quick googling and apparently there are over 20 books, he knocks out one a year, and there are very few recurring characters.

 

Is this just violent Last of the Summer Wine where the audience aren't really after anything other than what they know.

 

I don't see how it maintains any suspense or stretches to multi season runs, unless people think all the enjoyment is in Reacher himself endlessly bashing skulls and attracting the local hottie before moving on.

[McCoy]

9 minutes ago, Gotters said:

That was what I suspected, did a quick googling and apparently there are over 20 books, he knocks out one a year, and there are very few recurring characters.

 

Is this just violent Last of the Summer Wine where the audience aren't really after anything other than what they know.

 

I don't see how it maintains any suspense or stretches to multi season runs, unless people think all the enjoyment is in Reacher himself endlessly bashing skulls and attracting the local hottie before moving on.

 

I think you've answered your own question. 

[Monkeyboy]

Yep, they’re like the Bond books and movies in that regard. Or at least the movies were until Craig became Bond.

[Hitcher]

On 11/02/2022 at 10:14, Doctor Shark said:

Phenomenal interview with Alan Ritchson here 

 

 

 

There’s a section where he talks how shooting Reacher literally nearly killed him. 
 

WARNING: There’s lots of serious talk about depression, suicide, bipolar and things of that nature. 

Great start when you don't even know the name of the show - it'd Reacher not Jack Reacher!

[Stig]

Put me in the camp of people who really enjoyed this. It's very much what you'd expect when you do a show about an ex special forces type who's built like a brick shit house. Even the murder mystery element to it isn't too overly complicated. It was fairly simple simple but one that pushed the story along nicely.

 

I enjoyed Ritchson in the main role. He played the stoic meticulous giant with a sly sense of humour very well. Also, watching him knock the fuck out of people was fun. Proper crunchy.

[Festoon]

On 17/02/2022 at 20:03, Stigweard said:

I enjoyed Ritchson in the main role. He played the stoic meticulous giant with a sly sense of humour very well. Also, watching him knock the fuck out of people was fun. Proper crunchy.

 

Ritchson is a real find. A brickshithouse that can really act. Brings a nobility with a subtle humour.

 

Heard him in interview and he seems like an incredibly nice bloke.

[Plissken]

Watched the first episode, ended up binging it in two days. I’ve read all the books and this is a million miles better than both films.

 

Ritchson is bang on as Reacher and really liked Willa Fitzgerald as Roscoe. Best thing is that they nailed the feel of the books, they are just well executed crowd pleasing pulp entertainment and this is exactly that.

 

Would love to see which one they choose as a second season.

[Monkeyboy]

I wouldn't say it's a million miles better than the first film. The first film is cool as fuck.

[g wings]

I just wish they could trot out episodes more quickly. Like how the A-Team had about 30 episodes a year.

[Plissken]

8 hours ago, Monkeyboy said:

I wouldn't say it's a million miles better than the first film. The first film is cool as fuck.

The first film has the Cruise just isn’t Reacher problem. It’s the same issue as the 2003 The Italian Job in that there is an very good movie with a title that means it is stuck with a load of expectation that it doesn’t deserve and cannot possibly live up to.

[Monkeyboy]

9 hours ago, Plissken said:

The first film has the Cruise just isn’t Reacher problem. It’s the same issue as the 2003 The Italian Job in that there is an very good movie with a title that means it is stuck with a load of expectation that it doesn’t deserve and cannot possibly live up to.

 

Can't argue with the bolded bit. Agree 100%. But the film succeeds in spite of that, because of McQuarrie's masterful direction which elevates the material. It has one of the best car chase scenes in recent memory. The second one though, now that was terrible.

[Valver]

Just watched episode 1 of this and thought it was pretty good - shall deff be watching the rest.

 

I'm surprised no one here has commented on the horrible picture quality.  I found it distracting.  The Prime 4K HDR stream colours are nasty - loads of blooming, banding and patchy green colours colours.  And its not just me:

 

[Graham]

This felt like watching a pantomime. So wooden. How it played out was telegraphed from the start. Not sure what you’re all seeing in it. That said, it kept me watching till the end, and I’ll grant the attempt to brain Reacher with an empty cardboard box in the final fight was a laugh out loud joy to behold. I won’t return for a second season.

[Festoon]

1 hour ago, Graham said:

Not sure what you’re all seeing in it. That said, it kept me watching till the end

 

Er.

[TehStu]

So I really enjoyed the films, and was immediately put off by the prospect of a TV series rebooting things again. But it popped up on Amazon and I need something to listen to while on the treadmill. Wasn't expecting much, I preferred the unassuming form of Cruise (I haven't read the books) but this guy actually won me over really quickly and by about 20 minutes I'm hooked.

[Graham]

6 hours ago, Festoon said:

 

Er.

The pantomime, so bad it was ‘good’ etc. 8 episodes isn’t much and I gave it a chance but throughout I found it a tough watch (but not for the right reasons such as This Is Going To Hurt).

[Benny]

This has got to be some of the dumbest, most guilty pleasure shlock I think I've watched in a while. The scene in episode 4 when

 

Spoiler

we find out the motivation for why he killed some civilians or whatever, is the most contrived exploitation flick nonsense and it knows it. "Do you have a PROBLEM with me killing foreign peados?!"

 

Wtf

 

One for the "if anyone touched my kids I'd murder them" Facebook dad audience I guess.

 

 

[Benny]

Spoiler

And apparently shooting a few South Americans in the back in cold blood must have sounded extremely sexy to Roscoe given the following hotel scene. I mean I know American Police are supposed to be bloodthirsty but wow, bit on the nose there.