Enjoying it so far. It's doing what it says on the tin - its a pretty faithful adaptation of the books. The books are airport fiction/light reading, this seems to be the TV show equivalent of that.
Watched it, I’ve seen the films and haven’t read the books. I just don’t get the fuss on here and in the series about his size, nor why they make a thing of him getting clothes. I couldn’t give a stuff how tall he is
The books have a HUGE following, and part of the appeal of doing a movie/tv show of the books is the fan-base that they would inherit. The closer to the books they make it, the more the fans will like it....... something that the Cruise versions really fell down on (starting with the casting of an abnormally short man as a character who's supposed to be abnormally large).
Never read any books nor seen the tom cruise “reacher” so gave it a try but lost interest after 3rd episode, it’s all a bit like a modern take on those wee commando comics I read as a kid and the acting/storyline is just as two dimensional.
That’s kinda the point though. That’s basically what the Teacher books are. My Mrs enjoys them, I’ve read a few when on holiday and run out of my own stuff to read and they are what they are, basically holiday reading but they are as good as that genre gets.
The series is quite good fun imo, it’s managed to get a lot of the feel of the books on to screen including the lightweight, superficial nature of them. It’s light hearted entertainment not high drama, watch with that in mind.
it’s all a bit like a modern take on those wee commando comics I read as a kid and the acting/storyline is just as two dimensional.
That's exactly what it is. It's entertaining because it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It hasn't hit the motherlode of Stupid that The Witcher is mining but those two are my current favorite preposterously dumb entertainment.
Yeah, it definitely peaked early. We finished it last night. The first couple of episodes were quite good, the fourth utter nonsense and it trailed off from there.
I really like the books but probly won't bother if they make another series.
I've not read the books but after two episodes I'd rate it 10/10 on the barely watchable cheeseometer.
The series is quite good fun imo, it’s managed to get a lot of the feel of the books on to screen including the lightweight, superficial nature of them. It’s light hearted entertainment not high drama, watch with that in mind.
I'm quite enjoying it, it's just a harmless hour of entertainment.
But then I've not read the books and I quite liked the two Reacher films with Tom Cruise as well so 🤷♂️
The books are death and action light hearted fun. The TV show is death and action light hearted fun. If you’re looking for more you should really look elsewhere
I always took the books as being a bit of a tongue-in-cheek poke at the 'loner, action hero' genre which somehow morphed into a publishing phenomenon. Each book got more ludicrous and the hero's caricatured traits became more pronounced, until it reached (sorry) absurd proportions.
The way the series is done reminds me of that - the main character is played straight to the point of ridiculousness - I think Alan Ritchson is deliberately playing it that way, rather than being a crap actor - and the supporting cast offer somewhat knowing call-backs to the books and ironically raised eyebrows.
Now, I'm not suggesting it's a genre-busting post-modern satire or anything - it's total hokum - but no less enjoyable for that.
I do think that if you haven't read any of the books, the character may seem somewhat baffling though.
I'm at ep5 it's enjoyable nonsense, but it's exactly that nonsense. 😆
The films are better. Haven't read the books.
bit harsh 🤣 The last episode is ridiculous (more so) though, especiallyJust watched the last one. Utter bollocks.
the thing is, the guy in the series isn't [I]that[/I] huge, so they constant references - and they really do ratchet it up as the series goes on - to giant/monster/8' tall etc etc actually gets a bit comical - if you're not aware of his supposed stature in the books then it doesn't really make any sense!! As well as the constant camera angles where they film looking upwards at him standing next to his tiny co-stars 😃I just don’t get the fuss on here and in the series about his size, nor why they make a thing of him getting clothes. I couldn’t give a stuff how tall he is
That said, enjoyed it and would happily watch more 👍 Agree with the comparisons to A-Team & Quincy although
the gunfight which has many ludicrous moments,
*haven't watched yet, its on my list*
based on the trailer, its Killing Floor, the first book.
I recall a shotgun that could massacre a room in one blast.
Written in the pre internet age, some of the early ones had some amusing concepts relating to older cars, cold war military operations, and of course guns; its almost part of the fun to try to figure out the pop culture reference that a key plot point is built upon.
based on the trailer, its Killing Floor, the first book
it is, says so in the opening credits
Season 2 confirmed
Sweet!
Ep 5 is spectacularly stupid. Best use of "Enhance Image" ever. Plus walking away from car crash into river. Brilliant stuff.
Seen the first two episodes and enjoying it so far. Never read the books but didn't mind the movies, I know not everyone was a fan of Tom Cruise but I thought they were enjoyable.
I know not everyone was a fan of Tom Cruise but I thought they were enjoyable.
Yep, if you ignored the source material for the main character, they were fine. Really odd choice of casting though!
Ep 5 is spectacularly stupid. Best use of “Enhance Image” ever.
Zoom and Enhance cliche!
OK I'm persevering but it's really fallen off a cliff in quality since the first couple of episodes IMO - still just about watchable.
In the same airport novel ballpark the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan series also on Prime is pretty decent. Less cartoonish than Reacher.
Edit: trying not to do a spoiler but there was just the line "a dawn fog as thick as my dead daddy's bankroll" 😂😂
That's a bit of a 'jumping the shark' moment right there
Watched the first episode this evening and really enjoyed it. Have read all of the books (apart from the first couple that I read out of sequence because Echo Burning was the first one I tried) in sequence. Personally, I really like them. They are not deep works of fiction and aren't meant to be. They are lightweight stories with a bit of tongue in cheek humour. With a long running series there are going to be places where it falters and the recent books haven't been as good as the early ones but I still like reading them. I thought the first film was pretty good (aside from the obvious casting issues) once I had decided to ignore the fact that it was supposed to be Reacher and just went with the flow. It helped that the film was also based on one of the best of the Reacher books. The second one suffered because the plot line was weak. Those that comment on the fuss made about the small things (Reacher's height and the clothes etc) - as you haven't read the books you are missing why they are important details. Sure, it's not the biggest thing in the world but it's those small details that make up who Reacher is and why he does what he does. Anyway, will see how the rest of the series goes but happy with it so far.
That said, enjoyed it and would happily watch more 👍 Agree with the comparisons to A-Team & Quincy although
Littlest Hobo does the A-Team with a bit of Scooby Doo.
I have read a lot of the books, and I enjoy them. They're just kind of silly action books. As a result I have really quite enjoyed the first couple of episodes. I'll watch the series to the end I've no doubt.
Season 2 confirmed
Feel sorry for the rest of the cast-
“Good news everyone, we’ve got a 2nd series- Reacher moves onto another town.”
I enjoy the books & this started off pretty good but got a bit clichéd and formulaic in the later episodes. The enjoyable thing about the books that doesn’t come across so well in this, is how his thought process & choices are explained in exactly how he is gonna ruin someone’s day. The author’s cameo in the final diner scene wasn’t subtle either.
got a bit clichéd and formulaic
The author’s cameo in the final diner scene wasn’t subtle either.
I’ve no idea what he looks like.
This is what I wanted to say but I didn't think of it.
https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTom/status/1491602203995422720
Well, that was fantastic. Series 2 can't come soon enough.
This is what I wanted to say but I didn’t think of it.
I dunno if I'd even class it as good pizza though. More like a dirty burger that's kind of satisfying but makes you feel a bit queasy after a few bites.
I've only watched part of then first one but even the opening scene isn't Reacher- he's walking along with his boots undone and one trouser leg half way up his leg like a rapper.
The actor is:
- too young
- too good looking
- too perfect - no scars etc
- too big - gym / protein shake "big" not "army" / street fighting big
- too metrosexual - I half expected him to pull out some organic hemp & chia seed hand moisturiser while he was waiting for the peach pie
It went downhill from there but I'm sure will be good entertainment for anyone who hasn't read the books and the majority of people that are less grumpy than me today 🙂
It's great, perfect nonsense plot devices to keep it moving at an artificial pace.
It does fail on one essential revenge series/film essential. The baddies die too quick, needs to be some lingering revenge deaths in the mix.
Nice to see a main "hero" character that isn't weedy being portrayed as on the Autism Spectrum.
It is very good Pizza TV...
what?! He is 100% on the autism spectrum and has many of those traits - do you know any neurotypical people who act like him? Interesting that you exclusively equate autism with weakness, though 🤔Nice to see a main “hero” character that isn’t weedy being portrayed as on the Autism Spectrum.
he’s walking along with his boots undone
I recalla quote in one of the books that after buying quality shoes on a trip to Englans , he ALWAYS wore Church's. Can't recall which book though
edit - sorry, it was Cheaney shoes
https://www.cheaney.co.uk/blog/jack-reacher-in-cheaney/
what?! He is 100% on the autism spectrum and has many of those traits – do you know any neurotypical people who act like him? Interesting that you exclusively equate autism with weakness, though
Might want to read his post again. He's saying that anyone on the spectrum is usually portrayed as someone weak, and this man-mountain is a nice change.
😳 yep, 100%, apologies @BillOddie, totally misread your post!! whoops!!!Might want to read his post again. He’s saying that anyone on the spectrum is usually portrayed as someone weak, and this man-mountain is a nice change.
It does fail on one essential revenge series/film essential. The baddies die too quick, needs to be some lingering revenge deaths in the mix.
This is one of the nuances where it helps to have read the books and understand his character. Reacher (in the books) is logical, efficient, ruthless and driven by a strong set of morals rather than emotion. He would seek revenge such that he'll kill everyone involved with the death of someone close to him, but he wouldn't linger. Killing someone is the outcome and he'll get to that as quickly and efficiently as possible.
@<span class="bbp-author-name">zilog6128</span>
<div class="bbp-author-role">No worries! I'm on the spectrum as is my son.</div>
<div>Non-neurotypical generally means Nerd with glasses in hollywood, which boils my piss.</div>
Killing someone is the outcome and he’ll get to that as quickly and efficiently as possible.
That fight in the swimming pool with the crowbar didn't really make much sense. He could have just shot the guy right at the beginning, surely. Also quite impressive how he came out with so much as a bruise and then was running around afterwards like nothing had happened.
The actor is:
– too young
– too good looking
– too perfect – no scars etc
– too big – gym / protein shake “big” not “army” / street fighting big
– too metrosexual – I half expected him to pull out some organic hemp & chia seed hand moisturiser while he was waiting for the peach pie
not sure if the exact age is canon, but publishers weekly says of killing floor:
"36-year-old ex-military policeman Jack Reacher persuades a Greyhound bus driver to make an unscheduled stop in Margrave,"
He does - roughly - age over the book series. More recent ones have hinted him being in his 50s (and has stopped sleeping with every female lead)
Alan Richardson is 37, 36 at time of filming.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2024927/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
Apart from the Beirut bomb blast, most of his injuries are picked up over the course of his documented adventures not his army career.
Reacher
bloody brilliant
A little bit overly ultra-violent
don’t think about how preposterous the entire thing is
it’s all a bit like a modern take on those wee commando comics I read as a kid and the acting/storyline is just as two dimensional.
utter nonsense
spectacularly stupid
like a dirty burger that’s kind of satisfying but makes you feel a bit queasy after a few bites
perfect nonsense plot devices to keep it moving at an artificial pace
Sounds amazing. I have got to see this haha
(I also really like The Witcher)
That fight in the swimming pool with the crowbar didn’t really make much sense
Haven't seen that episode yet and can't remember that part of the book, maybe the TV adaptation is catering for some of this after all?!
The baddies die too quick, needs to be some lingering revenge deaths in the mix.
I'm enjoying Reacher.
That's probably because I haven't read any of the books.
I used to read books then watch the film\TV show and inevitably end up disappointed.
Now I tend to watch the show first (if possible) then read the book. It's much better.
I ruined the Expanse by watching half of the first season (great) then reading four of the books. When I came back to the TV show I couldn't watch it. It was too shallow.
Even when you know the rough plot it doesn't tend to spoil most books as they just have so much more in them. GoT for example.
I approached the TV show hoping it would be like the books and it is; trashy, easy watch/read entertainment. Expecting award winning TV is setting yourself up for disappointment..
I recalla quote in one of the books that after buying quality shoes on a trip to Englans , he ALWAYS wore Church’s. Can’t recall which book though
edit – sorry, it was Cheaney shoes
I spotted that right away too.
