A Reacher season 2 problem can be summed up by a rather shocking statistic from the finale, highlighting a major issue that season 3 must fix.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Reacher season 2.

SUMMARY

 Reacher season 2 lacks the intrigue and mystery of season 1, resulting in a less suspenseful ending.

 The finale of season 2 is predictable, with the villain giving up only 15 minutes into the episode.
 Season 3 of Reacher needs a stronger plot and more twists to maintain the show’s popularity and keep viewers engaged.

Reacher season 2’s bad luck and trouble can be seen in a single stat from its finale, and fixing this issue is imperative for the future of Amazon’s adaptation.

Surpassing all expectations, Reacher‘s success on Prime Video has been as gargantuan as the man himself, and season 2 has enjoyed a significant jump in popularity compared to season 1. In terms of quality, however, Reacher season 2 has swung in the opposite direction, suffering something of a sophomore slump compared to a stellar season 1.

One overriding weakness Reacher season 2 suffers is the lack of intrigue and mystery contained within the investigation. Reacher season 1’s Margrave conspiracy was packed with twists and turns, and Alan Ritchson’s character was still figuring out the truth behind the Kliner family’s counterfeiting operation even in the finale.

After Picard’s betrayal, Finlay’s arrest, and Roscoe being taken hostage, Reacher season 1’s ending was a floor-to-ceiling extravaganza of suspense and action. While Reacher season 2’s ending certainly delivers in the action stakes, it fails to deliver the same suspense, as one surprising statistic proves.

Langston Gives Up Only 15 Minutes Into Reacher Season 2’s Finale

There is a moment in Reacher season 2’s finale when Robert Patrick’s Shane Langston visibly realizes the 110th have him beaten. The villain mentally and physically gives up the fight, and from that point onward, Jack Reacher and the Special Investigators have officially saved the day. That moment comes a mere 15 minutes into the finale, meaning the tension for the remainder is lower than Reacher’s electricity bills.

With Langston defeated so quickly, the rest of Reacher season 2’s final episode involves plot admin and cleaning house, and the 110th’s victory never looks anything less than absolutely certain.

It’s like in Monopoly when the winner becomes obvious at least an hour before the game actually ends. By comparison, 15 minutes into Reacher season 1’s finale, everything was very much still to play for – the assault on the Kliner warehouse hadn’t even started.

Reacher’s Shocking Finale Stat Highlights A Wider Season 2 Problem

Whereas season 1 was filled with obstacles, road bumps, and plot twists, Reacher season 2’s finale begins with Reacher and Neagley executing a plan – the plan works, they kill AM, enjoy some coffee, then the credits roll.

The episode contains only two moments that could count as surprises: Langston revealing Swan is dead, and the Senator’s security betraying the Special Investigators. Neither of these packs the required punch.

After Marlo Burns confirmed Swan wasn’t a villain, the chances of him being alive were always as slim as Mr. and Mrs. Dixon’s chances of meeting their daughter’s army boyfriend.

Senator Lavoy’s betrayal is more of a shock, certainly, but gets resolved within seconds when Reacher reveals he anticipated it from the start. As such, Reacher season 2’s ending plays out almost exactly as the audience would have predicted.

Reacher’s surprisingly quick win against Langston is symptomatic of an overarching story deficiency throughout season 2. As soon as the “is Swan a traitor?” question had been answered, Reacher was playing for time before the big showdown.

Season 2’s entire run could have condensed Lee Child’s Bad Luck & Trouble book into five or six episodes instead of eight and been all the better for it, and the fact that Reacher season 2’s case is effectively closed 15 minutes into the finale proves so.

Reacher Season 3 Needs A Meatier Plot & More Twists

This story problem must be addressed in Reacher season 3, and there are several ways to address it. Reacher season 1 also ran for eight episodes, but embellished the book plot with more additions, including Maria Sten’s Neagley, bigger roles for Finlay and Roscoe, and a deeper dive into Jack Reacher’s childhood.

Reacher season 2 could have showcased more of the underused Reacher and Russo pairing, amplified AM’s villainous role, added another layer to the conspiracy – perhaps a hidden villain, made more of the Tony Swan mystery, and shown events that happened offscreen, such as O’Donnell and Dixon getting captured.

If it sticks to adapting one book within eight episodes without compromising on length, Reacher season 3 could attempt something similar.

In theory, that would help to recreate the more sprawling, detailed narrative seen in Reacher season 1, culminating in a finale that leaves the audience breathless for longer than just 15 minutes. Reacher‘s growing popularity will be for naught if it fails to deliver the thrills and spills viewers expect.