After its fantastic premiere in 2022, Reacher has garnered a huge fanbase with its strong storytelling and action sequences. At the heart of the show is Alan Ritchson’s drifter-turned-vigilante Jack Reacher. While the actor has done full justice to the role, fans have been curious about one mystery pertaining to Reacher’s past—why did he really leave the military?
Now, as the show is gearing up for the conclusion of its third season, fans are hopeful that they could get some proper answers to this. And this might also set the stage for what may be the darkest and most intense storyline in Season 4.
The show is based on Lee Child’s original novels of the same name. And if it follows the original source material, fans could see the titular character confronting his complex past.
Reacher didn’t just leave—he was pushed out
Reacher broke several records when it premiered on Prime Video in 2022. Based on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, it presents actor Alan Ritchson as the titular drifter turned vigilante Jack Reacher. And for the initial two seasons, the show has only managed to scratch the surface of the character’s military past.
While viewers do have an idea that he served as a major in the Army’s Military Police and handled some of the most difficult investigations. But the exact reason why he left the military has remained a mystery for everyone. Though the show has hinted that he left due to frustration with the bureaucracy and a desire for freedom.
However, the truth might be more complex than what has been showcased. In Lee Child’s eighth book, titled The Enemy, it was revealed that Reacher didn’t simply just walk away but was actually forced to leave the military. The book is set during his military days and follows an explosive case that puts him at odds with his own command structure.
Apparently, he uncovers a major conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of the army, and despite his best efforts to get justice, the system starts working against him. Powerful figures also come into play and see him as someone who’s creating issues for everyone, and by the end of the book, it’s clear that his career is being cut short.
This is not because he has failed at something, but solely because of what he knows. So, adapting The Enemy in Season 4 can completely alter what the fans know about Reacher. Instead of someone who voluntarily chose the drifter life, he becomes someone who was forced to follow that path without any choice.
Why The Enemy is the perfect story for Reacher Season 4
Reacher definitely brings forth a high-stakes drama, and in this, The Enemy definitely stands out as the darkest and most gripping story in the entire series. Unlike the rest of the books that follow the lead character’s adventures as a civilian, The Enemy takes place during his time in the Army. And thus offers a rare look into his past that many might not be aware of.
At the heart of this novel is a conspiracy that threatens to shake the foundation of the army itself when a high-ranking officer is found dead in a motel room. Jack Reacher has been assigned to this case, and what started as a simple investigation soon turned into something much bigger.
As Reacher dives deeper into the case, he realizes that his own superiors might be involved in the murder. The more he uncovers about the secrets, the more dangerous his position becomes. So, if Season 4 follows The Enemy, it would definitely break the show’s formula in the best way possible.
Instead of focusing on just another present-day storyline where the lead stumbles into trouble in a small town, this season can highlight what his life was like in the military. It can also present another storyline where he believed in the institution he served, only to have that trust broken.
But more than anything, this plotline will finally be able to explain why he became the man he is today. This would for sure be a defining chapter in his journey.
How Season 3 can set the stage for Reacher’s darkest reckoning
For The Enemy storyline to work in Season 4, the groundwork needs to be laid in Season 3 only. The most likely candidate for adaptation in this would be book number seven, which is Persuader. This book in itself is quite personal for Reacher, as it’s a revenge-driven story that forces him to confront the ghosts of his past.
This also makes it the perfect opportunity to introduce new elements that will connect directly to The Enemy. Season 3 can also try to set the stage for Season 4 by introducing an old enemy from his military days. This could be someone who knew about the conspiracy that happened, which ultimately forced Reacher out.
Another could be that maybe he runs into someone who hints at unfinished business, or an old case resurfaces that reminds him of what actually happened before he left. A subplot involving military corruption or highly classified secrets could serve as a breadcrumb trail leading to deeper revelations in The Enemy. Also, in Persuader, Reacher is forced to go undercover and manipulate events from behind the scenes.
This could also mean that he was once skilled at playing the system, something that became impossible after the Army turned against him in The Enemy. So, by the time the third season concludes, the question of what actually happened to him in the Army can work as a buildup for Season 4.
This would make it seem more natural rather than just another flashback-heavy detour.
You can watch all seasons of Reacher on Prime Video.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
