Jack Reacher might be one of the most distinctive characters in any action thriller, and Prime Video’s Reacher has introduced him to an even wider audience with its excellent adaptation of Lee Child’s novel series. The series is largely faithful to the source material, but two of the biggest differences between the Reacher TV show and the books have drastically improved the story.
Reacher suceeded at its biggest challenge by giving its titular character more dialogue than in the books. This was not the most popular decision, but it was necessary, as much of the story is told through Reacher’s observations. This also helps to bolster his relationships with the other characters, which is essential for an onscreen rapport. The second change is in many of these side characters, many of whom have a bigger role to play in the series, making them either fan favorites or fascinating antagonists.
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Richard Beck
Played By Johnny Berchtold
The lovable character’s fate is sealed in one season 3 episode, which left fans waiting for the season-defining moment. Unlike most of the supporting characters we have seen in Reacher, Richard is not a fighter or strategist. While a character who is both clueless and helpless could be irritating or slow the action down in a different show, Richard became a fan favorite.
The artistically talented, ice-cream loving son of the tormented Zachary Beck is entirely good at heart, recognizing the gilded cage that he is in, and desperate for freedom. Richard does little in terms of pivotal action scenes, but it is clear that he has strengths that would be prized in another environment, which makes his fate an optimistic ending for the season, on par with Reacher’s own.
12
Shane Langston
Played By Robert Patrick
Robert Patrick has spent 40 years playing tough guys, and Shane Langston is one of the best antagonists in Reacher season 2. He works as the perfect opposite of the Special Investigators, selling the “Little Wing” missile to an arguably even more terrifying terrorist arms dealer. While the plot for season 2 did not hold up as well as the other seasons, Langston was a great character let down by one thing.
Reacher made a well-timed reference to Patrick’s most iconic role in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. When Shane is read a list of false identities and asked who Sarah Connor is, he says he “doesn’t give a s**t.”
The most successful villains tend to act first and talk later, but Langston’s lengthy speeches often bought Reacher and his team time, resulting in them sometimes appearing to win against him by luck. Still, his preferred method of dispatching enemies, having his henchmen throw them out of a helicopter, was an excellent build-up to the final midair showdown.
11
“A.M.”
Played By Ferdinand Kingsley
The many-named A.M. is charming, ruthless, and extremely disturbing, often within one single scene, with his seamless identity switch by killing a cosmetic surgeon and his team being one of the best moments in Reacher season 2. While villains like Breaking Bad‘s Tuco and Sherlock‘s Moriarty are exciting for their erratic behavior and explosive demeanor, A.M. is just as unpredictable, while remaining disconcertingly calm.
There are several villains in Reacher season 2, but what makes A.M. stand out is the fact that he appears at times to be a mirror of Reacher. Both characters drift, without appearing to have a home or anchor anywhere. However, Reacher is attached to his name but has few material possessions, and A.M. is like a ghost, motivated by nothing but money.
10
Zachary Beck
Played By Anthony Michael Hall
Zachary Beck might be one of the more predictable characters in Reacher season 3, but Anthony Michael Hall humanized him, turning him from a two-dimensional character to a tormented and sympathetic one. Beck first appeared to be an antagonist, but the season soon revealed that he and his son were being treated as disposable hostages, with Reacher’s nemesis, Quinn, really in charge.
Hall described his Reacher character’s fate as “a sad twist,” as Beck’s relationship with his son drives many of the main events. Beck’s coldness toward Richard was slowly explained, making the dynamic just as compelling as some of the other relationships in the season, including some of Reacher’s own. Beck’s ending might not have come as a shock, but thanks to Hall’s performance, it still packed an emotional punch.
9
KJ Kliner
Played By Chris Webster
For viewers who had not read any of the Jack Reacher books, KJ’s role in the story at first appeared to be that of a spoiled rich boy throwing his weight around. His arrogant and slimy demeanor is not only offputting, but it acts as a foil for both viewers and Reacher himself, who underestimates him.
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The three seasons of Reacher |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Season |
Year |
Rotten Tomatoes critics’ rating |
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating |
|
1 |
2022 |
92% |
91% |
|
2 |
2023 |
98% |
77% |
|
3 |
2025 |
98% |
73% |
The ending of Reacher‘s first season is not only shocking, but it perfectly set up future seasons, which have also included unpredictable twists. Still, none have been as disturbing as KJ’s menacing reveal that he killed both his own father and Reacher’s brother. With Reacher being so action-heavy, it is difficult to make a villain memorable without either presenting him as a strongman or a remote but genuine threat, yet KJ remains a distinctive character, even before the twist.
8
Guillermo Villanueva
Played By Roberto Montesinos
With each season of Reacher taking place in a different location, viewers know not to get attached to most of the side characters. While some action thrillers might then neglect character building in favor of the more explosive scenes, this rarely happens in Reacher. The series has gone from strength to strength, with the third season containing some of the best side characters, like Guillermo Villanueva, who miraculously survived season 3 of Reacher.
At first glance, the world-weary and snack-loving Guillermo might be the obvious choice for killing off. However, he becomes the indispensable voice of reason, willing to go along with some of the most farfetched ideas, and even using his wits against antagonists who appear to outmatch him. His fatherly care for the heartbroken Richard and his final scene returning home to his wife gives Guillermo the ending that he deserves, rather than the one he remarks to Reacher that he is likely to get, as a lawman soon to retire.
7
Xavier Quinn
Played By Brian Tee
Reacher has a score to settle with the sadistic Xavier Quinn after his torture and execution of Reacher’s protégée, Dominique. His miraculous survival and amnesia after being shot is one of several things in Reacher that make no sense, but this can be forgiven as Tee is so excellent at playing the chilling antagonist. Quinn’s clear enjoyment of violence sets him apart from previous villains who range from greedy and sly to well-connected monsters.
Despite the fact, like Beck, Quinn is also revealed to be working for a boss he is afraid of, Quinns personality and previous acts stop this reveal from making him seem less dangerous. The cat-and-mouse games he plays with virtually every character he encounters keep viewers guessing whether or not he really does remember Reacher, and while his death was inevitable based on the source material, he could have been a great serial villain.
6
David O’Donnell
Played By Shaun Sipos
Reacher’s former colleague quickly became such a fan favorite that many viewers want him to return for Reacher season 4. O’Donnell was funny without being demoted to a comic relief character and ambiguous enough that he could have been a stealth villain. Unlike most other characters Reacher meets, O’Donnell is able to understand him while also bringing him back to earth with a single well-timed line.
While he has some of the funniest lines in the show, this never cancels out the abilities and skills that make him such a valuable member of the Special Investigators. Even when Reacher can get predictable, O’Donnell’s fate remained uncertain, with his love for his family making it appear that he was not going to return home, and his secretive moments hinting that he was working against Reacher. With his loyalty confirmed and his popularity undeniable, O’Donnell may return in a later season, as both Finlay and Neagley have done.
5
Gaitano Russo
Played By Domenick Lombardozzi
Some of Reacher’s best allies first appear to be antagonists and Russo is no exception. With a similar presence to Tony Soprano and The Shield‘s Vic Mackey’s willngness to use his fists, Russo could have easily been a dirty cop. Instead, his moral code and willingness to confront the real antagonists earned him Reacher’s respect, but also led to one of the most tragic deaths on the show.
Putting himself between a hitman and his young target, Russo was gunned down before Reacher’s team could arrive. Russo’s death was a shocking change from the Jack Reacher books, but this led to some of the best scenes in the season. Not only was this the first truly emotional death in the show, but it led Neagley to break her “no touching” rule to comfort him.
4
Paulie
Played By Olivier Richters
Reacher’s size is one of his defining characteristics, so seeing another character make him look tiny was instantly exciting, and guaranteed a David and Goliath-style showdown. The eventual fight scene between the two characters built up throughout season 3 and was just as action-packed and ludicrous as it looked set to be. Paulie is much stronger than Reacher, but he underestimates him, which leads to a brutal ending involving the machine gun that had often been conspicuously in shot.
Paulie is played by the 7’2″ professional bodybuilder and actor, Olivier Richters, professionally known as “The Dutch Giant,” who stands almost a foot above the 6’3″ Alan Ritchson. His size and formidable strength make Paulie instantly memorable, but the secondary villain also gets some comedic moments that give Richters something to work with other than his size.