S03.E01: Persuader

[AnimeMania]

Reacher’s attempt to thwart a kidnapping brings him into contact with mysterious businessman Zachary Beck.

Premiere Date: February 20, 2025        Prime Video   

[mledawn]

Solid start to the season. The tie-in with the DEA seems a bit convoluted but I'm going with it. The opening sequence with Reacher shooting the cop seemed really out of character and his reaction to it struck me as odd but it did make sense later, obviously. Conversely, Reacher was a really good actor when it came to Russian Roulette, as he seemed surprised the bullet was real. Was that closer inspection of whatever was hit for the audience's benefit only? Seems odd when we learned later he knew where the bullet was because it was his own gun with a mark.

I didn't realise that 3 eps were being released today, so I may have to go binge those later...

 

[thuganomics85]

A little disappointed in myself that I didn't see the twist with the opening sequence coming.  Really thought Reacher accidentally killed a cop and I was wondering how it was going to be explained away: plus him dealing with any emotional fallout.  It all being a set-up made sense: especially since I thought he was acting colder and even more aloof than normal, but I now see it was all an act for the kid's sake.

The DEA agents all seem one-note for now, but they have potential.  Always great seeing Sonya Cassidy, even if her attempt at a Maine accent (I think?) didn't quite hit the mark.  The younger agent reminded me a lot of the Newman character from The Fugitive film almost thirty years (with Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones), and I'm wondering if he'll have to same fate that character ended up having.

Noticed Maria Sten is still billed as a regular, so I'm guessing Neagley will factor back in at some point.

Anthony Michael Hall was having fun sliming it up as the likely big baddie of the season.  Well, maybe not the big baddie in the physical front, because clearly that's the security guy that can somehow dwarf Reacher himself!

Welcome back, Reacher!

[Netfoot]

Good start! And I love me a big wheel-gun!

15 hours ago, mledawn said:

Reacher was a really good actor when it came to Russian Roulette, as he seemed surprised the bullet was real. Was that closer inspection of whatever was hit for the audience's benefit only? Seems odd when we learned later he knew where the bullet was because it was his own gun with a mark.

He noticed that the liquid dripping down was soaking away. That is how he discovered the hidden cellar where the missing woman had been held.

5 hours ago, thuganomics85 said:

Noticed Maria Sten is still billed as a regular, so I'm guessing Neagley will factor back in at some point.

I love me the Neagley character but she appears in only a small percentage of the Reacher novels. And by my recollection she isn't in this one. Clearly, production feels that by shoehorning her into every Reacher series, they are improving the source material. But the fact is, Reacher is a loner. Perhaps the most iconic loaner there is! This is not the Reacher & Neagley show. (Or should that be the Neagley & Reacher show?)

Now that a separate series featuring Neagley has been green-lit (and I am eagerly looking forward to it!) perhaps we don't need to see her taking a leading position in everything Reacher. A cameo appearance here and there would be great, just as I hope he will put in the occasional appearance in her show. And a more significant part on occasion too. But I'm starting to think that it's time for Reacher to return to his self-sufficient norm.

No doubt the tar & feathers will come out, now I've said this.

[Tachi Rocinante]

15 minutes ago, Netfoot said:

He noticed that the liquid dripping down was soaking away. That is how he discovered the hidden cellar where the missing woman had been held.

This part bothered me.  If she was just there a day or two earlier, there was way too much dust and dirt on the door in the floor.

I enjoy the show, but I couldn't even finish the first book. 

[Netfoot]

8 minutes ago, Tachi Rocinante said:

This part bothered me.  If she was just there a day or two earlier, there was way too much dust and dirt on the door in the floor.

I assumed the captors had deliberately swept dirt and grime over the hatch and lifting-ring to conceal the presence of the hatch. Firing the bullet into whatever it was that leaked the fluid was a mistake which lead to the discovery of the concealed cellar.

[mledawn]

I just came back now to say I somehow had my show stop before Reacher broke out and found the basement. Not sure how that happened but it makes far more sense now. Clearly lol

Edited Yest. at 02:00 PM by mledawn

[Lone Wolf]

My biggest problem was that in the first act the streets were completely clear of traffic during the chase sequencest.  When they flashbacked, they acknowledged but didn't sufficiently explain how they pulled that off.  Also, the number of campus security companies who would be that aggressive (forget about being armed) are few to none, especially in an upper end college town; also not adequately justified by the plot.  

Maybe it's because I'm a big fan of the books, but while this series is better (or at least truer to the source material) than the movies, I still don't like it very much.  Just about the time I decide that I'm over it, the season ends and enough time passes before the next one starts that I decide I'll give it another shot.

[Raja]

19 hours ago, Lone Wolf said:

My biggest problem was that in the first act the streets were completely clear of traffic during the chase sequencest.  When they flashbacked, they acknowledged but didn't sufficiently explain how they pulled that off.  Also, the number of campus security companies who would be that aggressive (forget about being armed) are few to none, especially in an upper end college town; also not adequately justified by the plot.  

That pre credit sequence was crazy. But most of all to me was the bad guys taking a 17% chance that someone useful would die in the Russian roulette.

Maybe since most of the campuses near me have State Police or have been absorbed by the county Sheriff's and use Deputies as security I saw those agencies with aggressive young men trying but failing to get on with the more prestigious police agencies or Sheriff's units.

With earlier seasons when I knew the writer didn't know anything about the US Army this time we have 3 DEA Agents who act like they know that they have Reacher's plot armor are not headed to prison themselves

Edited 5 hours ago by Raja