That is good to know! I have not read the books. My husband has read them and said the same thing.
I like the idea of the character - I just don’t think he comes off as smart or as likable as I think he is supposed to be (but maybe he isn’t supposed to be). I didn’t feel like the actor quite pulled it off. But if the readers of the books think he did, I am cool! (I though the other actors seem more “natural”.)
And I confess, when I don’t love a show, I notice other things that begin to bother me and I get not picky - there are no other cars on the streets of NYC? They park around the back of a diner? You can’t have that body as a hobo - that takes hours in the gym every day. The gas station really had clothes that would fit him?
I do think it would be hard to play a character like that - the immediate characters who come to mind that were well acted - quiet, unflappable, cool/calm, is Bosch (probably bc I watched that recently), a number of Edward James Olmos characters…can’t think of any more off the top of my head.
I agree–this actor (in the series) is the way I imagined Reacher would look. I have read all the books. Also, a friend of mine owns a book store and Lee Child came to the store. He did a reading and signed books. This was pre-pandemic. Lee Child is now writing the most recent books with his younger brother.
I watched the first season and saw Reacher as kind of a two-dimensional comic book character. His conversations with his love interest were packed with double entendres that made me, at least, imagine how their bedroom behavior was, shall we say, very satisfying to her!
I’ve realized since retiring I like less deep, more enjoyable, pleasant feeling books and movies/shows. Hence, dropped Netflix and picked up Acorn. British mysteries (not the mean detective shows they do have) are fun and sometimes silly but definitely enjoyable and feel good. I’m enjoying the feelgood Have watched Murdoch Mysteries for years a few seasons behind but now I can watch them to more current. Also enjoying Madame Blanc Mysteries and most recently Darby & Joan. I have to ration my watching so I do go through everything at once. It’s always so nice to end a day with a smile!
I started reading the Reacher books after watching the first season. I got all the way through the co-authored books then stopped. I agree that the character in the show is true to the books. The books give you a lot of nuance as to how he developed that way from his childhood. (Re being so fit as a hobo, as it were, iirc he does exercise routinely. And he walks a lot!) I did like the character a bit better in the first season but that’s likely because it was my introduction to him. And I like him better clean shaven!
After the first couple of books, I was laughing so much at the idea of Tom Cruise thinking he could play Reacher. I haven’t seen those movies but have read that Cruise captured the emotional aspects fine. But Reacher’s physicality is absolutely inherent to him and how he behaves. Most of his plots and actions could not happen without that size and strength.
I did see the Tom Cruise Reacher movies and did like them. But definitely not the Reacher from the books!! So, I just had to change my mindset/expectations.
Totally agree that Tom Cruise just couldn’t pull off playing Jack Reacher. I read recently that Lee Child had a cameo role in the Reacher movies and the TV series.
I have read almost all of the Louise Penny books. When amazon made the series Three Pines, they chose Alfred Molina to play Armand Gamache. Bad choice–Gamache is an old-world gentleman from Montreal, and Molina just wasn’t genteel enough. Of course that could be a result of script writing and wardrobe.
I have not read the Reacher books, but I’ve enjoyed the movies with Tom Cruise and I’m also enjoying the TV show.
I’m sure there are many differences between them, but the one I just noticed is that in the TV series, Reacher informs us that he’s not very accurate with a gun. Telling his friend, Neagley, to take the shot since he’s not very good.
In the 1st movie with Tom Cruise, the story is that Reacher won the Wimbledon Cup, which is the most prestigious prize in the US for long distance shooting.
For any fans of Ted (Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy is the creator and voice) films, and I may be alone here on this website, Ted, the prequel series (the high school years), just dropped 7 episodes on Peacock. I haven’t watched it yet, but plan to.
We’re a little further along. I find it both simultaneously hilarious and irritating. Which for me and comedy (except rom-coms) about as good as it gets.
I think it gets better as you get to know the characters. We actually rewatched first 2 episodes with the kids at Christmas because my husband and I are big Ted Lasso fans, and it was rather fun to do so knowing the whole arc of the storylines. If you had hated it, I’d say move on. Since you are a “meh” I’d say maybe hang in there another few episodes before deciding, especially if you don’t have any other enticing options on your wishlist.
Not sure if they have been mentioned yet, but I have enjoyed the the professional sports docuseries on Netflix. Not hard hitting documentaries, but an interesting peek behind the curtain:
