Reacher's Neagley Spinoff: Continuing The Franchise's Tiring Trend

Reacher's upcoming Neagley spinoff is exciting, but it is hard not to see how it is repeating the franchise's most tiring storytelling trend.

In more ways than one, the Neagley spinoff show marks the beginning of a new chapter for the overarching Reacher franchise. Unlike Reacher, it is not based on an existing book series and will primarily involve original story elements. At the same time, it will also be the franchise's first installment to feature Alan Ritchson's character in a minor capacity and focus more on Maria Sten's titular female lead.

However, a closer look at the Neagley spinoff's story reveals that, as unique as it may seem, it is continuing one story trend from Reacher.

Neagley Is Following The Prime Video Franchise’s Most Oversaturated Storytelling Trend

Custom Image by Yeider Chacon.

Every Reacher season, so far, has been a story of revenge for the titular character. In season 1, his personal stakes came from his brother's murder. Season 2 repeated this by showing how Reacher was seeking vengeance for his former military team members' deaths. In season 3, the same storytelling trend was introduced when Reacher sets out to punish the murderer of his former military ally, Dominique Kohl.

After three Reacher seasons, the Neagley spinoff, too, is not changing anything.

As the spinoff's story reveals, it will focus on Neagley's pursuit to find the truth about her friend's mysterious death in an accident.

Considering Reacher's wide success, it is understandable why Neagley's creators are playing it safe by emulating the parent show's formula. However, to be able to etch its own identity and be as successful as Reacher, the Neagley show will have to find other ways to instill novelty.

Neagley Will Find Other Ways To Etch Its Own Identity

Unlike Reacher, the Neagley spinoff will likely be more procedural and by-the-books, given how the Maria Sten character operates within legal systems. Apart from following a more methodical investigation, the show will also benefit from looking back at Neagley's past and exploring how her formative experiences shaped her rigid code and emotional restraint.

At the same time, as Reacher season 2 established, Neagley is less of a lone-wolf and more of a collaborative investigator than Jack Reacher. This allows the spin-off to introduce more players as her allies.

While it is understandable how the Neagley spinoff would benefit from Reacher's cameos, it will have to ensure that he only plays a minor role. If his presence ends up overshadowing the Maria Sten character in the series, the spinoff could risk coming off as another Reacher sequel instead of a new character's story.

Fortunately, Reacher Season 4 Will Finally Break This Trend

Neagley will continue the trend of introducing personal stakes for the main character. However, Reacher season 4 will finally break this trend by adapting Lee Child's Gone Tomorrow. In the book, Reacher's central mission is driven by his guilt surrounding his inability to save the life of a suicide bomber. This change in stakes for the main character will bring a much-needed narrative shift to the franchise.

At the same time, it will also pave the way for future installments of Reacher and Neagley to focus on more introspective conflicts that challenge the characters' sense of justice rather than relying solely on revenge or personal loss.

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  Reacher

  

  8/10

  Release Date February 3, 2022

  Network Prime Video

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    Maria Sten

    Frances Neagley

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  Neagley

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    Maria Sten

    Frances Neagley

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    Greyston Holt

    Detective Hudson Riley

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    Matthew Del Negro

    Pierce Woodrow