When Lee Child wrote the first Jack Reacher novel,Killing Floor, in 1997, he wasn’t sure whether the character would find an audience. He didn’t have to wait long. The book and the series that followed created an enormous and dedicated following. Since that time, the books have spawned two movies and the hit showReacher, which has just finished its second season. However, eagle-eyed viewers will note that the two seasons, which each cover one book of the series, are not actually in order. But why? And does it actually matter?
The first thing to note is thatalthough season one ofReacherfollows book one,Killing Floor,the second seasonfollowsBad Luck and Trouble,the 11th book in the series. The two books follow Reacher through two very different points in his life and two very different situations. The first,Killing Floor, introduces the character and his wandering life that is taking him across the US on foot and by bus. He has his clothing, his toothbrush, and a few dollars and that’s it. He is a hulking man with a solitary disposition.
When he steps off the bus in Margrave, it is simply due to his desire to see the home of a famous blues musician. However, his run-in with the law, his ability to assess and assist, and the identity of a murdered man all come together to give us a rounded-out version of a man who presents as the most alpha of males. However, he is not above kindness and the need to watch over those who need help.
The second book,Bad Luck and Troubletakes place years later when Reacher receives word that members of his old unit, the 110th, are dying or disappearing. He teams up with the available members, and they work together to solve the mystery. This story gives us insight into Reacher’s past in the army and shows us the types of people he trusts with his life. He may be a loner at heart, but he knows how to rally his troops and be the leader they need when the moment presents itself.
The two books are great starting points for learning about the character, and it is no wonder that these were the two that were chosen for the initial seasons ofReacher.
Linear Timelines Are Overrated
Here’s the thing,Reacherdoesn’t need to followa linear timelinewhatsoever. His story can be told in a variety of different ways. Just because the series decided to handle book 11 doesn’t mean that they can’t go back and fill in the gaps. Or that the pieces of different books cannot be melded to create some amalgamated narrative. The other piece of the book series is that, although it is technically linear, that linearity is only seen when certain characters pop up from time to time.In many cases, the stories themselves can exist at any point they want. Therefore, with only slight retooling, the entire series could, for the most part, be augmented and swapped around with no real need for the original timeline.
The Laziest Trope in Reacher Needs to Vanish in Season 3
Despite being a crowd favorite, Reacher Season 2 relied on one trope that the new season needs to steer clear of.
Many people will come to the book series from the streaming series. The books are still being written and Child himself has written stories that take place before the events of previous books. His latest book,The Secrettakes place in 1992, which makes it, chronologically, the second story followingKilling Floor. Writers who create specific characters often write them chronologically. But, after a while, their audiences want to know more about their history in more than just flashbacks. Therefore, they begin writing full stories to either fill in gaps or jump fully into the unexplored past. It can be quite the whirlwind when authors find a character that resonates with their audience.
The Series Is Better For It
The fact is that what people are compelled by isthe character of Jack Reacher. He is a solid, well-explained character who leads a purposefully nomadic life. This lends itself to telling stories in any order the showrunners decide.
People often complain that when studios create superhero movies, they often ignore the rich source material. In the case ofReacher, the producers are not only using the material but staying as close to it as possible. They are also finding ways of creating full seasons that revolve around single books. At this rate, they will be able to sustain nearly thirty seasons. That being said, there is nothing to stop them from utilizing every book in the series in any order they want. They have the luxury of understanding an enormous timeline which gives them the enviable opportunity to dance within it.
Why the 110th Was Disbanded in Reacher (And Why He Left the Army), Explained
The biggest guy to ever walk the United States with a toothbrush didn’t start that way. But there are interesting reasons about how Reacher got there.
Linear storytelling gets boring,just ask Quentin Tarantino. Flashbacks are all well and good, but people who pay attention may enjoy knowing that they are already privy to what will happen later in the overall narrative because the previous season takes place three years down the line. It means that entire seasons act like Easter eggs and side characters can come and go at will depending on where our main character happens to be.
This type of storytelling and adaptation elevates the content and shows that the producers care about their viewer’s integrity. They want to reward those that have stuck with the show and this often means trusting them to understand whatever timeline is put in front of them. The producers ofReacher, and Lee Child himself, understand this better than anyone.Stream on Prime Video.
