Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

New Reacher series on Prime

187 replies

HenriettaTriceratops · 28/01/2022 18:20

twitter.com/leechildreacher/status/1484987482760491009?s=21

I'm cautiously optimistic. He looks right and it looks suitably nuts so it might just work!

OP posts:
DockOTheBay · 10/02/2022 22:53

@ElinorOliphant

Should I read the books before I watch the series?

I know I don’t need to but are they good?!

I wouldn't bother reading "Killing Floor" if you're going to watch the TV series. Its pretty close to the book plot IIRC so it will just make the TV show rather predictable!

The other books are pretty good. They're not spectacularly well written, but they're entertaining.

I would say watch the show and if you like it you'll probably enjoy the books

DockOTheBay · 10/02/2022 22:56

I like that they brought it up to the modern day and had mobile phones and references to social media etc.
I was surprised to see Reacher driving as he so rarely does in the books, but I guess it doesn't make for thrilling/believable TV for a character to spend hours walking from place to place

onedayoranother · 10/02/2022 23:22

Good point about Child's narration in the books @MissConductUS.
It's been a while since I read a Reacher book but I did think there was a very high body count in the show - seems he kills a guy just for looking at him crooked!
I'm slightly discombobulated as the actor very much resembles an ex boyfriend, albeit though he was muscular too he was only 5' 7"....

blobby10 · 11/02/2022 09:08

Finished series 1 last night and really enjoyed it. Is series 2 being filmed?

MissConductUS · 11/02/2022 09:29

@blobby10

Finished series 1 last night and really enjoyed it. Is series 2 being filmed?
Yes, I posted a link about it up thread.
BIWI · 11/02/2022 10:20

I don't think I've read all 26 books, and in fact the last one I was reading I didn't even finish, as it was getting very samey and predictable. In fact I think I sent all my books to the charity shop in the end.

But it's been a while now, so I thoroughly enjoyed this series and can't wait for series 2 to come along!

NoneOfYour32Potatoes · 11/02/2022 15:18

I’ve read a few of the books but like BIWI they started feeling a bit samey.

Just watching the Series now. I do like the new actor. As he only has a few personal pods and no home it really really seems totally implausible that he would keep that level of muscle without a gym membership. Wink

Enjoyed the Guardian article, thanks for the link

NoneOfYour32Potatoes · 11/02/2022 15:19

*possessions NOT pods.

beardeddragon174 · 11/02/2022 15:21

I loved it! I was sad when it ended and I really loved Roscoe and Finley.

FredBair · 11/02/2022 15:22

I did think there was a very high body count in the show - seems he kills a guy just for looking at him crooked!

I agree. There are huge fights in the books but I don't remember him actually killing that many people, certainly not by shooting them in the back. Though I might be remembering with rose tinted specs, it's many years since I read them.

BasiliskStare · 12/02/2022 12:49

Not sure if this will interest anyone but I did read this and apparently ( allegedly) Lee Child just thinks up a start and sees where it goes - book re journalist watching Lee Child writing a Reacher theconversation.com/the-man-with-no-plot-how-i-watched-lee-child-write-a-jack-reacher-novel-51220

MoMuntervary · 12/02/2022 16:17

What age would you say this is appropriate for? DS (13) has recently got into the books and is desperate to watch this. We don't stick rigidly to age ratings and he's watched 24, Umbrella Academy and the Last Kingdom which all have violence in. But I wouldn't let him watch say, American God's or Fargo which are really graphic and frankly disturbing at times! Any thoughts?

BasiliskStare · 12/02/2022 16:24

@MoMuntervary - there will be so many opinions on this

If he has read the books - ( and there is I think more violence in the books ) then I think he can probably cope with this if a relatively old 13 yr old. There is one shower scene with some nudity and a scene in a lap dancing parlour. Quite a bit of shooting and blood. Unfortunately I have not watched any of the other things you reference so my post is probably worse than useless. Blush

I skim read the violent things in the books but apart from one scene I could watch them on the TV.

knittingaddict · 12/02/2022 19:20

Haven't quite finished the series yet, but there are breasts and general nudity in the shower scene and the lap dance club scene. No genitals apart from the rather graphic bit with the man nailed to the wall and missing his balls. No close ups, but it's fairly nasty. Only you know if you are happy with your son to watch that.

WomblingWilma · 12/02/2022 19:25

@MoMuntervary there are some very graphic murder scenes which are disturbing. At the very beginning there is a murder, which although not bloody IIRC, has sound effects that are not very pleasant.

Most of these scenes, (apart from the 1st one so watch until that passes without him so you know where it is), you should see coming so can preempt by telling your DS to look away. That’s why I did/do with mine, much to their irritation Grin, but that’s the rule if they’re watching something underage as I don’t want them having horrific images stuck in their head.

BIWI · 12/02/2022 20:06

Personally I'd say it's a bit too graphic for a 13 year old. It's one thing reading about the violence and blood shed, but actually seeing it is a different matter.

I wouldn't allow it myself.

MoMuntervary · 12/02/2022 20:18

Thanks for all the opinions. He is at the older end of 13 but even so I think he's probably a bit young based on all that. I always think reading about it you never imagine more than you can handle but it's different on screen. I'll have to watch it when he's gone to bed and keep quiet about it!

Italiangreyhound · 13/02/2022 00:51

I've only seen the programmes not read the book.

Curious, why Lee Child's set his books Inthe States if he is British.

Loving the series so farm. Although a bit violent fir my liking.

However, the three main characters are all excellent.

MissConductUS · 13/02/2022 01:02

@Italiangreyhound

I've only seen the programmes not read the book.

Curious, why Lee Child's set his books Inthe States if he is British.

Loving the series so farm. Although a bit violent fir my liking.

However, the three main characters are all excellent.

When I heard him speak I asked him the same question about why his books were set in the US. His answer was that it was a much bigger country and therefore a larger market for his books. He's lived in Westchester County, New York for many years.
BIWI · 13/02/2022 09:22

I think it's because he lives in the US. But also, for us here, the US always has some kind of romanticism I think. And lots of sprawling, empty places for Reacher to roam through, often with nicer weather!

Italiangreyhound · 13/02/2022 10:04

Thanks.

The actor who plays him is certainly dead sexy.

Italiangreyhound · 13/02/2022 10:37

Rosco is brilliant, brave, strong, fearless, sexually she knows what she wants and goes after him. Nice to have the man being the object of sexual attention, and yet 'curiously ' we still see him as a fully rounded person.

Someone up threat said he was being played 'autistic' bit I'd disagree, I'd say say is he being played 'military'?

I'm curious if this good writing is Lee Child or whoever is writing the for TV version?

I've picked up on a few Thebes - thrift shop (second hand clothes) - environmental? - animal care (the dog) - strong female character who doesn't need protecting etc (Shane there are so few females) ... Is that Lee Child?

BIWI · 13/02/2022 12:50

I agree about the not being autistic. As well as his military background, I think he's also naturally a loner.

Can't remember if any of those themes are in the books because it's such a long time ago that I read them. But if they weren't, kudos to the writers for introducing them.

Italiangreyhound · 13/02/2022 18:48

There seem to be lots of scenes if Reacher changing his clothes! Is that just an excuse to show off his body?

Campervan69 · 13/02/2022 20:26

In the books he buys all his clothes new every time they get dirty. And throws the old ones in a bin. So no, this is a better version.