Reacher Season 5 Finds Natural Reason to Reunite Its Most Beloved Duo

Reacher has dominated Prime Video over the past month or two, with season 4 and the franchise’s first spinoff giving fans plenty of content to enjoy. However, the latest outing was missing one recurring character who has become a staple of the show, but luckily, season 5 has the perfect reason to bring them back.

One of Reacher‘s most interesting aspects is its lack of returning characters. Each installment focuses on the protagonist getting involved in a new criminal conspiracy, where he meets fresh allies and foes. Naturally, this means it’s rare that anyone other than Reacher features in more than one season, with Neagley being one of the only exceptions.

Having been a key part of the opening three seasons, it was only natural to expect her to show up in season 4 as well, but this wasn’t the case. The most obvious reason for not having Neagley in Reacher season 4 was the fact that she earned her own spinoff, which premiered alongside the main show’s latest finale.

Instead of making her pull double duty, the fan-favorite character was given her own spotlight in her first solo project, resulting in Neagley proving doubters wrong by matching Reacher‘s quality. Still, while it’s great to see Maria Sten shine in a leading role, Reacher shouldn’t just forget about Neagley now that she has her own spinoff.

Fortunately, this doesn’t appear to be the case. With Reacher officially confirmed for a fifth season, we know it will adapt Lee Child’s Make Me novel, giving fans of the books an insight into what to expect, and one part of the story suggests a Neagley turn is basically inevitable.

Part Of Reacher Season 5’s Story Takes Place In Chicago

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Although there were arguably better books for Reacher season 5 to adapt, Make Me is still an exciting story, and one that partly takes place in Chicago, making way for a Neagley cameo. As her spinoff show confirmed, Neagley works as a private investigator in Chicago, making her an obvious choice to include during this part of the plot.

Sure, she could theoretically be working a case out of town while the events of season 5 take place, but she’d be a great ally to help aid Reacher’s investigation. The early parts of Make Me take place in Mother’s Nest, a small, isolated town that kicks off a much larger conspiracy that takes the protagonist across the country.

After meeting with a journalist in Los Angeles, she indicates the person Reacher is looking for is in Chicago, prompting him and an FBI agent named Michelle Chang to go there. Obviously, the TV series could change aspects and exclude the city entirely, but it seems unlikely given how faithful the previous adaptations have been.

Therefore, Neagley could show up, either to save the duo or to help pinpoint the location they’re looking for. This would give her a small yet impactful cameo without shoehorning her into the narrative. Likewise, it wouldn’t risk overexposing her since she still has her spinoff, which looks destined to get a second season.

Whether her role ends up being big or small, it’s hard to imagine Reacher ignoring Neagley for a second season running, especially since she has become the franchise’s second most popular character, and it likely won’t be too long before we see Alan Ritchson and Maria Sten on-screen together once again.

Reacher Season 4 Proves The Main Show Can Work Without Neagley

Neagley’s absence in season 4 had the potential to backfire since she has become a staple of the show, making it a big risk to change this winning formula. Thankfully, the gamble paid off, as Reacher‘s latest outing was still a decent entry, while Neagley‘s positive performance gave the franchise two wins rather than one.

Even if the fourth installment doesn’t rank among Reacher‘s very best seasons, it was still another fun adventure that proved the series doesn’t need Neagley to thrive. Tamara acted as a strong replacement for her, while Jacob and Plum provided something very different compared to Reacher’s usual competent and assured allies.

While the protagonist certainly needs allies to help the plot move, he doesn’t always have to rely on Neagley. Sometimes it’s better to have people we’re not sure can be fully trusted surrounding Reacher, with Lila being the perfect example of that. At first, she seemed like a damsel in distress, yet proved to be far more sinister than meets the eye.

There are definitely plenty of occasions where the show benefits from having Neagley around, be it as a permanent part of the season, or as little more than a cameo. However, Prime Video’s hit action show can still function without her, meaning her appearances should be saved for more meaningful moments, especially after the successful debut of her spinoff.

With Alan Ritchson and Maria Sten having great chemistry, fans will never be sad to see Neagley around and helping her long-term friend. That said, Reacher is fundamentally about the titular character at its core and the various conflicts he gets involved in, many of which are more impactful without his most trusted ally around.

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