I'll state off the bat that I've never read a Jack Reacher novel and was therefore was not in the slightest bit peeved at the casting of Tom Cruise in two movies. But okay, Alan Ritchson cuts an impressive, imposing figure and has the requisite steel jaw and impossibly huge biceps to make this Reacher unique. The problem with S2 is four-fold:
Firstly, it's another plot-based story that requires an endless amount of exposition by the characters. And one of the techniques they use over and over is to have the four main characters take turns in delivering a line of this explanatory dialogue. People don't talk like that, and it just feels like we're being spoon-fed information.
Secondly, the 'plot armour' is frankly ridiculous. There isn't an ounce of tension to any of the scenes, since every henchman - even when armed with a machine gun - will fail to hit any of Team Reacher. And if one of the team *does* happen to get shot or stabbed, it will not impede their ability to continue fighting (and winning).
Thirdly, none of the characters are interesting. Not in the slightest. I couldn't care less whether any of them (Reacher included) lived or died. Actually, that's not true. I liked Russo, but only up to the point that he needlessly walked into a hail of gunfire because, you know, he's a hero trying to protect a young girl. Except he would have failed miserably in that task had Team Reacher not arrived at the 59th second to run over the child's would-be assassin.
Lastly, the violence. While it's not wall to wall (thankfully), the scenes of visceral violence felt forced in, to compensate for a generally poor production.
Everything about this season screams lazy writing. Paper thin characters, plot, tension, all of which is horribly predictable. Didn't we all know from episode 1 that Robert Patrick would end up hurled out of a helicopter?
Unless they ditch the Dummies Guide To TV Tropes, I won't be watching a third season.
Firstly, it's another plot-based story that requires an endless amount of exposition by the characters. And one of the techniques they use over and over is to have the four main characters take turns in delivering a line of this explanatory dialogue. People don't talk like that, and it just feels like we're being spoon-fed information.
Secondly, the 'plot armour' is frankly ridiculous. There isn't an ounce of tension to any of the scenes, since every henchman - even when armed with a machine gun - will fail to hit any of Team Reacher. And if one of the team *does* happen to get shot or stabbed, it will not impede their ability to continue fighting (and winning).
Thirdly, none of the characters are interesting. Not in the slightest. I couldn't care less whether any of them (Reacher included) lived or died. Actually, that's not true. I liked Russo, but only up to the point that he needlessly walked into a hail of gunfire because, you know, he's a hero trying to protect a young girl. Except he would have failed miserably in that task had Team Reacher not arrived at the 59th second to run over the child's would-be assassin.
Lastly, the violence. While it's not wall to wall (thankfully), the scenes of visceral violence felt forced in, to compensate for a generally poor production.
Everything about this season screams lazy writing. Paper thin characters, plot, tension, all of which is horribly predictable. Didn't we all know from episode 1 that Robert Patrick would end up hurled out of a helicopter?
Unless they ditch the Dummies Guide To TV Tropes, I won't be watching a third season.
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