One of the signature aspects of the mega-hit Prime Video series, Reacher, is its depiction of intense, frenetic fight scenes and action sequences. Series star Alan Ritchson brilliantly takes on the role of Jack Reacher, portraying the iconic character as an unstoppable juggernaut and physical unit, who utilizes his keen mind and combat skills honed through years in the military and abroad to dispense justice on evildoers. However, Ritchson was shockingly unhappy with the direction of the fight scenes from Reacher Season 2. In fact, it was the main thing on his mind going into Season 3.
Alan Ritchson Wasn’t Afraid To Admit What He Didn’t Like About ‘Reacher’ Season 2
While speaking to The Movie Podcast ahead of the launch of Reacher Season 3, Ritchson was blisteringly candid about how disappointing the fight scenes turned out in Season 2 of the hit series. Although Reacher Season 2 was well-received by critics and viewers alike, Ritchson explained to the outlet, “Season 2, I wasn’t really thrilled with a lot of the action at all. I was really upset with the way some of those fights were executed.” He continued, “We didn’t do a good job on the day. We weren’t using the right tools. It wasn’t cut very well.”
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Ritchson might have been a little too hard on himself and the production, since Season 2 was still incredibly well done and put together. Ritchson even performed an impressive stunt in the Season 2 finale, where he runs through a sheet of glass, as he revealed during a previous interview with The New York Post. In terms of story and narrative buildup, did anything in Season 2 surpass the siege on the Kliner Foundation factory in the Season 1 finale, with each of the main characters confronting their own final boss? Arguably, they did not measure up to that big final action set piece that closed out the first season, but the action scenes in Season 2 never came off as overwhelmingly bad or subpar, either. Nevertheless, Ritchson’s disappointment with the action in Season 2 inspired him to fix the problems for Season 3.
Alan Ritchson Worked Hard To Improve the Fight Scenes for ‘Reacher’ Season 3
Ritchson’s feelings about the action sequences in Season 2 inspired him to take it upon himself to turn up the volume with the action for Season 3 and make some major improvements. That meant employing different techniques to hone the action and get up close and personal with the fight scenes. Ritchson explained to The Movie Podcast, “I got Amazon to approve some new tools that allow us to really get close and intimate with the fight. I made sure that there weren’t extra cameras rolling, so we have a lot of chances to cut.” The star added, “We designed things in a way where it was really a ballet with a camera and the action itself. And I think it’s so good this year. I’m so proud of what we caught and we really found a language for the show.”
To Ritchson’s point, these improvements and visual changes are obvious throughout Season 3, specifically during Reacher’s confrontations with the giant thug, Paul “Paulie” Van Hoven (Olivier Richters). The series wonderfully builds up to their epic fight scene in the Season 3 finale, “Unfinished Business,” utilizing short, intense, and energetic action-based interactions. When Reacher and Paulie finally do engage in a no-rules, no-holds-barred brawl, it’s one of the greatest fight sequences the show has ever put together. The Reacher versus Paulie clash works so well because Reacher finally meets an opponent who is more than a physical match for him. The series finally devised an intimidating opponent for Reacher that he can’t so easily smash when all else fails.
The fight scene resembles what would happen if a moderately powered superhero matches up against someone like Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th or Michael Myers from Halloween. Reacher must be careful because one wrong move with Paulie means certain death, and almost no feat of strength Reacher can muster can keep Paulie down. The fight choreography and visual direction of the scene reflect that, showcasing a more cinematic, balletic style that gets in closer with the strikes and action beats. It makes the key moments in that fight infinitely more impactful. Additionally, the updated style complements the narrative of Season 3 because it’s a different type of mission with different stakes than in Season 2. (Plus, Season 2 did not feature anyone who could physically match Reacher.) Speaking to Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Ritchson is already labeling Reacher Season 4 as “the best season we’ve ever made, by a long shot.” It’s a bold statement coming from Ritchson, but after how well the action scenes came together for Season 3, it’s hard to doubt the man at this point.
