For fans who fell in love with Frances Neagley during the first three seasons of “Reacher”, the news of a spin-off show certainly came as a pleasant surprise.
She was one of the few constants through the show which kept evolving its cast of characters. It was a clever decision by the “Reacher” showrunner Nick Santora, and now they get to reap the rewards with a brand new show set within the Reacher-universe.
“Neagley”, co-created by Santora and Nicholas Wootton, manages to not only live up to the high expectations previously set, but thankfully also gives Neagley’s character interesting dimensions.
There was a lot of thought that went into the making of the Prime Video show, and the result is a thrilling and fun show which gives viewers a mix of what they expect but also something new.
The show follows Neagley (Maria Sten), a former military protégé of Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) in the Army’s 110th Special Investigations Unit, working as a private investigator in Chicago. When she learns that a beloved friend from her past has been killed in a suspicious accident, she becomes hell-bent on justice.
Using everything she’s learned from Jack Reacher and her time as a member of the 110 Special Investigators, Neagley puts herself on a dangerous path to uncover a menacing evil.
The creators of the show made the smart move to not just make “Neagley” female Reacher, because otherwise the show would have felt derivative and generic.
Instead we come to learn more about what makes Neagley tick, and why she has haphephobia (a rare anxiety disorder involving an intense, irrational fear of touching) and learning about how she grew up.
The show was an effortless binge, with Sten keeping her performance as Neagley interesting. Another layer of what made the show interesting is the unique set of characters they placed within her orbit.
The ensemble cast features Greyston Holt as Detective Hudson Riley, Adeline Rudolph as Renee Birdwhistle, Jasper Jones as Keno, Matthew Del Negro as Pierce Woodrow, and Damon Herriman as Lawrence Cole. Alan Ritchson also guest stars as Jack Reacher in two episodes.
It was so enjoyable to see how Neagley deals with things, and where she and Reacher overlap, and where they differ.
One of the smart decisions the show also makes is to give “Neagley” a buddy in Detective Hudson Riley, who also has a chip on his shoulder based on his own family drama. What starts as a butting of heads, soon becomes a friendship, and by the end involves a slow-burn romance.
It was truly a delightful surprise to see that aspect incorporated into a show, and makes so much sense for her character.
Neagley’s haphephobia is also unpacked in a very interesting way, not just making it a weird quirk for the sake of characterisation or for her to stand out, but it is something tied into who she is, and stems from a childhood trauma.
The mystery surrounding that trauma is handled so well throughout, and is engaging from beginning to end without feeling overdone, drawn out or too melodramatic.
For fans of “Reacher” there is a lot they are going to enjoy about “Neagley”, and they will feel like their fan-favourite character was handled with respect and also given the opportunity to shine.
For audiences who have never watched “Reacher” the show remains wholly accessible and does not overcomplicate or bog down her story with pre-existing history.
Ultimately there is a lot to enjoy about “Neagley” which will entertain and delight both new and returning fans. If you are looking for a solid action-packed detective show led by a badass character with heart, then “Neagley” is definitely one to watch.
All episodes of “Neagley” are now streaming on Prime Video.
Rating: ★★★★(4/5). Fun and easy binge-watching which gives a beloved character her own spotlight and exceeds expectations.