Summary
With its third season now on Amazon Prime,Reachercontinues to be a hit. The show’s blend of raw intensity, clever detective work, and Alan Ritchson’s commanding presence as Jack Reacher has left many viewers hungry for similar content.
Those looking forother shows of a similar style toReacherare fortunate, because many series provide intricate plot-weaving, satisfying vigilante justice, and those moments of sharp wit that break through the tension. Some are gritty crime dramas and others are espionage thrillers that take a hero through a gauntlet of deception and intrigue.
The small-town-set stories ofReacherare reminiscent ofBanshee, starting with simple crimes that become something bigger as the series progresses. However, instead of an altruistic hero like Reacher, Lucas Hood is an escaped convict who has assumed the identity of a dead sheriff, making for more of an anti-hero.
Lucas Hood is played by Antony Starr, who manymight know as Homelander inThe Boys, so fans of his can see him portray a radically different character inBanshee. Add in other standout characters and plenty of wild events that happen throughout the series, andBansheebecomes a healthy blend of gritty crime drama and action that lasts for four seasons.
The Night Agentprovides a rather unique concept of an FBI agent who monitors an emergency hotline inside the White House. The phone rarely rings, but one surprise phone call results in Agent Peter Sutherland getting wrapped up in a thrilling conspiracy that goes all the way up to the Oval Office.
With a successful second season and a third season on the way, The Night Agenthas become a big hit. Amazon Prime has seen success with investigative conspiracy thrillers based on novels, such asJack RyanandReacher;The Night Agentis Netflix’s successful attempt at this subgenre.
The Old Manstars Jeff Bridges as an ex-CIA operative living like a hermit who gets wrapped up in a mysterious conspiracy when someone tries to assassinate him, not unlikeReacher. The assassination ties to his past along with that of John Lithgow’s character, resulting in an engaging FX series that mixes drama, mystery, action, and suspense.
Jeff Bridges carries the series on his back as Dan Chase, who has the same calm aura as Reacher, which has resulted in the collection of many fans. However, his emphasis on hand-to-hand combat mixed with firearm expertisegives himJohn Wickvibes, especially when it comes to the character’s love and affection for his dogs.
Colter Shaw is a specialist who uses his skills to find missing people, hence the title:Tracker. There is a very similar vibe toReacherhere, with a rugged stranger who lives off the grid but comes in to help those who need him. Only where Reacher is more awkward with people, Shaw is more charismatic in his approach to things.
Trackeris more ofan episodic detective thriller, with a new case in each episode. That doesn’t keep it from being just as engaging asReacher,and much of that is due to Justin Hartley’s performance as Shaw. Additionally, Jensen Ackles ofSupernaturalfame steals the spotlight as a guest star, playing Colter’s older brother Russell.
As impressive as Reacher is physically, his greatest trait is his mind as a detective; to be able to find the details that most people miss and deduce an entire person’s history by looking at them. However, Reacher is also not great at understanding people, which is similar to the titular character in the BBC’sSherlockseries that helped put Benedict Cumberbatch on the map.
Sherlockadapts the iconic investigator into the modern day, with each episode being over ninety minutes long to make each season feel like multiple movies. In the series, Sherlock can sometimes come off as heartless to others, hinting that the character is on the autism spectrum, but that’s where his friendship with John Watson comes in handy, as he’s patient enough to work with him and help when it comes to working with people.
Chris Pratt stars as James Reece, a Navy SEAL who goes rogue to uncover why his team was ambushed during a mission. While the series is based on a book by Jack Carr,The Terminal Listhas earned praise for feeling like somethingout of Tom Clancy’s universe, down to having more emphasis on grit and realism.
Most audiences know Chris Pratt for his charm and often comedic performances, even in his action films. However,The Terminal Listis where he delivers his darkest and most serious performance yet, with his character constantly blurring the line between seeking justice and getting revenge as the plot thickens.
Alex Cross is arguably most famous for being played by Morgan Freeman in a duology of films, but theCrossseries on Amazon Prime is an effective reboot. Aldis Hodge makes the character his own, showcasing a tortured detective trying to solvethe case of a twisted serial killerwhile also uncovering the truth of his own tragic past.
Rather than a different case every week like most police procedural shows,Crosstakes a single case and makes it the plot of the entire season, similar to what is seen inReacher. Audiences loved this show’s take on the classic character, which has led to it being renewed for a second season scheduled for later in 2025.
There are many similarities between Jack Reacher and Frank Castle inThe Punisher. Both are ex-military living nomadically, they have traumatic histories, and they are brutal in their methods. However, where Reacher is a calm and collected individual with more emphasis on detective work, The Punisher is an unhinged vigilante who shoots first and asks questions later.
The Punisheris similar toReacher, where the Marvel anti-hero finds himself in a situation where he helps those in need while also uncovering a wider conspiracy that connects to his past. Jon Bernthal earned high praise forhis performance as Frank Castleand the series effectively portrayed the dark hero with style combined with bloody gore that accurately represents the character.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryanreboots the prolific character in series form after alreadybeing played by Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, Alec Baldwin, and Chris Pine. This time, John Krasinski fills the shoes of the CIA analyst forced to get his hands dirty to survive, and it was his first big dramatic role after leavingThe Office, to the surprise of many.
For four seasons,Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryanseries mixed suspense and action that kept audiences engaged. John Krasinski’s performance was praised, and the story maintained what most people expect from the character: action and espionage that rivals some of the best spy films, but stars an everyday man who just wants to work his desk job, which makes him more relatable.
