To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of the film or show adaptations of Jack Reacher. It’s not that I dislike them — there’s just never been an irresistible hook for me, which is essential when there are so many other things I could be watching. As much as I love David Lynch, it still took me about six years to get around to watching Twin Peaks: The Return.
That said, I get the nominal appeal of Reacher on Prime Video. I like Alan Ritchson well enough as an actor, and sometimes, the mix of action, comedy, and crime thriller hits just right. If you’re looking to branch out a bit while sticking to similar themes, I’ve got a few suggestions for you.
- number of users
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2-4
- Subscription with ads
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$11.99/month
The Punisher
The most controversial American anti-hero?
Hollywood studios and even the comics themselves have often struggled with what to do with The Punisher. He’s arguably one of Marvel’s most popular characters, but it’s difficult to mass-market a vigilante determined to gun criminals down, even when they could be sent to prison. It also doesn’t help that the Punisher skull has been co-opted as a symbol for movements like Blue Lives Matter — never mind that the character’s existence is an indictment of the justice system, and that in the comics, he doesn’t want anyone to emulate him, much less cops.
Netflix’s show (now on Disney+) is probably the best attempt I’ve seen at straddling the gap. Frank Castle is an expert killer seeking justice, but it’s also made clear that he’s a human being struggling with trauma, empathy, and his desire to go back to a normal life. There are opportunities for jokes. The show can drag when it spends too much time on subplots, and not enough on Castle’s war — but ultimately, the experience is worthwhile.
The Punisher
- Release Date
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2017 – 2019-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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John Romita Sr.
Mission: Impossible
The original TV series, that is
You might be skeptical about watching a show from the 1960s and ’70s, but hear me out — at its sharpest, Mission: Impossible is both cinematic and clever, making you eager to see what solutions the Impossible Mission Force is going to come up with, and if they’ll actually pan out as planned. And of course, it may have the single best theme song of all time, composed by the late Lalo Schifrin.
I should set some expectations. You’re not going to see any stunts on par with the Tom Cruise movies, and some episodes are genuine misfires, like Incarnate or The Fountain. But it can’t hurt to spend a weekend catching some of the top episodes, like The Carrier, Operation Rogosh, or The Innocent.
Mission: Impossible
- Release Date
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1966 – 1973-00-00
- Network
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CBS
- Directors
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Reza Badiyi, Lee H. Katzin, Leonard Horn, Leslie H. Martinson, John Llewellyn Moxey, Paul Stanley, Charles R. Rondeau, Alexander Singer, Sutton Roley, Gerald Mayer, Virgil W. Vogel, Murray Golden, Marvin J. Chomsky, Lewis Allen, Richard Benedict, Bernard L. Kowalski, Michael O’Herlihy, Alf Kjellin, Georg Fenady, Robert Totten, Marc Daniels, Terry Becker, Robert Gist, Ralph Senensky
Peacemaker
A one-man cultural indictment
Like The Punisher, and Reacher to a lesser degree, Peacemaker is an anti-hero. The difference is that you’re usually meant to laugh at him — he’s a commentary not just on the ridiculousness of superheroes, but the extremes of American culture and politics. His sidekick is a literal bald eagle, and he claims to love peace so much that he’s willing to kill anyone to get it. His confrontation with both the government and his far-right father forces him (and the audience) to re-examine some myths.
Enough about dissecting the show’s meaning. On a base level, the show is just damn funny. John Cena understands the assignment, and like any good comedian, he’s willing to humiliate himself if it makes a joke work. His relationship with the supporting cast is strong enough that you might like the show even if you don’t care for superheroes, though some episodes will test your patience if you don’t know or care about the DC Universe.
Peacemaker
- Release Date
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2022 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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HBO Max, Max
- Showrunner
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James Gunn
