Forget Reacher, Alan Ritchson’s new 8-part action thriller is turning into a global streaming phenomenon

Since its 2022 premiere on Prime Video, Reacher, which stars Alan Ritchson as the titular character, has enjoyed significant success for its action-packed scenes and well-developed storyline. The series didn’t stray too far from its source material, written by Lee Child, which kept fans coming back for more and led to the series being extended to its fifth season.

With Reacher sitting confidently at the No. 1 spot on charts worldwide and receiving an average of 95.5% on Rotten Tomatoes across its four seasons, there’s no reason to believe that a spin-off wouldn’t do just as well. In 2024, Amazon announced the production of Reacher’s spin-off Neagley, and it has become a much-anticipated series in Prime Video’s lineup.

With production kicking off in 2025, the spin-off finally made its debut on Sept. 16 this year following the season finale of Reacher, and it’s already making waves on the charts. Neagley is currently standing at the No. 2 spot on Prime Video’s Top 10 TV chart in the U.S., and is expected to remain among the top ranks if its present 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is any indication.

No Reacher here, just Neagley

Neagley stars Maria Sten, who is reprising her role as Jack Reacher’s friend and right-hand, Frances Neagley, in this new crime thriller series. The series centers on Neagley working as a private investigator in Chicago when the death of her beloved friend, Tommy Crane, sends her on an investigation to uncover the truth behind his suspicious demise.

Viewers are taken on an eight-episode journey of meeting new characters, unraveling secrets, a web of lies, plot twists, and plenty of questions one after the other. Viewers are also given a special treat in the form of Ritchson, as he reprises his role to kick-start the series—though fans shouldn’t get too comfortable ogling his biceps, as he only made a guest appearance this time.

Neagley also introduces several new characters to the franchise, with Greyston Holt playing Detective Hudson Riley, Adeline Rudolph as Renee Birdwhistle, Matthew Del Negro as Pierce Woodrow, and Damon Herriman capping off the regulars as CEO Lawrence Cole. Given how captivating the characters in Reacher were (case in point: Neagley), fans have a reason to be excited about the series’ new lineup.

Neagley gives viewers a more personal look

Of course, Neagley will also be deep-diving into the titular character’s life. Unlike Reacher, who drifted from place to place and lacked any real ties to a location, Neagley’s story takes place in Chicago, with Neagley’s investigation uncovering a lot more conspiracy than she initially thought.

SlashFilm notes that Neagley isn’t just going to be a “Reacher v2,” and believes that the show will give viewers a justification for why a spin-off was worth it, with Neagley’s personal life at the forefront of the show. Her personal life issues, coupled with the mysteries and enemies she encounters, should give Reacher a run for its money.

TheWrap observed that the “‘Reacher’ formula is very much present” in the series. What made Neagley shine was that the show is more “emotional,” giving it a fresh take on the usual crime thriller dramas we usually see today.

It remains to be seen whether Neagley will continue to live up to the expectations set by its predecessor in the rankings. But fans can head on to Prime Video and binge-watch all episodes to see for themselves if the series deserves a second season like Reacher. Meanwhile, Blue Ridge: The Series is also climbing the ranks on Prime Video, challenging Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone.

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