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Amazon Prime’s REACHER Relies on Excessive Violence, Nudity

 

Photo from IMDb

Amazon Prime’s REACHER Relies on Excessive Violence, Nudity

By Movieguide® Contributor

REACHER is an Amazon Prime original series based on Lee Child’s JACK REACHER novels. Developed for the screen by Nick Santora, REACHER stars numerous talented actors, including Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin and Willa Fitzgerald. The series follows retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher as he attempts to uncover a deadly conspiracy of dirty cops, shady businessmen, and scheming politicians in the small, fictitious town of Margrave, Georgia.

Jack Reacher, an army brat and retired military police officer, lives the life of a hobo, traveling the country without a car, belongings, or phone. Upon traveling to the small, fictitious town of Margrave, Georgia, to learn about the life and death of his favorite blues singer, he is falsely arrested for murder.

Reacher quickly characterizes himself as an intelligent, capable, and naturally imposing man in custody. Although he has a slight air of arrogance, you can’t help but root for him. When a local banker, Hubble, falsely admits to the same murder, both men are sent to prison.

However, the crooked prison guard places them in general population where inmates have been hired to kill them. After successfully winning a succession of fights, Reacher and the other prisoner are sent back to Margrave, where Reacher is informed that his estranged brother was the man who was murdered.

Over the remainder of the first episode, it becomes glaringly obvious to Reacher that something illegal is happening in Margrave and that his brother, a director of a sub-department of Homeland Security, was killed for getting to close to the truth.

Detective Finley, an African-American, Harvard graduate from Boston who recently moved to Margrave and the detective responsible for Reacher’s arrest, has come to the same conclusion. The two men, who cannot stand one another, begin working together with the help of Officer Roscoe Conklin, a direct descendant of the founders of Margrave, to uncover the truth of what is happening in Margrave.

Together they navigate a world of dirty cops, crooked politicians, corrupt businessmen, and bribed citizens in an attempt to bring down one of the country’s most extensive illegal operations.

REACHER has humanistic, moral, and patriotic worldviews. The series does not reject the existence of God; however, many characters live their lives with the belief that reality consists only of what humans can see. Many of the characters in this series are involved in the black-market and illegal production and distribution of counterfeit money. As such, they live their lives solely for personal pleasure and value money and/or power above all else.

However, other characters demonstrate a more moral and patriotic worldview, putting themselves in harm’s way to try and stop the counterfeiting ring and seek justice for agents and civilians who lost their lives because of the conspiracy. These characters demonstrate bravery, courage, respect, honesty, and integrity. There are also underlying positive themes related to family, friendship, using one’s gifts for good, and standing up for others. Additionally, there are subtle traces of a Christian worldview as two characters are Catholic and pray and/or do the sign of the cross before entering some dangerous situations.

While REACHER does have a captivating storyline, it is steeped in excessive violence, nudity, and profanity. Bloody fights, beatings, shootings, strangulation, throat-slitting, crucifixion, and castration (off-screen) are just some of the examples of violence found in the series. Many scenes contain large amounts of blood and sometimes gruesome content, such as eye-gouging and bone-breaking. Several characters, including a civilian woman and her two young daughters, are taken, hostage. There are several instances of police officer misuse of force; two of these instances are against an African American man. Many characters carry illegal weapons and regularly use or threaten to use them.

The show contains several instances of upper male nudity, full male rear nudity, and upper female nudity. There is one instance of full male frontal nudity. One scene takes place at a strip club, and women are seen dancing shirtless. There are a few instances of partial nudity including a woman in a t-shirt and underwear, a woman in a bra, and men in boxers. There is one brief yet mildly intense sex scene and two of the characters kiss on occasion. There are also two references to sexual assault: one of a group of young boys in Bagdad, the other of a prison inmate.

There is a large amount of profanity, including over 30 uses of the “f-word” and regular uses of taking the Lord’s name in vain.

There are a few bar scenes in which people drink, and one of the characters is trying to quit smoking. Illegal activities of various kinds occur throughout the series, including the production of counterfeit bills, revenge/message killings, blackmail, and corrupt corporations, police, and political figures.

Despite REACHER’s heavy content, it is a well-produced, humorous, and engaging series overall. The excellent writing, acting, and camera work draw viewers into the drama in Margrave. Viewers will inevitably fall in love with the series and its characters and will walk away with several quotable lines and a longing for a second season. The only place where REACHER fails is its blatant disregard for police procedure. Like many crime shows, REACHER takes creative liberty concerning police procedure, especially regarding crime scene protocol, warrants, and use of force.

While REACHER is an engaging and interesting choice for anyone who enjoys cop shows, Movieguide® advises extreme caution for adults due to violence, nudity, and other immoral elements.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.