Reacher Fans Debunk the Biggest Misconception About the Character

Summary:

• The Reacher TV series became an unexpected hit, appealing to a wide range of audiences
• Still, some people accused the show of promoting ideas of toxic masculinity
• This could not have been further from the truth, as the character has always been quite progressive, even in the original novels

The massive success of the Reacher TV series came as a huge surprise to almost everyone, not least due to the fact that "old school" stories about big, strong men beating up bad guys and being unapologetic about it are considered "problematic" these days.

Of course, some people weren't exactly thrilled with the show, accusing it of promoting ideas of toxic masculinity and appealing to the fantasies of male audiences.

But the show became a huge hit with a wide range of viewers from drastically different backgrounds for a reason, proving that the aforementioned statement couldn't be further from the truth.

Jack Is Masculine, but in a Healthy Way

While Jack is undeniably a very masculine character, he is a great example of healthy masculinity, and has been ever since he made his debut in Lee Child's very first novel, published way back in 1997.

Fans familiar with the novels specifically cite Reacher's monologue from the fourth book, The Visitor (published in the United States as Running Blind), in which he explicitly states his views.

Jack believes that racists and sexists are "fundamentally wrong" because those are inherently irrational positions to hold. In his opinion, any guy who gets in a tantrum about harassment issues and blames the victims has "a screw loose."

The Show Stayed True to the Source Material

The show has done a great job of conveying this aspect of Jack's personality, as he lends a helping hand to those in need, often protecting those who cannot stand up for themselves.

He's also respectful of women, and while his relationships with them don't tend to last long, not least because of the "nomadic" nature of the character, they end on good terms.

Furthermore, female characters, like Frances Neagley, sometimes feel even more competent than Jack, and while this is a bit of a problem in itself, since Reacher is being pushed to the sidelines in his own series, the point still stands.

To sum it up, Reacher is much more complex than a dumb action hero who shoots first and asks questions later, which is exactly why both the books and the TV show have managed to resonate with such a wide audience.

The third season of Reacher is currently nearing the end of production, but no release date has been announced.

Source: Reddit