The anti-Trump ‘Reacher’ actor, Alan Ritchson, was just dethroned on Netflix and critics say it could be due to his recent behavior.
The Reacher spinoff Neagley has unseated its parent show at the top of Prime Video, reaching the No. 1 spot just two days after its Sept. 16 premiere. The rise pushes Reacher, starring Alan Ritchson, to second place on the platform after a remarkable run.
Before Neagley arrived, Season 4 of Reacher had held the No. 1 position for 37 consecutive days, a stretch that had outlasted every previous challenger on the service. The fact that both shows now occupy the top two spots means the same fictional universe dominates Prime Video’s most-watched list.
Maria Sten Leads the Spinoff as Frances Neagley
Maria Sten, who first appeared as the character in Season 1 of Reacher, reprises her role as Frances Neagley in the standalone series. According to the official logline, “Frances Neagley is a private investigator in Chicago and former military colleague of Jack Reacher in the Army’s 110th Special Investigations Unit. When she learns that a beloved friend from her past has been killed in a suspicious accident, she becomes hell-bent on justice.”
The show’s creator explained what separates Neagley from her co-star while keeping the same core appeal. “I think because Neagley is the female version of Reacher, a lot of the DNA for the show is carried over from Reacher,” Wren told Men’s Journal. “I think a male audience will still love it because she’s still kicking ass. She’s still, in a lot of ways, a righteous avenger. But Neagley is vulnerable in this series, and I think the portrayal of meaningful relationships is universal to everyone.”
Strong Reviews Back Up Neagley’s Fast Start
Critics and audiences have responded warmly to the new series, with Neagley’s debut on Prime Video earning a 92 percent approval rating from critics and 85 percent from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Those numbers compare favorably to Reacher’s 95 percent critic score and 77 percent audience score, suggesting the spinoff may have broader popular appeal than its predecessor.
Neagley’s first season consists of eight episodes. With Greyston Holt also starring as Detective Hudson Riley, the show is positioned as a long-term franchise addition rather than a one-off experiment.
What Comes Next for the Reacher Universe on Prime Video
The early performance of Neagley raises the question of whether Prime Video will greenlight a second season, and whether the two series might eventually cross over in future installments. For now, both shows sitting in the platform’s top two positions signals that the Reacher universe has genuine staying power beyond its lead character.
All eight episodes of Neagley’s first season are currently available on Prime Video.
