When her childhood friend is found dead, Chicago-based PI Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) decides to investigate, with the help of local detective Hudson Riley (Greyston Holt).
Streaming on: Prime Video
Episodes viewed: 8 of 8
Can the Reacher franchise work without Reacher? That’s the underlying question behind Neagley, a spin-off series that brings Maria Sten’s titular Reacher pal (having aided Alan Ritchson’s man-mountain hero in Seasons 2 and 3 of Reacher) to the forefront. With no book to adhere to, co-creator Nicholas Wootton and showrunner Nick Santora are free to chart their own path with a new story and fresh challenges for a capable hero. And while it’s far from perfect, there’s a lot to like and admire in this expansion of Reacher’s world.
The season’s central mystery and conflict — which involves criminals in a cult, corporate villains in suits, and the creation of a new, dangerous psychedelic drug — is just decent enough to hold our attention from episode to episode. But Neagley shines brightest when it gets personal. Digging into the why and when of Neagley’s haphephobia (fear of touching) reveals some fresh, heart-wrenching layers that are emotionally excavated through our lead’s relationship with her ailing father (Tyrone Benskin). It’s the true heart of the series.
Crucially, Neagley is a strong showcase for Maria Sten.
Reacher’s presence is missed most when it comes time to throw down. There is no real standout sequence to speak of, and no substitute for the bruising flair Ritchson exudes when Reacher inflicts his own brand of justice on wrongdoers. Even though the action we get is never less than adequate, much of the direction and choreography feels stale and routine.
Crucially, however, Neagley is a strong showcase for Sten. In action, she’s the same slickly competent star who cut a noticeable screen presence in previous seasons of Reacher. But unlike her former boss, we get more insights into her psyche and more colours of the emotional rainbow. Whether she’s kicking righteous ass or having a rare moment of vulnerability, Sten meets each moment convincingly. While the show around her has room to improve, her performance is a consistent highlight. And that’s a solid foundation to continue to build on.
What Neagley lacks in pure brawn, it makes up for with intimate character work and Maria Sten’s note-perfect performance. It doesn’t quite soar, but this spin-off has legs.
