Alan Ritchson is one of the fastest rising stars in Hollywood right now, and every project he stars in seems exciting. Despite this, though, it is hard not to associate him with Jack Reacher because of how incredibly he portrays the character in the Prime Video detective series. Interestingly, even in his new Netflix sci-fi action flick, one can see some traces of Jack Reacher in his character.
The Netflix action movie in question has no connections to the Reacher universe and belongs to a completely different genre, but Alan Ritchson’s part in the film seems a little too familiar. One can also not complain about this because Ritchson completely immerses himself in the role and, as always, delivers a memorable performance.
Alan Ritchson’s Character In War Machine Isn’t Too Different From Jack Reacher
Alan Ritchson plays Staff Sergeant 81 in Netflix’s War Machine who wishes to become an Army Ranger. The movie’s opening moments feature training sequences in which Ritchson’s character outclasses all his peers by a huge margin. Like Jack Reacher, he is portrayed as an overpowered hero who speaks less and allows his actions to do all the talking.
Similar to Jack Reacher, Ritchson’s character in War Machine carries himself with a stoic demeanor and even finds himself at odds with his senior officers because of his extreme methods. Despite this, however, he is asked to lead a team of Rangers during a training exercise.
Just like Reacher learns about his brother’s death in season 1 and sets out to punish his killers, Staff Sergeant 81 is also traumatized by his younger sibling’s demise. This becomes a primary driver of his story as he joins the Rangers to fulfill his brother’s dream. With what follows, his entire narrative becomes a tale of redemption, where, like Reacher, he tries to come to terms with his loss and grief.
Even in the sequence where Staff Sergeant 81 leads his team, it becomes hard not to think about the sequences from Reacher season 2 where Ritchson’s character leads the 110th Special Investigation Unit. Throughout the series, Neagley also serves as a vessel for Reacher to channel his inner thoughts. In War Machine, another soldier plays a similar role when he helps 81 lead his team of Rangers against an alien threat.
Alan Ritchson’s role in War Machine seems to have a lot more depth than Jack Reacher. However, the actor carries himself with the same calm intensity and quiet authority that has defined his portrayal of Jack Reacher.
Owing to this, it seems fair to say that, in more ways than one, Alan Ritchson is Jack Reacher all over again in Netflix’s War Machine.
Ritchson’s Performance In War Machine Makes Reacher Season 4 More Exciting
Reacher season 4 is adapting Lee Child’s Gone Tomorrow, which makes it a unique addition to the Prime Video detective franchise. All previous installments in the franchise followed a similar narrative structure where Jack Reacher set out to seek vengeance after being pulled into a conspiracy or crime affecting people from his past.
As Gone Tomorrow suggests, Reacher season 4 will be more about the character’s struggles with guilt surrounding his inability to save an innocent woman’s life.
Even in War Machine, Alan Ritchson brilliantly portrays a guilt-ridden soldier who blames himself for his brother’s death. His story ultimately becomes about his journey towards forgiving himself for not being able to save his brother. Given how Ritchson perfectly captures his character’s struggles with PTSD and guilt in the Netflix action movie, it is hard not to believe he will do justice to his role in Reacher season 4.
So far, Alan Ritchson has proven to be the perfect casting choice for Jack Reacher throughout the Prime Video show’s runtime. After seeing him in Netflix‘s War Machine, it seems evident that he will further cement his legacy as the character in Reacher season 4.