Anyone who watched the latest season of Reacher recognizes that someone is noticeably absent: The only other character to appear throughout the Prime series’ run, Frances Neagley (Maria Sten). As Jack Reacher’s (Alan Ritchson) closest friend and former military colleague in the Special Investigations Unit, Neagley always holds her own. She is instrumental to Reacher’s success, both within the story and as part of the show’s appeal, but Prime clearly decided it’s time to let both characters stand on their own.
While the new series isn’t adapted from a Lee Child novel, it still offers an intriguing storyline and does well to match the action of Reacher, though it lacks its humorous tone. Ritchson perfects his character down to the quirky mannerisms and blunt personality, which is the lighthearted element that largely contributes to that show’s success. The tone of Neagley leans far more dramatic, like a traditional detective story, and that fits its lead. That’s not to say there aren’t any fun and interesting characters — it’s simply different.
Working as a private investigator in Chicago, Neagley pursues a case outside of her agency when a childhood friend dies under unusual circumstances – stripping naked and walking face first into a subway car certainly qualifies. Hudson Riley (Greyston Holt) of Chicago PD is drawn into the case as well and gradually earns Neagley’s trust. He’s fighting to separate himself from his family’s criminal ties, though that backstory is only briefly relevant.
Outside of Detective Riley, Neagley has aspiring PI Renee Birdwhistle (Adeline Rudolph) and resourceful street kid Keno (Jasper Jones) working to help her determine what happened to her friend. They have a fun connection that grows throughout the series, and Keno adds a playful character to the mix, but he quickly finds himself in some very serious circumstances that take away his ability to add levity, which is a missed opportunity.
Matthew Del Nego and Damon Herriman portray the primary antagonists for Neagley and her team to contend with. Del Nego plays a sleazy businessman well, and Herriman is an inspired choice to play cult leader Lawrence Cole. Cults have become a tired plot, but a shady medical research company using one as a farm system for their research is an interesting way in.
The detective work and action sequences are engaging, but like some seasons of Reacher, there is a good bit of needless exposition and scenes meant to further establish side characters that come late and bog things down unnecessarily.
While there are some graphic moments, the violence is scaled back a bit from what Reacher elevates to, but the action sequences are still executed well. Sten portrays Neagley with calm confidence, always in control of the situation, and she’s tactical rather than relying on brute force. She’s very capable of being a series lead, though her quiet and standoffish nature of her character requires someone like Riley to be the opposite of her, forcing dialogue.
The most interesting storyline that runs parallel throughout the season deals with secrets Neagley’s father, Calvin (Tyrone Benskin), keeps from her. As he faces a terminal illness, Neagley struggles to balance caring for him and trying to get answers to difficult questions that may have shaped her entire life, all while working her case. It’s the reconciliation of that relationship, the revelations it brings, and the emotional payoff we get in the end that helps the series stand on its own.
Ultimately, Neagley feels less like an effort to fully separate two dynamic characters and more like a smart way to deepen one of them. If the series continues on its own, hopefully it will still allow Neagley to lend her talents to Reacher, since that show benefits from her presence, too.
Neagley is currently streaming on Prime Video
