Reacher season 2 blew the first season’s viewership out of the water in three episodes, but what lead to this incredible increase for Reacher fans?

SUMMARY

 Reacher Season 2’s success is attributed to the strong foundation set by Season 1 and the anticipation built during the almost 2-year gap between the seasons.
 The anthology format of Reacher allows new viewers to jump into Season 2 without watching the previous season, making it accessible to a wider audience.
 Reacher’s positive reception in Season 1, coupled with the episode-by-episode release format of Season 2, keeps audiences invested and excited for each new installment.

Although Reacher season 1 did well with audiences upon its debut in 2022, the series’ second season is already doing way better due to a variety of different factors having to do with season 1’s success, Reacher season 2’s release date, and the show’s new storylines.

Reacher is an action series starring Alan Ritchson and currently streaming its second season on Amazon Prime Video. Based on novels by Lee Childs, Reacher follows retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher as he takes on new cases of corruption and crime across the United States.

While anticipation was certainly high for Reacher season 2, the stats that came in upon Reacher season 2’s premiere went beyond expectations. Reacher season 1 amassed 1.8 billion minutes of watch time after its debut in January 2022 and Reacher season 2 did the same at the end of December 2023.

The major difference, though, was that Reacher season 1 released all eight of its episodes at once, while Reacher season 2 only released three episodes. In this way, it is clear that the fans who highly anticipated Reacher season 2 followed through and watched in leaps and bounds.

Reacher Season 2 Is Missing What Made The Amazon TV Show So Great In Season 1

8. Reacher Season 1 Generated A Lot Of Hype

Reacher season 1 was talked about a lot

One of the biggest reasons why Reacher season 2 is so popular is because Reacher season 1 set the stage for a strong television series. As previously mentioned, Reacher season 1 garnered quite a bit of popularity when it first came out in 2022, quickly earning itself a big base of dedicated fans.

Therefore, when Reacher season 2 was announced, and then came out, these fans were eager to dive back into the series. Ultimately, Reacher season 2 wouldn’t exist without season 1. So, in many ways, Reacher season 1’s goodness is a major pillar for Reacher season 2’s success.

7. The Almost 2-Year Gap Gave Viewers Plenty Of Time To Catch Up

The gap between seasons increased hype

Another aspect of Reacher that boosted its popularity was the time between Reacher season 1 and season 2. While Reacher season 1 was released in late January 2022, Reacher season 2 came out in mid-December 2023. This means there were almost two years between the seasons wherein fans could get excited about the next installment or catch up.

Although no one likes to wait, this two-year period actually helped the show rather than hurt it by letting fans’ anticipation grow. Therefore, when Reacher season 2 finally premiered, viewers could not wait to dive right in after such a hefty hiatus.

6. Reacher’s Anthology Format Makes It Easy To Watch

Reacher is accessible to everyone

While much of Reacher’s success has to do with its fans, there’s a part of the series that caters to new viewers specifically: its anthology style. Although Reacher seasons 1 and 2 follow the same character, the installments are not chronological and don’t have to be watched one after the other.

A new viewer can jump right into season 2 and enjoy it just as much. This is a major win for Reacher season 2. By standing on its own, Reacher season 2 is accessible to fans and newcomers alike, so anyone can get in on the hype.

5. Positive Reacher Season 1 Reactions Improved Its Reputation Before Season 2

Reacher is known as a good show after season 1

A second reason why Reacher season 1 had such an impact on Reacher season 2 was the positive reviews it received. Aside from just having a very good viewership, Reacher season 1 was well-liked among audiences and critics both.

The first season garnered a 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 86% audience score. As a result, Reacher season 1’s positive feedback meant that those who hadn’t seen Reacher would not only be persuaded to watch the show due to its hype, but also its strong audience reactions. It’s not just a popular show, but a good one too.

4. Reacher Season 2 Is Coming Out Episode By Episode

Reacher season 2 keeps audiences invested

A difference between Reacher season 1 and Reacher season 2 that is likely helping the second season is the fact that the episodes are not all coming out at once. When Reacher season 1 premiered, it dropped all eight episodes at once for audiences to binge.

However, Reacher season 2 only released three episodes on its premiere date, and has since put out one episode per week. This not only increases the viewership of Reacher season 2, but once again, it boosts anticipation. Audiences have to wait longer to get to the satisfying climax of the story.

Overall, this format is essentially bringing the excitement of live television to streaming by forcing audiences to come back every week to find out what happens. This is different from regular streaming, which gratifies viewers by providing one single drop of television.

In general, it boosts viewers’ need to know what happens next, and also, keeps them invested longer. Plus, another great aspect of this method is that it gives the series more time to gain popularity, and also, allows new viewers time to catch on before the season is completely over, so they can get in on the fun.

3. Reacher’s World Is Expanded In Season 2

Reacher season 2 sees a new side of the story

In terms of Reacher season 2’s storyline, the second season is arguably better because it expands on the world that season 1 introduced. In Reacher season 1, Reacher essentially stumbles into a small town and is pulled into a conspiracy. Meanwhile, in season 2, Reacher is in a new place with new people who are part of Reacher’s past.

Therefore, Reacher season 2 is not only expanding on the series geographically, but also in terms of Reacher’s cast of characters, and its story. He is now working on a much larger scale, which is more exciting in some ways.

2. Reacher Season 2 Explores More Of Jack Reacher’s Backstory

Reacher season 2 delves into Reacher himself

On a similar note, Reacher season 2 gives more of Reacher’s much-needed backstory. Although Reacher season 1 gives bits of the protagonist’s origins and story, it is more of an introductory season, focusing more on the problem at hand than Reacher’s internal issues.

However, Reacher season 2 provides answers to questions that season 1 overlooked. Audiences are able to get a closer, more intimate look at the character they are rooting for, and ultimately this is a good thing for the show that could influence its rising popularity.

1. There Is Potential For Reacher To Have Many Seasons

Reacher could become a huge franchise

Finally, Reacher’s potential is a significant reason why the second season is doing so well. In some ways, Reacher’s second season was a sign that this show could truly be something, and if so, there are countless directions to go in.

Because Lee Child has written so many Jack Reacher books, this series could go on for a very long time and expand in many ways. This is exciting for viewers, who tend to want more and more. Therefore, the concept that Reacher could keep going into the future likely makes fans love the show even more.