Neagley’s emotional final scene in Reacher season 2 suggests future series will make a major change to the formula of Lee Child’s books.

Warning: Major spoilers for Reacher season 2 below!

SUMMARY

 Neagley’s final scene in season 2 opens the door for future series to bring back characters, allowing for more flexibility compared to the books.
 Season 2 featured a surprise appearance from Malcolm Goodwin’s Finlay to the delight of viewers.
 The upcoming season 3 may have a more solo focus for Reacher, but the possibility of other familiar faces returning, such as Dixon, is still open.

Neagley’s final scene in the finale of Reacher season 2 sees Amazon’s adaptation preparing to make major changes to the books. Reacher has been a huge success for Amazon, with the thriller series bringing Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books to life.

With close to 30 novels to choose from, the show is in no immediate danger of running out of source material either. The TV version has been broadly faithful to the novels, though it has made some tweaks along the way.

Reacher season 2 changed the main villain AM (Ferdinand Kingsley), for instance, making him a bigger part of the story and more of a physical threat. Reacher episode 4 also featured a cameo from Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin) to the shock of viewers.

Finlay played a major role in Reacher’s first series, but since the character only appeared in the novel Killing Floor, it was assumed he wouldn’t return. Goodwin’s guest appearance revealed the showrunners were willing to be more flexible when it came to bringing familiar faces back.

Neagley’s Final Scene In Reacher Season 2 Will Make It Easier For Characters To Return

Neagley wants Reacher to be a more proactive friend

Reacher season 2’s ending opened that door further during the final scene. This sees Maria Sten’s Neagley bid farewell to Reacher (Alan Ritchson) as he leaves New York via – what else? – a bus.

This is where Neagley reveals she wants Reacher to actually stay in touch, and not just disappear from her life for years at a time. Since the duo are best pals, this is a rare moment of vulnerability for both, as Neagley is making a plea to Reacher to be part of her life.

This Reacher scene will also make it easier for future series to explain returning characters. In Child’s source material, Reacher always moves on at the end of a given story, so supporting players rarely, if ever, reappear.

This has kept the books fresh since the title character is always getting into new misadventures, but for TV viewers, this approach is a little restrictive. They want to see Finlay, Roscoe (Willa Fitzgerald) or the 110th Special Investigators return, so Neagley’s final lines in season 2 help set that up.

Reacher co-stars Willa Fitzgerald and Malcolm Goodwin reunited for Netflix’s Fall of the House of Usher in 2023.

How the famously anti-social, anti-technology Reacher will stay in touch with Neagley or his other pals hasn’t been revealed though.

Reacher season 3 could see the famed nomad make the occasional phone call from a landline, or even visit the occasional internet cafe to send an email. If he’s ever in need of help, this could be a good way to bring the likes of Neagley or Finlay back into the story too.

Returning Characters Makes A Major Jack Reacher Book Departure

Recurring characters aren’t part of the Reacher novel formula

Viewers were heartbroken when they realized Roscoe and Finlay wouldn’t be returning for Reacher season 2. This no doubt influenced the decision to give Finlay a cameo, which thankfully organically fit the story.

Given Reacher’s wandering lifestyle, it rarely makes sense for the books to bring a character back though, outside of flashbacks. The showrunners behind Reacher have realized audiences have grown attached to the supporting players, and that it would be good to bring back the occasional fan favorite.

Child is a famously lean writer, and not one who would contrive a character return if it didn’t fit the story. That’s why neither Roscoe nor Finlay, for example, returned outside the Killing Floor book.

Of course, the world is far more interconnected than it was when Child’s books began, so having the titular avenger bump into his friends on a semi-regular basis would be easier to explain than it would have been 20 years ago. So long as Reacher doesn’t overplay this card for the sake of pleasing viewers, the occasional returnee would be most welcome.

Which Characters Could Return For Reacher Season 3?

Reacher is starting to build up quite a Rolodex

It sounds like Reacher season 3 will be a solo outing for Jack, so there’s a chance no other familiar characters will return. That said, nobody expected to see Finlay back for the second series.

Neagley would be the most obvious candidate to make a comeback, but after two big appearances in a row, the showrunners might give the character a break. Unless season 3 returns to New York again, Finlay probably won’t crop up either.

The other 110th survivors, O’Donnell (Shane Sipos) and Dixon (Serinda Swan) are the other viable candidates. Dixon is probably the best bet since she and Reacher share a romantic connection, and he might call on her if he needs assistance – or visa versa.

Reacher viewers would love to see Roscoe make a comeback, but unless he happens to be traveling near Margrave, that reunion would be tricky to arrange.