Reacher’s Neagley actor Maria Sten breaks down her working relationship with series star Alan Ritchson, describing their special “shorthand.”

SUMMARY

 Reacher star Maria Sten discusses her strong working relationship with Alan Ritchson, comparing it to their characters’ dynamic.
 Sten mentions that their shots together often take longer than usual because they can’t stop cracking up and maintain a straight face.
 Despite not being a character in the original Jack Reacher novel, Sten’s role as Neagley has been elevated to a series regular for season 2 and confirmed to return in season 3.

Reacher star Maria Sten has spoken about her working relationship with Alan Ritchson on the hit Prime Video show. Despite her character never appearing in the Jack Reacher novel Killing Floor, upon which season 1 was based, Sten was introduced as Jack’s former comrade from the 110th Special Investigators unit in season 1, episode 4, “In a Tree.”

As his closest confidante and the only person from his former life to remain in touch with the itinerant former Military Policeman, Sten’s role was later promoted to series regular for season 2, which also introduced several other members of the 110th.

While speaking with TheWrap, Sten spoke about her relationship with Ritchson and suggested the two share a special “shorthand” similar to their characters.

The actor also suggested that many of their shots together take longer than usual due to their shared levity and propensity to “crackup all the time.” Check out her comments below:

We have a really solid working relationship. I think we have a shorthand very much in the way that Reacher and Neagley do. It’s very efficient the way that we work together. And of course, we’re both dorks and crackup all the time.

Most of the day our shots take a long time, because we just can’t keep a straight face. It’s nice to have that kind of levity, especially when you are working in such circumstances and such conditions and be able to joke and be able to support each other.

Also, in the scenes that we’re doing, if he’s looking for something different or I’m looking for something different, we’ll collaborate together to figure out like how we can satisfy everything that we’re looking for.

Why Neagley and Reacher’s Relationship Is The Show’s Most Important Aspect

Between Reacher’s nomadic lifestyle and Neagley’s distinct aloofness and aversion to physical touch on the surface, the two characters would seem the least likely pair to develop a long-lasting and meaningful bond. However, Neagley’s surprising inclusion in Reacher season 1 hinted at Reacher’s incredible depth of loyalty to those few he holds dear.

While season 2 also introduced several more of Reacher and Neagley’s former comrades in arms, the unique and lasting bond between the former Major and his Master Sergeant would continue to prove the most endearing.

While the Reacher season 2 ending again saw Reacher and Neagley part ways, Sten has already been confirmed to return in Reacher season 3.

Despite being based on Lee Child’s seventh Jack Reacher book Persuader, which also omits Neagley’s character, Prime Video has revealed that the show will continue to depart from the source material. As such, Sten will continue to appear as one of the few connective characters across all seasons aside from Reacher himself.

In the original Jack Reacher novels, Neagley only appears in Without Fail, Bad Luck and Trouble, Night School, and The Affair. She is also mentioned in Never Go Back.

Though Reacher season 3 may include additional call-backs to previous seasons, such as Malcolm Goodwin’s surprising season 2 cameo, the decision to keep Neagley as Reacher’s only constant ally illustrates how important the pair’s bond has become.

While it is unclear how many season 3 episodes Sten is set to appear in, audiences will be keen to see their unique friendship continue to develop despite their shared aversion to open displays of affection.