Reacher

There's a giddiness to the new season of "Reacher" that's addictive.

Each of the eight episodes is smart enough to let Reacher off the leash at least once to punish bullies, save the day, or otherwise kick a little ass so as to restore balance to not just the show but the universe as a whole.

“Reacher” managed to come back from a disappointing season to delivering its best adventure yet.

Reacher season 3 delivers another classic round of sharp twists, witty humor, palpable suspense, and thrilling action while also upping the ante with bigger villains and darker themes.

[Reacher] doesn’t live in anything resembling a rules-based society, either. It’s more like a closed loop existence. And if you’re inside, he’s either helping you or killing you. Everything else gets sorted out in between, which makes for a refreshingly simple, satisfyingly trashy viewing experience.

Reacher has his tongue firmly lodged in his cheek and delivers rollicking entertainment with a knowing wink. Perhaps not so different to Lovejoy after all.

Reacher’s new season 3 buddy Susan Duffy makes a firm case as the strongest supporting character in the series to date, the action is therapeutically brutal, and it remains a righteous good time for those like their heroes hard-boiled and well read, and their bad guys foiled and super dead.

This trio of episodes mostly sets the stage for what should be another entertaining season.

Courtesy of Alan Ritchson’s stoic lead performance as the noble behemoth, it remains satisfyingly mean, macho, and—literally and figuratively—muscular.

Fight sequences are fewer this time around, which makes the narrative progression feel sluggish at times, compared to previous rampages. Compensating for all that is the regular reminder that a battle royale is brewing between the title character, played by a 6’3” actor, and a heavy portrayed by a bodybuilder known as the Dutch Giant, a 7-foot, 2-inch tower.

While there's plenty of fun to be had, the plot twists ultimately feel less impactful. It might be beneficial for the next season to spice things up a little more, especially as the cracks are starting to show in the series' latest batch of episodes.