10 Shows Like Reacher To Watch While Waiting For Season 3 (2024)

While waiting for Reacher season 3, there are still plenty of similar series that can scratch the itch of fans awaiting the show's return. Reacher took TV audiences by storm when it premiered in 2022. While the second season of the Prime Video series based on the Jack Reacher book series by Lee Childs has already aired, fans are already eagerly awaiting the highly-anticipated Reacher season 3, which will follow Persuader, the third book in the Jack Reacher series.

The series has been a bona fide star turn for lead Alan Ritchson, who plays the titular loner with a deadpan gravitas and a hulking swagger that has endeared him to fans of the books. Jack Reacher may be the Mary Sue of action-thriller protagonists, a man of such specialized hypercompetence as to occasionally not be believable. Still, he's a heck of a lot of fun to watch as he tracks down his enemies and beats them into submission. While you're waiting for Reacher season 3's story, a few other TV shows can perfectly fill the void.

10 The Night Agent

2023-Current

The Night Agent

5

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Thriller

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The Night Agent is a Netflix original series based on the novel by Matthew Quirk. The show centers on a young entry-level FBI agent named Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) who handles a hotline in the basem*nt of the White House that never rings. When the phone finally does, Peter finds himself embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy that climbs all the way to the top.

Cast

Gabriel Basso , Luciane Buchanan , Hong Chau , Sarah Desjardins , Fola Evans-Akingbola , Eve Harlow , Enrique Murciano , Phoenix Raei , DB Woodside

Release Date

March 23, 2023

Seasons

2

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Corey Deshon , Matthew Quirk

Directors

Adam Arkin , Guy Ferland , Seth Gordon , Ramaa Mosley , Millicent Shelton

Showrunner

Shawn Ryan

The Night Agent is one of the new wave of lone wolf-type agent shows in the past few years. It has a unique premise: rookie FBI agent Peter Sutherland is assigned to the White House on an overnight shift to man an emergency phone line that rarely sees action. However, one night it rings, and the caller on the other end of the line pulls him into a conspiracy involving a mole in the White House.

Like the Jack Reacher series, The Night Agent is based on a series of books, these by Matthew Quirk. It's earned lots of praise from critics and viewers alike for being a gripping story told with sophistication. It may not rewrite the spy thriller genre, but it's taut and engaging, and clicks along at a pace fast enough to keep it from getting bogged down in all the moving pieces.

9 Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan

2018-2023

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan

2.5

4

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A new adaptation of the popular book series, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan follows the titular character as he goes from CIA analyst to being thrust into the middle of a conspiracy that threatens to uproot the world and its status quo. When Jack stumbles upon strange bank transfers during routine analysis, he's tossed from the comfort of his desk job into the world of action, espionage, and political intrigue to investigate. But, unfortunately, Jack's search for answers will take him to the heart of a dangerous terrorist ring that seeks to destabilize the U.S. and its allies.

Cast

John Krasinski , Wendell Pierce , Abbie Cornish , Ali Suliman , Dina Shihabi , John Hoogenakker , Noomi Rapace , Jordi Molla , Francisco Denis , Cristina Umaña

Release Date

August 31, 2018

Seasons

4

Network

Amazon Prime Video

Franchise(s)

Tom Clancy , Jack Ryan

Writers

Carlton Cuse , Graham Roland

Directors

John Krasinski

Showrunner

Carlton Cuse

Where To Watch

Prime Video

Amazon's adaptation of the Tom Clancy series is the latest, as well as the first TV adaptation of the prolific author's book series. Jack Ryan is a former Marine turned CIA agent on the rise. During an intelligence gathering assignment, he discovers a specific pattern of communication between terrorist cells. His discovery throws him into a deadly job where failure means a new breed of terrorism will be unleashed around the globe.

When John Krasinski was first cast as Jack Ryan, most fans scratched their heads. After all, up to that point, Krasinski was best known for playing Jim on The Office. Fans need not have worried, though: His turn as the titular character in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan was a career-defining role for Krasinski and solidified him as a force to be reckoned with across genres.

8 The Old Man

2022-Current

The Old Man

1

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Premiering on FX in 2022, The Old Man is a Thriller and Drama series starring Jeff Bridges. The film sees Bridges playing Dan Chase, an ex-CIA operative and war veteran that kills an intruder that enters his home and then goes into hiding to avoid the law.

Cast

Jeff Bridges , Amy Brenneman

Release Date

September 28, 2022

Seasons

1

Network

FX

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Prime Video

Directors

Greg Yaitanes

Showrunner

Greg Yaitanes

The Old Man employs one of the best tropes in the action-thriller genre: the old skilled pro who is pulled out of retirement. Jeff Bridges plays Dan Chase, a former CIA agent who has since deserted the agency and now lives a simple life off the grid. When an assassin hunts him down, and the FBI is also on his tail, Dan has to rely on his old tricks and rusty instincts to keep one step ahead of his pursuers.

The Old Man currently has an astounding 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks largely to Jeff Bridges' portrayal lending gravitas to the crusty, wily old agent. The supporting cast around him also brings their A-game, with their performances elevating the script. The writing is sharp, and while it doesn't rewrite the genre, it's full of tension and powerful action sequences that are nicely balanced with character development.

7 Tracker

2024-Current

Tracker (2024)

6

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Action

Drama

Crime

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Based on the novel by Jeffery Deaver, Tracker is an action-drama series created for CBS by Ben H. Winters. Traveling across the United States in his RV, Colter Shaw is a lone wolf with a fractured past who spends his time helping solve mysteries and police cases in every town he crosses.

Cast

Justin Hartley , Robin Weigert , Abby McEnany , Eric Graise , Fiona Rene

Release Date

February 11, 2024

Seasons

1

Network

CBS

Writers

Ben H. Winters , Hilary Weisman Graham

Showrunner

Ben H. Winters

Main Genre

Crime

Creator(s)

Ben H. Winters

Where To Watch

Paramount+

2024's hottest new network show of the year is hot for a reason. Tracker, based on a book character created by Jeffrey Deaver, stars Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, a self-proclaimed "rewardist" who tracks down missing people for reward money. His skills were honed during his strange, off-the-grid upbringing, which ended with the mysterious death of his father. However, the past comes back to haunt him when his father's death – or murder – keeps interfering with his life.

Tracker has gained a lot of praise for being an entertaining, engaging show that balances the somewhat played-out lone wolf trope with an ensemble team. Colter Shaw is an interesting character, with all of Jack Reacher's skills and tendencies to self-isolate, but with a better head on his shoulders thanks to his support system. Hartley has a self-possessed swagger whenever he's on the screen, and his chemistry with the other characters promises for a fun ride in Tracker season 2.

6 The Terminal List

2022-Current

The Terminal List

2.5

1

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The Terminal List is an action-thriller television series based on the novel that follows James Reece, a Navy SEAL whose mission saw his entire platoon ambushed. When he returns home, he tries to figure out what happened, but his memories are out of order and, in some cases, incorrect. However, it isn't long before Reece finds evidence of something that calls the entire mission into question, and he must figure out who is behind the ambush to protect the people he loves in his life before they are put in the crossfire.

Cast

Jared Shaw , Arlo Mertz , JD Pardo , Patrick Schwarzenegger , ​Chris Pratt2 , Tyner Rushing , Constance Wu , Christina Vidal , Matthew Rauch , Alexis Louder , Jai Courtney , Stephen Bishop , Taylor Kitsch , Jeanne Tripplehorn , Warren Kole , Nick Chinlund , Riley Keough , LaMonica Garrett , Sean Gunn

Release Date

July 1, 2022

Seasons

1

Network

Amazon Prime Video

Streaming Service(s)

Amazon Prime Video

Writers

​Chris Pratt2 , David DiGilio

Directors

Paul McCrane

Showrunner

David DiGilio

Just as audiences were initially dubious about John Krasinski taking on an action-oriented role, they were also skeptical of longtime Parks and Recreation actor Chris Pratt transforming into an action hero when he was cast in Guardians of the Galaxy. Since then, however, he's more than proved his action chips, with his first foray into TV being the action-thriller The Terminal List.

It's one of the many Amazon shows based on a book series (this by former Navy SEAL Jack Carr), following a SEAL agent who goes rogue after his whole platoon is ambushed and he decides to hunt down those responsible. The Terminal List is just as testosterone-laden as Reacher, and has been almost as big a hit. It's gotten some flak from critics for being too serious and unable to laugh at itself, but sometimes, that's exactly what an audience wants to see.

5 Banshee

2013-2016

Banshee

1

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Banshee is an action television series that aired in 2013 and centers around Anthony Starr as an ex-con who takes on the identity of a murdered sheriff Lucas Hood to hide away from pursuers. Set in Banshee, Lucas assumes the stolen identity while falling back into his old criminal ways, struggling to balance the two properly.

Cast

Antony Starr , Lili Simmons , Frankie Faison , Ryann Shane , Ulrich Thomsen , Matt Servitto , Ivana Miličević , Hoon Lee

Release Date

January 11, 2013

Seasons

4

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , HBO Max

Writers

Jonathan Tropper

Directors

Jonathan Tropper

Showrunner

Jonathan Tropper

Antony Starr's breakout role might have been playing Homelander in The Boys, but he exhibited his ability to be menacing and a legitimate threat on TV long before that in the crime drama Banshee. Starr plays an elite thief who gets out of prison and assumes the identity of Lucas Hood, the recently murdered sheriff of a small Pennsylvania town, to hide from the crime lord who wants him dead.

While the current era of macho action-thriller shows is for the male lead to be as big and physically imposing as possible, Antony Starr proves that you don't have to be huge to be intimidating. The hint of frightening intensity he shows as Homelander exists in his performance as Lucas Hood, and he's compelling every time he's on screen. Banshee also has some of the most underrated fight and action sequences on TV. Even though the show bowed in 2016, it's well worth going back and giving it a go.

4 Bosch

2014-2021, 2022-Current

Bosch

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Bosch is a crime drama series created by Eric Ellis Overmyer that ran for seven seasons on Prime Video between 2014 and 2021.The series centers on Harry Bosch, an LAPD homicide detective that is juggling the case of a 13-year-old murder victim while standing trial after murdering a serial killer. After season 7 Bosch was followed by Bosch: Legacy in 2022.

Cast

Titus Welliver , Jamie Hector , Amy Aquino , Lance Reddick , Madison Lintz , Troy Evans , DaJuan Johnson , Mimi Rogers

Release Date

February 6, 2014

Seasons

7

Streaming Service(s)

Prime Video

Writers

Eric Ellis Overmyer , Michael Connelly

Directors

Ernest R. Dickerson , Alex Zakrzewski

Showrunner

Eric Ellis Overmyer

Bosch was Amazon Prime Video's first forays into the action-thriller based on a book series genre, this one by writer Michael Connelly. While the streamer has since cornered the market on that specific type of show, Bosch got the ball rolling. If not for Bosch, there would be no Reacher, no Terminal List, no Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. For that reason alone, it's well worth diving into Bosch and its revival, Bosch: Legacy.

Titus Welliver plays the titular Harry Bosch in the gritty cop show. Bosch is a troubled cop in Los Angeles, who, when the show begins, is under investigation for murder, complicating his investigations into other crimes. While he's not quite the lone wolf, rogue agent type of others on this list, but a lawman, Bosch isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. The L.A. setting also provides a tactile, glitzy-grimy feel that sets it apart from other cop shows.

3 Justified

2010-2015, 2023

Justified

4.0

1

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Based on the fictional stories by Elmore Leonard, Justified is a neo-Western crime drama following the adventures of Old West lawman Marshal Raylan Givens, who is reassigned to his home county in Kentucky after a controversial shooting.

Cast

Jere Burns , Erica Tazel , Timothy Olyphant , Nick Searcy , Jacob Pitts , Walton Goggins , Natalie Zea , Joelle Carter

Release Date

March 16, 2010

Seasons

6

Network

FX

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Prime Video

Writers

Elmore Leonard

Directors

Graham Yost

Showrunner

Timothy Olyphant

Main Genre

Crime

Justified is another neo-Western crime show based on a set of novels (this time by Elmore Leonard), but, boy, what a fun one it is: come for the Timothy Olyphant and stay for the Walton Goggins. Olyphant plays U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, who is reassigned to the rural area of eastern Kentucky Appalachia where he grew up after a questionable shooting of a mob hitman while on another assignment. While there, he enacts his shoot-from-the-hip brand of justice in an area that desperately needs it.

Timothy Olyphant had been acting for years beforehand, but the one-two punch of starring in Deadwood and then Justified established the California actor as a go-to Western badass. His natural charisma is on full display as Raylan Givens, with the lawman being far from the taciturn, stoic protagonist of so many of these shows. Raylan is sharp-tongued and quick-witted, with poetic one-liners that come as quick as his draw. In that way, there are echoes of Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday in Raylan, making it a must-watch.

2 24

2001-2010, 2014

Jack Bauer: the man, the myth, the legend. Kiefer Sutherland's character is one who needs little introduction to fans of action-thriller TV shows. Sutherland stars as Bauer, the U.S. federal agent specializing in counter-terrorism. Like so many protagonists of these shows, he doesn't exactly work by the book, using threats, intimidation, and often physical violence to get what he wants, balancing a show that is an action-drama and political thriller.

At the time, 24 was – and still is – lauded for its novel approach to storytelling, with each season covering just 24 hours of Jack Bauer's life. It's a hard conceit to keep up, let alone do well, but 24 did it, enhancing the storyline through its use of real-time narration and split-screen action, along with the now-iconic ticking countdown clock. That it ran for eight seasons and a revival is a testament to 24's strong premise and staying power.

1 Marvel's The Punisher

2017-2019

The Punisher

3.0

3

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The Punisher stars Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, who first appeared on Netflix'sDaredevil. Frank is a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper veteran who is highly skilled in martial arts, stealth tactics, guerrilla warfare, and knows how to use a variety of weapons. The death of his wife and two children led him to take matters into his own hands, and he hasbeen killing criminals indiscriminately ever since. Despite being beloved by fans, The Punisher was canceled in early 2019. Thankfully for fans of Bernthal’s character, it was announced in 2023 that he would be joining the MCU by appearing in Daredevil: Born Again, starring Charlie Cox.

Cast

Deborah Ann Woll , Jon Bernthal

Release Date

November 17, 2017

Seasons

2

Network

Disney Channel

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Franchise(s)

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Writers

Gerry Conway

Directors

Mark Goldblatt , Lexi Alexander

Showrunner

John Romita Sr.

It's rare that Marvel has edged into a hard-nosed, thriller genre, much less an R-rated one, but that's exactly what it did in 2017 with the Netflix TV show The Punisher. The Punisher features a pitch-perfect Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle, a former Force Recon Marine who becomes a vigilante after his family is murdered. His methods are ruthless and brutal, and while he does have a strict moral code, it does not extend to giving criminals grace.

The Punisher was lauded by viewers for finally diving into the more adult, ultra-violent side of Marvel comics. That violence was brought to life by Bernthal's perfectly tortured portrayal of Frank Castle. balancing the character's rage with a pathos that humanizes him. Bernthal's chemistry with Ben Barnes, who plays the series antagonist Billy Russo, is dynamite. Frank's volatile aggression is matched by Billy's smooth sociopathy, making for an incredibly interesting dance between the two. The Punisher isn't Reacher – in some ways, it's even better.

Reacher

4.0

2

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Produced by Amazon Prime Video, Reacher adapts Lee Child's Jack Reacher book series to live-action. The series follows veteran Military Police Officer Jack Reacher as he unravels a dangerous conspiracy in the fictional town of Margrave, Georgia. Played by the towering Alan Ritchson, the titular hero collaborates with officer Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald) and Chief Detective Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin) to clean his name and save Margrave from crime and corruption.

Cast

Malcolm Goodwin , Maria Sten , Willa Fitzgerald , Bruce McGill , Chris Webster , Alan Ritchson , Anthony Michael Hall , Brian Tee , Johnny Berchtold , Daniel David Stewart

Release Date

February 4, 2022

Seasons

3

Franchise(s)

Jack Reacher

Writers

Nick Santora

Directors

Nick Santora

Showrunner

Nick Santora

Main Genre

Action

Creator(s)

Nick Santora

Where To Watch

Prime Video