Reacher Season 4 Confirms Which Book Character Alan Ritchson Should Play Next

Published Aug 13, 2026, 8:45 PM EDT Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones. You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep." Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant. Despite only airing three episodes so far, Reacher's best season has arrived. Reacher season 4 has debuted with record-setting Rotten Tomatoes scores and is shaping up to be the best and most shocking season of the show yet, while highlighting the fact that Alan Ritchson could play another literary icon. To say that Ritchson is the biggest action star we have seen in decades might be literally and metaphorically true, but it also does the actor a disservice as he is more versatile than many of his recent roles would suggest. Ritchson's career-defining role as Jack Reacher works because he embodies more than the physicality the role requires, with his comic timing and ability to make a silence intriguing rather than frustrating allowing the famously stoic character to translate better onscreen. While his recent movie, War Machine, is essentially "Reacher vs Terminator," Alan Ritchson's best movies and TV shows, like Black Mirror, showcase his versatility to a greater degree. Now, Reacher season 4 has shown another side to the actor, confirming that he should play the central role in another book adaptation. Reacher Proves Alan Ritchson Has The Potential To Carry A Sherlock Holmes Adaptation Reacher season 4 has received rave reviews for the way it throws viewers into a conspiracy that is not just intriguing but deeply emotional. The first scene is both harrowing and pivotal for Reacher, as this marks one of the few times that his assumptions are wrong, and he pays the price for this when the character he believes is a terrorist proves in a devastating way that this is not the case. Reacher has regretted his actions before, but this is the first time he has been truly horrified, and his reaction reveals his potential to play Sherlock Holmes. As Sherlock Holmes is a deductive genius, it is not Reacher's mistake that makes him such an exciting candidate for the role, but a different factor that season 4 has showcased more than any other, and that is Ritchson's range. Reacher has always had some killer one-liners, but season 4 shows him using the expert observational skills that Lee Child's books feature more prominently. The show will likely never move away from the intense action sequences that feature in virtually every episode, but this season has introduced a more thoughtful and analytical Reacher. Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories have been adapted in many forms, both historical and modern, but the one feature that is essential for the character is the ability to read a person or situation by sight almost instantly. While Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal is often considered to be one of the most accurate, other less conventional interpretations have been met with success as long as they portray the skills associated with the iconic character. This is where Reacher is surprisingly similar to a Sherlock Holmes story, with Ritchson easily able to play the part of the detective. Reacher Is Already A Big Sherlock Holmes Some of the greatest TV detectives of all time are better than Sherlock Holmes, proving that there is more to the character than just near-superhuman detective skills. In terms of story elements, Sherlock is virtually inseparable from his home at 221b Baker Street, his colleague and best friend, Doctor Watson, and his longstanding rivalry with Professor Moriarty. However, while Reacher has attracted a few "Sherlock has no homes" jokes for its titular character's drifting lifestyle, every season has given him an equivalent to Watson, and this is significant. Up until now, the show has given Reacher a maximum of three new characters to build a rapport with, but Reacher's fourth season shows him quickly connecting with multiple new characters, from the world-weary but compassionate Tamara to the grieving small-town cop Jacob. The ability to build chemistry with anyone would serve Ritchson well in a Sherlock adaptation, with Sherlock's partnership with Watson being central to the story. The four seasons of Reacher Season Year Rotten Tomatoes critics' rating Rotten Tomatoes audience rating 1 2022 92% 91% 2 2023 98% 77% 3 2025 98% 73% 4 2026 92% 89% Reacher, like Sherlock, reads people in an instant, commenting on their clothes, food choices, and even the way they sit in a chair. The explosive action sequences and back-and-forth banter between him and characters like Neagley have overshadowed this aspect of Reacher, but it is this deductive reasoning skill that has led some viewers to view Reacher as a bigger Sherlock Holmes. Now that season 4 is underway, it might be time to see Alan Ritchson as a bigger Sherlock Holmes actor. Release Date February 3, 2022 Network Prime Video Showrunner Nick Santora Cast Maria Sten Frances Neagley Without a phone and traveling light, former military police officer Jack Reacher drifts between American towns, embroiling himself in local crimes and bringing justice in his wake. Based on the series of novels by Lee Child, Reacher's journey offers him an intimate understanding on the nation he once served.