The Special Investigators may never appear inReacheragain, but viewers who miss them can check outJensen Ackles' new show that features a similar team. AfterReacherseason 1 followed a solo Jack Reacher adventure, season 2 tried to switch things up by introducing the Alan Ritchson character’s former military allies.
Proudly calling themselves the “Special Investigators,” Frances Neagley, Karla Dixon, and David O’Donnell were once a part ofJack Reacher’s 110th Special Investigation Unit. The characters reunite withAlan Ritchson’s Reacherin season 2 and set out to find the truth about an overarching conspiracy before it is too late.
The reception surroundingReacherseason 2 was relatively mixed, but the Special Investigators undoubtedly had incredible chemistry. Unfortunately, the team’s return seems unlikely in a futureReacherseason, but audiences can still get their fix on a tight-knit investigative team in Jensen Ackles' new action crime series.
If You Miss Reacher Season 2’s Special Investigators, Watch Countdown On Prime Video
Countdown’s Task Force Reminds One Of Reacher’s Special Investigators
As themilitary flashbacks inReacherseason 2reveal, Jack Reacher was asked to put together the 110th Military Police Special Investigations Unit to handle tough cases the army had to investigate. Three members of the unit, Karla Dixon, Frances Neagley, and David O’Donnell, later reunite with Jack Reacher to investigate the mysterious murders of their former military allies.
Something similar seems to happen inCountdown’s early moments.LAPD officer Detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) ends up joining a task force that, like the Special Investigation Unit, includes highly skilled specialists. Similar to Dixon, Reacher, Neagley, and O’Donnell, thetask force members inCountdownare expected to solve the mystery behind a murder.
However, the deeper the task force members delve into the murder mystery, the more they learn the truth about a bigger conspiracy that threatens the lives of millions. The Special Investigators inReacher, too, face similar stakes as they attempt to stop a massive terrorist transaction before it is too late.
For obvious reasons, there are many significant differences between the members and their respective dynamics in the teams portrayed in both shows. However, given the similarities in their missions and the high stakes they deal with,it is hard not to seeCountdown’s task force as the perfect replacement forReacher’s Special Investigators.
How Countdown Compares To Reacher
Countdown’s Critical Reception Has Been Far Less Unanimous
Countdownis already being touted as a potential Reacher replacement because of its shared genre and intriguing narrative similarities. However, when it comes to overall reception and reach,Countdownhas yet to prove that it can match one of Amazon Prime Video’s best IPs.
Countdown…has not even crossed the 40% mark with its critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
AlthoughReacherseason 2 is considered a relatively inferior installment compared to seasons 1 and 3, it still earned almost unanimous acclaim from critics and boasts an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%.Countdown, in contrast, has not even crossed the 40% mark with its critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
96%
80%
38%
71%
WhileCountdown’s audience score of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes is significantly better, it still pales in comparison to how Reacher has consistently maintained high critical scores across all seasons. Despite this, however,Jensen Ackles’Countdowncan still be seen as a loose replacement forReacherseason 2, especially for viewers who miss the Special Investigators from the Alan Ritchson series.
Reacher
Cast
Reacher follows Jack Reacher, a former military police investigator, as he navigates civilian life. Without a phone and carrying minimal belongings, Reacher drifts across the country, experiencing the nation he once served, and encounters intriguing challenges along the way.
Countdown
Countdown, released in 2025, follows LAPD detective Mark Meachum as he joins a secret task force composed of undercover agents from various law enforcement branches. Following the murder of a Department of Homeland Security officer, they uncover a deep conspiracy, igniting a time-sensitive mission to protect millions.
