The first three episodes of Reacher season 4 are streaming now on Prime Video. Star Alan Ritchson bet his life in our presence that it would be the best season yet, but the Rotten Tomatoes results are in, and, sorry Alan, you're dead, as it's currently the show's lowest-rated season according to the review aggregator.
However, it's by no means disastrous news for Reacher fans, as season 4 is currently sitting on a very respectable 88% from 16 critics. Our own Reacher season 4 review awarded the new season 3.5/5* stars, with GR+'s Megan Garside noting the new season still "packs one hell of a punch" even if the "the pacing and jumbled dialogue fall short." So 'fresh', in our eyes.
That Rotten Tomatoes score is only a problem in context, as Reacher's first three seasons all earned well over 90%, with both seasons 2 and 3 achieving a near-perfect 98%, and season 1 on a solid 92%. The relatively low number of reviews is a key factor here, with Reacher season 4's two 'rotten' reviews knocking the overall score down a massive 12%. Previous seasons have had over three times as many reviews in some cases, significantly diluting the impact of any rotten ratings.
It's almost like the Rotten Tomatoes percentage is a broken metric that doesn't accurately represent a movie or show's quality. How else do you explain Spider-Man: Brand New Day being the lowest-rated Tom Holland Spider-Man movie?
And to be fair to Reacher, the vast majority of reviews are still positive, even if the final score is on the lower end for the show. "It’s not complex. It’s not Proust. But boy it is fun," said The Times (UK). "It all comes down to whether you like twisty action-thrillers that are cold-blooded with warm hearts, and high on charm," notes RogerEbert.com (luckily for us, we do).
On the more critical side, FandomWire proved tougher to please, saying "Reacher's fourth season is less bold, less brash, and less fun, but still as brutal as ever." The Playlist stuck the boot in, however, noting "The writing and acting are occasionally so bad that it can make a person almost embarrassed to watch." Yikes!
If you're willing to overlook the mixed reviews, then the season 4 is underway now, with three episodes currently available to stream on Prime Video, and new episodes airing weekly from this point. Be sure to bookmark our Reacher season 4 release schedule, so you never miss an episode. Big Reacher summer continues in September with the release of spin-off show Neagley.
Reacher season 4's first three episodes are streaming now. Wondering what to add to your watchlist next? Here's our list of the most exciting new TV shows heading your way.
