While it is incredible thatReacherseason 4 is adapting Lee Child’sGone Tomorrow, it is hard not to see how the book could create some major storytelling challenges for the Alan Ritchson series. In its inaugural season, the hitAmazon Prime Video detective seriesseemingly played it safe by adapting the first book,Killing Floor, fromLee Child’sJack Reacherbook series.
However, with seasons 2 and 3, the show took a more flexible approach by breaking the original chronology and adapting books that were good fits for television. By adapting Lee Child’s thirteenth book,Gone Tomorrow,Reacherseason 4seems to be treading the same path as the last two installments.
Given howGone Tomorrowholds an impressiveGoodreads score of 4.19, it undoubtedly ranks among Lee Child’s better novels and deserves the television treatment. However,several aspects ofGone Tomorrow’s story seem to have one major issue, making it challenging for the show to adapt without excessive book changes.
Reacher Season 4’s Book Choice, Gone Tomorrow, Contains Many Dated Story Elements
Gone Tomorrow Draws From Real Historical And Political Events
The booksall threeReacherseasonsadapted, so far, have had little to no connection with the real world. Lee Child’sGone Tomorrow, however, is significantly different. InGone Tomorrow,Jack Reacher gets embroiled in a massive conspiracy that ties into real post-9/11 counterterrorism fears.
Published in 2009,the book even draws references to Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, establishing how many of its character beats are connected to the geopolitical climate of the time. These elements play a crucial role in grounding the novel’s story in reality, making it seem more personal and hard-hitting.
While the show might still get away with accurately adapting the book, most of its story beats may not seem relevant for the times.
Unfortunately, over a decade has passed since the book’s release. Most real-world aspects of its story do not come off as viable threats anymore, making its narrative a little too dated. While the show might still get away with accurately adapting the book, most of its story beats may not seem relevant for the times.
Reacher Season 4 Will Have To Significantly Change Its Source Material’s Story
It Will Likely Become The First Season With Massive Book Changes
Although Prime Video’sReacherhas never explicitly mentioned its timeline, it is hard not to assume that it is in tandem with the present world. This again would prevent the series from jumping back in time in season 4 and adopting a story that seemed far more relevant a decade ago. Owing to this, it seems likelyReacherseason 4 will introduce major changes to the book.
Reacherseason 4 seems to have two choices. It can fictionalize the more realistic aspects of the novelby introducing fabricated terrorist organizations and global threats that loosely mirror the ones mentioned in the book. Or, it could modernize the book’s narrativeby riffing on real-world politics or more timeless, relatable themes.
The problem with the former would be that it would diminish the realism that made Lee Child’sGone Tomorrowfeel immediate and urgent when it first came out. Therefore,Reacherseason 4 would be better off reflecting current global concerns with a more refreshing take onGone Tomorrow’s story.
Reacher
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.
