The Reacher series has been no stranger to kickass, strong women. Leading that pack has been his long-time friend Neagley, who is now getting a spin-off of her own. With eight episodes releasing on Prime Video on September 16, Neagley keeps that same tough, Reacher feel, but still gets to tell its own story, standing as a show completely on its own.
Neagley’s first season goes all out with its storyline. We aren’t just investigating a simple crime here; the first season takes on an entire cult, essentially, with several layers entwined with law enforcement and even the government. The writers could have started smaller, but this storyline was perfect for slowly bringing in new cast members and even uncovering more about Neagley herself, as unlike in Reacher, this story had personal stakes for her.
Most people will come to Neagley from Reacher out of sheer curiosity. She was a great character, albeit a little shallow, in the instances we saw her in the original series. Luckily—for some—Neagley dives deeper into who she is as a whole, with not only a very interesting storyline for the series, but also the opportunity to get to know her a bit deeper as a character, something people are never really afforded on Reacher.
Though it is something I quite enjoyed in the series, I worry that some fans of Reacher might be hoping to come to Neagley for the same no-BS, brutal action without a ton of main-character feelings, and they might be disappointed. Neagley is not quite as shallow as Reacher appears. Though she has a tough exterior, she digs deeper into who she is as a person, creating stronger bonds that are going to last from season to season, rather than cutting ties each time.
I love the idea that I am going to have more characters to get attached to. I absolutely loved Maria Sten, who plays Neagley, and am happy to spend more time with her. The cast is rounded out by Greyston Holt, who plays Detective Hudson Riley, a good cop with something to prove; Adeline Rudolph, playing Renee Birdwhistle, a protege of sorts; and Jasper Jones, playing Keno, a young guy who has made some questionable choices, but seems to have a good heart.
Neagley’s gruffness is a catalyst for a lot of the things on the show, but the balance of the other characters really helps the story build and expand into something that can stand on its own. For instance, her relationship with Keno begins as purely selfish and a bit cold, but changes over time and creates a whole storyline we will hopefully see more of in a second season.
It isn’t just the main cast who tell an impressive story either. Neagley Season 1 brings in a lot of characters to bring this cult to life. The writers do a great job of creating some truly despicable people, some who seem so likeable, and others who really surprise you. I’ve already loved and lost in Neagley Season 1, so I can’t wait to see more of what that looks like in future seasons.
As I mentioned, this season’s story dives more into Neagley as a person, and I am not sure what it looks like beyond season one. Some of those doors have been closed, and I would be interested in seeing what her character growth for her looks like in the future, or if we are heading more into the Reacher formula where now we know enough, and we can just enjoy the ride. Honestly, both would work.
I was concerned that a female character as blunt and cold as Reacher might not land, but Neagley seems to balance that cold toughness with a little bit of humanity, setting the series up for a very interesting run. Maria Sten commands the screen and action scenes, and there is something I just love about a woman in charge. She nailed it.
Neagley not only brings great action and a cool crime drama. It also offers a complex character, interesting allies, and a seasonal story that goes all out and doesn’t hold anything back. Though the season stands very well on its own, I am eager to see more from Neagley, and not just in Reacher episodes. I really hope this one takes off.
Neagley releases on Prime Video on September 16, 2026, and you can stream its sister series (or brother?) Reacher now.
