To me, there are mainly 2 types of show. The complex storyline shows like Game of Thrones, where you must fully pay attention while watching. The other category are mindless shows, where’s it’s easy to tune in and out of, and still easily grasp the storyline.

Reacher is clearly in the mindless category and, to me, one of the better shows in that category.

It’s not at all surprising that on average, people would rather watch a show that requires little to no thinking.

My mom watches Reacher. I'm pretty sure she watches it for Alan Ritchson though, not the actual story.

Large man solves problem with fists! (Laudatory)

Congratulations, you have discovered what appealing to the masses means.

This is an airport book series that has a good adaptation. It's fun to watch. It's not high brow art. It's a show where big competent man hurts bad people in the name of justice. It's a very boomer coded show except for the fact that Reacher is especially virtuous. Media like this has always thrived, and has for hundreds to thousands of years.

100%. after hearing good things for a few years i watched 3 episodes last night and am not impressed. I was expecting more detective competence porn, but you’re exactly right, he’s just a smug brute. There are a few sherlock-style inductive reasoning chains, but i feel like that’s the laziest and least interesting way to progress a mystery/thriller.

And they (or the book author) try way too hard to make his dialog humorous. I guess i’m not surprised people watch the show but how could this make for a good book?

Anyway, if anyone wants a similar vibe done better in every single way check out Rebel Ridge.