Summary
Robert Patrick is the master when it comes to portraying villains, and he’s back to what he does best, as the new bad guy, Shane Langston in Reacher season 2 on Prime Video. The first three episodes have aired already, and the premiere pays particular homage to one of Patrick’s best-ever villains, and arguably, one of the greatest and most formidable villains in cinema history, The T-1000 inTerminator 2: Judgment Day.
It wasn’t just Patrick’s role inT2that proved he could effectively play the opposition to the hero so well. He’s featured in a slew of movies and television shows where he’s portrayed rather villainous characters. Patrick played the possessed Coach Willis inThe Faculty, a corrupt cop inCop Landand, of course, the vicious mercenary, O’Reilly, inDie Hard 2,among many others.Patrick’s role inReacherseason 2 might not have happened if it wasn’t forRory Cochrane dropping outfrom playing the role due to scheduling conflicts. This paved the way for Patrick to play Langston, and if it wasn’t for this particular situation, one of the funniest movie references ever wouldn’t have happened.
Nick Santora (based on the books by Lee Child)
Cast
Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten, Serinda Swan, Shaun Sipos and Robert Patrick
2
Number of Episodes
16
Fans of the bookswere delighted with the first three episodes ofReacherseason 2, with one of the highlights being Robert Patrick as Shane Langston. He is gearing up to be one of the best villains to grace television screens in 2023. Patrick plays the head of New Age Technologies, who is chasing after Reacher and his former comrades in the 110th Special Investigations Unit, as they investigate the mysterious deaths of former members of their team. Patrick plays the character with his usual brand of menace, making him a joy to watch. However, his villain clearly doesn’t watch movies as he has no idea who Sarah Connor is!
In Episode 1, titled “ATM”, Langston’s head henchman, Trevor Saropian came out of a hotel on the phone with him, informing him that he paid off the concierge to reveal thatFrances Neagleyand Reacher checked into the hotel under the aliases of Sarah Connor and Starlin Castro and ordered adjoining rooms for them both. Langston identifies Castro as the name of a famous Yankees player, and figures both of these names are likely fake aliases. Saropian then asks Langston who Sarah Connor is? Langston replies ‘‘Í don’t give a sh*t’’. Obviously, this is a funny in-joke as Langston actor, Robert Patrick was the T-1000 tracking Sarah Connor down inTerminator 2: Judgment Day,which came out way back in 1991.The line sent audiences wild with excitement at the shear meta brilliance of it.
The Meta reference To Terminator 2 Is Hilarious
There’s nothing better than when a television show provides the audience with little Easter eggs and references, and Reacher season 2 features one of the best and most hilarious ones of them all. Every movie fanatic knows who Sarah Connor is, so for the actor who played the T-1000 who was tracking her inT2, to spout this response as his new character in the new season of Reacher, is just comedy gold, and a brilliant knowing nod to the fans.
The little joke doesn’t take away from the action either, with Patrick quickly getting back to his villainous ways, having delivered his response in typical deadpan fashion. Reacher knows exactly what genre it fits into, and is keen to pay respect to where it came from, with hilarious moments like this earning the respect of many fans across the globe.
The first three episodes of the latest season ofReacherare full of humor, despite what’s at stake this season, and this joke in the first episode doesn’t in any way take away from the tension in the episode, which is a credit to the show. In lesser hands, it would’ve come across as a cheap way of getting a laugh out of the audience. Instead, it helps to endear fans to the brilliance of Season 2. Robert Patrick was clearly on board with the line, and he can only take it as the greatest respect to him as an actor, that a character he played all those years ago still resonates with the current crop of creatives, as well as fans who also lovedReacherSeason 1.
Episode 3 is titled “A Picture Says A Thousand Words” and it features a cold open that sees Patrick’s character Shane Langston throwing Franz from a helicopter, but before he does this, Franz mentions a certain big guy who will seek revenge on him.
Big guy? Who the hell was he talking about?
When Patrick utters this line, his destiny is laid out for him: Reacher is going to come for him, and it’s going to be one hell of a battle between one of television’s biggest stars and a legendary screen villain. Robert Patrick might not have the muscles and power of Alan Ritchson, but based on the opening episodes, his character, Shane Langston is more than a match for him in other ways. Fans can’t wait to see these two icons stand-off against each other as Season 2 progresses.
Reacheris available to stream onPrime Video
Reacher
Based on the books by Lee Child, Reacher follows the journey of titular former MP Jack Reacher (played by Alan Ritchson). Reacher drifts across the United States, providing help to those who need it along the way. The Prime Video series has also featured performances by Willa Fitzgerald, Serinda Swan, Domenick Lombardozzi, and Robert Patrick.
MORE:Reacher: Why Alan Ritchson’s Version Of the Character Is Better Than Tom Cruise’s
