These 5 Minutes From ‘Reacher’ Season 3 Prove That the ‘Neagley’ Spin-off Can Surpass the Original Series

In Prime Video’s Reacher, Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) might solve problems with his fists. But when it comes to his partner-in-crime Frances Neagley (Maria Sten), she’s just as deadly with her brains and agility. A former Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Neagley’s partnership with Reacher can be traced back to their early days in the 110th MP Special Investigations Unit. These days, she’s a private investigator with her own firm in Chicago. Although Reacher has been a lone wolf for the most part, Neagley is the only consistency he has in his life.

But the tables might turn in the upcoming Reacher spin-off, Neagley. For the past three seasons of Reacher, much of Neagley’s job revolves around detective work, all while Reacher beats the living lights of his killers. But one crucial fight scene in Season 3 shows a different side of Neagley – one where she’s under threat, and more importantly, without the presence of Reacher to save her. Unlike the Reacher series, Neagley isn’t based on any existing material from Lee Child‘s Jack Reacher novels. If anything, this particular scene gives a taste of what audiences can expect from Neagley upon its release.

The Office Fight in Season 3, Episode 6 Shows Frances Neagley Holding Down Her Own Fight Without Reacher

In Season 3, Episode 6, Neagley becomes a target due to her long-distance detective work for Reacher. From a quiet office in Chicago, she is hunted by two assassins sent by this season’s villain, Xavier Quinn (Brian Tee). It’s a late-night ambush in a towering skyscraper, and the killers are silent, swift, and deadly. Rather than go head-on with brute force in typical Reacher fashion, Neagley uses stealth and quick thinking to survive. She is very much aware of what she can utilize around her to throw off her killers. She crawls between desks, takes advantage of a microwave alarm that accidentally sets off, and turns on the office photocopier remotely to distract her pursuers. Just as she reaches her gun, her cover is blown – but her sharp reflexes kick in before the bullets fly. This sequence shows a new side of Neagley. Often seen as the brains behind the operation – digging up intel and deciphering numerical codes – she proves here that she can hold her own in a physical fight.

In a conversation with Collider’s Christina Radish, Sten shared that it’s one of those fight scenes where, despite having most of the sequence planned out on paper, it’s also essential to work with what they have in the location. Hence, it makes sense why this scene leans towards a more environmental fight, with Neagley relying on what’s around her office to create diversions before she goes for the kill. Impressively enough, with only two panes of glass available on set, and the amount of time needed to reset the entire office back before action, Sten only had two takes to nail the scene. Of course, no Neagley scene would be complete without a casual, witty remark (“Okay, you’re an ambulance. “) – even when her killer is in front of her, bleeding to death. That’s another thing that sets Neagley apart from Reacher. While the former Special Ops leader comes across as tense and takes everything way too seriously, Neagley has a silly sense of humor even in the most morbid of situations.

With Maria Sten’s Physical Background, Fans Can Expect Brains and Brawn in ‘Neagley’

Ever since Reacher Season 1, Neagley’s personality has stood out as a force of its own. When Reacher searches for her without instructions, he draws on a decade of friendship: she avoids tourist traps for privacy, came from poverty (but now stays at the Four Seasons), and prefers simple eateries over fancy restaurants. Privacy is key to her career, yet she avoids the cliché of the unreachable loner. In Season 2, she slowly lets her guard down when a personal case emerges – members of her former Special Op team are being kidnapped one by one. This prompts her to contact Reacher, who’s long been distant from the team despite being their leader. By Season 3, Neagley shows emotional vulnerability, worried for Reacher’s safety when she can’t be by his side. Yet, the separation becomes a proving ground: she tackles the case independently, showing she’s not just sharp but fully capable on her own when necessary. Neagley is self-reliant, resourceful, and evolving beyond Reacher’s shadow.

The Reacher universe wouldn’t be complete without its fast-paced action scenes. It’s the chassis that keeps the series driving, apart from a storyline that keeps audiences guessing. With Sten’s experiences in kid and rhythmic gymnastics, track, kickboxing, and horse riding, there are high hopes that can deliver the same drive that’s just as relentless as Reacher’s hits, but true to Neagley’s sleeker ways. In the same Collider conversation with Radish, Sten also shares just how involved she is with the show’s stunt sequences.

“[…] I’ve always been like a very physical person, so for me, it’s always been very high on my list of things that I wanted to do, doing action. And it’s great because I get to do my own stunts. The stunt team works with me to accommodate the fact that I’m going to do my own stunts. They shape it so that I’m able to do so.”

Filming for ‘Neagley’ Season 1 Officially Wrapped Back in June

Maria Sten and Karla Dixon as Frances Neagley and Karla Dixon analyzing a piece of paper in Reacher Season 2. — Image via Prime Video

Neagley is arriving sooner than fans realize. On June 10, 2025, Sten took to Instagram to announce that filming for Neagley Season 1 has officially concluded. Production for the Reacher spin-off has been kept tightly under wraps. However, based on a couple of sightings (one of them being Sten and Ritchson filming at the stands of Chicago’s Wrigley Field during a Cubs vs. White Sox game), fans can expect a Reacher and Neagley appearance in the upcoming series. Check out the official description below for Neagley:

“When she learns that a beloved friend from her past has been killed in a suspicious accident, she becomes hell-bent on justice. Using everything she’s learned from Jack Reacher and her time as a member of the 110th Special Investigators, Neagley puts herself on a dangerous path to uncover a menacing evil.”

With Neagley expected to be released in late 2025 and the highly anticipated Season 4 now in the works, the Reacher-verse is just getting started. While audiences are in it for the wild cases and bone-crunching shenanigans, the true heart project lies in the characters. Reacher’s mammoth physique is nothing but an empty vessel if not without his strong moral compass and his need to protect the innocent. The same should apply to Neagley. She’s well-accomplished, but at the end of the day, she’s only human. Neagley is a timely opportunity to re-introduce her without Reacher defining her. Whether it’s digging more into her haphephobia, or showing her close relationship with her father, there’s more to her than meets the eye.