‘Neagley’ Review: Maria Sten Kicks Ass in a Spinoff That Stands on Its Own

Full disclosure: I do not watch Reacher. I’ve been meaning to, but my plate is full. I’ll eventually get there. Having said that, I was all in for the spinoff Neagley. A Black female lead who can kick ass? I could not sign up fast enough.

If you’re like me and need the quick backstory, Frances Neagley is a recurring character from Lee Child’s books who has also appeared in Prime Video’s Reacher. She became popular enough to get her own series, with Maria Sten stepping back into the role. This time, Neagley leads a group of unlikely acquaintances through a season-long mystery as she tries to solve the murder of her best friend.

One thing I enjoyed throughout this eight-episode freshman season is that Neagley isn’t treated like some unstoppable superhero. She has flaws, not just as a human being, she can be mean and sometimes treats her friends as if they’re disposable but also as a private investigator. She makes mistakes that you’d think someone in her line of work would catch. Instead of making her frustrating to watch, those imperfections make the character and the mystery more interesting.

Let’s be honest, Neagley probably isn’t winning any Emmys, but the acting from the cast is suitable for the material we’re working with. The main draw for me was the action, and I absolutely loved the fight sequences. They’re suspenseful, well-executed and had me holding my breath more than a couple of times.

There’s also undeniable chemistry between Neagley and Hudson Riley (Greyston Holt). Should the series get renewed, I’d expect to see more of that partnership. At the same time, we get to watch Neagley slowly build a bond with her new team, and that developing relationship becomes the heart of the series. For someone who starts off keeping people at a distance, watching those walls gradually come down gives the season some needed emotional weight.

Where Neagley stumbles is with its main antagonist and the storyline involving a depression drug that causes more harm than good. I wanted more from that part of the mystery, especially after everything the season does to build toward it. Instead, it reminded me a little too much of the Beauline storyline from Halle Berry’s Catwoman and not in a good way. The concept feels familiar, and the villain never becomes as compelling as Neagley or the team trying to stop them.

Still, the weaker villain didn’t ruin the ride for me. Neagley gave me exactly what initially made me want to watch: a complicated Black female action lead, some great fight sequences and a new team I actually wanted to spend time with. More importantly, I never felt like I needed to watch three seasons of Reacher before pressing play.

Overall, I enjoyed these eight episodes and would gladly come back for Season 2. Maybe Neagley will finally be the push I need to start Reacher.

Rating: B