Amac Productions

Welcome to a new show!

Okay, here’s the part where I’m brutally honest – I thought this was going to be a Reacher knock-off.

Which was going to bug me, because I love Justin Hartley. I have since I saw him on Smallville, playing Oliver Queen.

Coincidentally, the same place I first saw Alan Ritchson.

The world is a weird place to live.

Anyway, I walked into this show with very low expectations. Just one of those, I’ll check it out, and if I hate the first episode – I’m done – sort of deal.

Except, I didn’t hate the first episode, nor do I think it’s a knock-off.

Though it is based on a book as well.

The episode opens right away with Colter Shaw rescuing someone he found out in the middle of nowhere. A hike went wrong and he calmly talks the victim through the situation.

His uses of stats is an interesting idea.

Along with the fact that he doesn’t appear to be former military. It’s a new take. I enjoyed that.

Colter quickly establishes himself as a kind man, who shouldn’t be crossed, but is committed to what he does.

By this, I mean, Colter was kind to the woman he rescued. He didn’t have to be. He didn’t have to explain himself or why he thought the decision to move was better than waiting. Very kind and calming to her throughout the ordeal.

But he doesn’t let himself get walked all over when the guy hems and haws about the payment. He defined the terms as upon safe retrieval, he gets paid. It’s a binding contract, once the job is successful.

He takes the money.

The money offered for the reward. High or low, sob story or not, he takes the money.

I really liked this tidbit.

Every show always has the main character tell the person to keep the money, but how do they pay for food or their bills or anything? Ever? If they never collect money for their services?

It was a nice change of pace to see him take the money at every turn.

Yes, he cares.

But he needs to eat and put gas in his car, clothes on his back. Pay for WiFi to talk to his friends with all the dogs.

Very nice women. Love the insert of LGBTQ couple there, happy, making it work with their 400 dogs.

And the black kid, with the missing leg.

The show brings in different characters without shoving it in your face that they have different backgrounds. It’s nice. Feels lived in.

Then we get into the main case for the episode.

A kid has gone missing, supposedly kidnapped by his father.

Colter’s way of getting information was so nice. He was calm, caring, knew he was being lied to, but waited for the right time to bring it up. He wasn’t there to cause problems in their marriage. Just to help find the kid.

His explanation of how he gets paid was good too. I hadn’t thought about how many people would be looking for the reward money too without putting in any actual work. His choice of making it a binding contract once he returns the person to them is smooth.

Allows for him to assess the situation before he goes in and ensure that the people know he’s serious about the work.

He’s not just there to take their money.

He actually wants to help find people because it’s something he’s good at. Clearly.

Though, his little mix-up at the fast-food restaurant leaves little to be desired. Along with his conversation with his lawyer the next morning. Guess they’re meant to end up together.

I checked, she stars in the show too.

Adding not only to the diversity of the cast, but to the world this show is set in. I like it. I even like her, even if she came down a little hard – I think he earned that.

No, he for sure earned it.

Ultimately, the plot of the episode isn’t anything amazing. It’s a fairly straight forward case allowing us to get to the heart of who Colter Shaw is.

I didn’t like the officer who accused him of not caring. He got himself arrested for caring too much about the kid. What made you think he was just a dick looking for the money?

He didn’t mention the money once while being booked. He kept talking about the kid and how people needed to go looking for him. So that was weird and designed purely to help flesh out Colter’s character. Though it did a better job of making the officer look stupid and judgmental.

His search for the kid and his willingness to risk everything for him was awesome. Including talking the kid into jumping.

Though, I do think that should have killed them too.

All leading up to Colter telling the cop off for nearly getting a kid killed because he got impatient. Would have been a lovely way to tell his parents he died.

Colter visiting the kid, reminded me of a few things I saw on Modern Family.

When he told him, he had people who love him including the stepfather, I kept thinking about something Gloria and Mitch have pointed out. Mitch said one of his parents was strict and tough, while the other let him get away with everything. Only one was still in his life.

As for Gloria, I can’t remember if she said it or it was said to her, but that their kids will one day remember who stayed. She’s there, day in and day out for her son.

The stepdad is there day and night for him. He paid the reward money. He helped make the hard choice to let Colter lead the rescue. He’s his dad.

He’ll see it one day.

There’s no doubt about it. It’s just hard for a teenager to see it. They’re too caught up in themselves.

Overall, it was a solid first episode with a lot of potential. I hold it just gets better from here.

What do you guys think about this new show?

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