Frances Neagley's 10 Best Moments in 'Reacher,' Ranked

Maria Sten as Neagley in Reacher.Image via Prime Video

By Dyah Ayu Larasati Published 9 minutes ago Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider, responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival. Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, concentrating on Creative Writing. She is currently completing her Master's degree in English Literature Studies, with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works, and is expected to graduate in 2026. Born and raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Dyah is no stranger to different cultures. She now resides in the small town of Kendal with her husband and four cats, where she spends her free time cooking or cycling. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

It may be Jack Reacher's (Alan Ritchson) world in Reacher, but his partner-in-crime (or justice), Frances Neagley (Maria Sten), knows how to hold down her own fight. Over the past three seasons, military veteran Reacher has been traveling all across the country by himself, only to be pulled into a variety of cases. From Margrave to Maine, trouble always follows Reacher.

As much as Reacher loves working alone, he's got Neagley to rely on whenever he's at a roadblock. A former member of the Army herself, the now-private investigator remains loyal to her former leader despite being separated. Although their friendship is mostly long-distance, anytime the two meet, chaos ensues. With her fair share of exciting scenes, here are Frances Neagley's 10 best moments in Reacher, ranked.

10 Distracts a post officer during a critical mission

"ATM" – Season 2, Episode 1 (2023)

Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) distracting a post officer in 'Reacher'Image via Prime Video

After discovering that one of their former 110th Special Ops comrades, Calvin Franz (Luke Bilyk), died under mysterious circumstances, Reacher and Neagley get to the bottom of the case. The two discover that the victim had been investigating a shady operation by New Age Security. The victim's actions hadn't gone unnoticed. As seen at the beginning of the first episode, Franz is thrown off a helicopter midair and instantly plummets onto the ground.

Reacher and Neagley get hold of his postal information, but they have no clue which box is his. Neagley steps in to distract the post officer at the front desk, while Reacher searches for the correct box one by one. Although her "goodwill citizen" schtick looks amusing, it also shows that Neagley is a highly versatile agent. Whatever Reacher needs, from hacking laptops to creating diversions, Neagley isn't phased easily and gets the job done.

9 Shoots Kliner's men with a sniper during the factory raid

"Pie" – Season 1, Episode 8 (2022)

Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) watching the factory burn down in 'Reacher'.Image via Prime Video

Kliner Industries literally goes down in flames. Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald) and Paul Hubble's (Marc Bendavid) family are kidnapped and locked up inside KJ Kliner's (Chris Webster) factory. Reacher, Detective Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin), Neagley, and Paul Hubble brace themselves for a suicide rescue mission. Before they make their way inside, Finlay causes fiery chaos by throwing his lit cigarette onto the highly flammable compound, setting the building ablaze.

While Reacher, Finlay, and Hubble split up to rescue their respective targets, Neagley provides aerial support. Positioning herself above the ground level, she shoots Kliner's men with her sniper rifle. When a guard almost strikes her, she engages in hand-to-hand combat and takes him with one shot of her handgun. This just goes to show how Neagley isn't just capable on her computer, but in the field as well.

8 Attacks bikers in a dress after the symphony

"A Night at the Symphony" – Season 2 Episode 4 (2023)

Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) wearing a blue dress in 'Reacher'Image via Prime Video

If it isn't obvious by Season 2, Neagley isn't a fan of dresses. She's often seen in a comfortable pair of jeans, a simple T-shirt, and a cargo jacket. But when the occasion calls for some formal wear, Neagley plays the part — reluctantly. A night at the symphony calls for a fancy long dress and high heels to match. Even David O' Donell (Shaun Sipos) can't help but be mesmerized.

As the gang was about to end the night with late-night steaks, they were ambushed by a biker gang (in one of Reacher's best action scenes). In a no-guns, four-against-eight fight, the odds don't look great. Not only does Neagley have to fight two guys at once — she also has to kick their butts while wearing a dress. Luckily, with her quick reflexes, she takes them down easily. No formal wear is going to hinder her from pummeling bad guys at a vacant parking lot.

7 Hunts an assassin in a hospital while undercover

"The Man Goes Through" – Season 2, Episode 7 (2023)

Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) disguises herself as a hospital worker in 'Reacher'Image via Prime Video

A hospital is the last place anyone would want to fight in. Reacher and Neagley infiltrate a hospital disguised as nurses to interrogate Grant, the assailant who almost shot Jane Burns (Kate Moyer). By the time they finish interrogating him, Neagley gets her revenge by injecting air into his catheter, inducing an embolism. By the time they get out of Grant's (Mishka Thébaud) room, Reacher and Neagley notice an assassin also in disguise.

What makes hospital fights difficult is that they have to be discreet. When Neagley finally grabs hold of the assassin, he almost kills her from behind with an electric saw. Moving quickly, she uses a crutch to block his attacks, all without raising panic in the building. Just like Reacher, Neagley is capable of taking advantage of her surroundings to subdue her enemies, using everything from scissors to throwing medical supplies.

6 Saves Jane Burns in a high-stakes ambush

"New York's Finest" – Season 2, Episode 6 (2023)

Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) watches Guy Russo (Domenick Lombardozzi) die in her arms in 'Reacher'.Image via Prime Video

In one of the show's most heartbreaking moments, Reacher asks Gaitano "Guy" Russo (Domenick Lombardozzi) to protect Jane from Shane Langston's (Robert Patrick) hunters while he and his team set a trap using Jane's mother as bait. Russo plans to hide Jane with the family, but they're ambushed in a chase. Cornered, he fights back and orders Jane to flee. Critically wounded after killing two attackers, he's saved from the last gunman by Neagley.

Jane is only seconds away from getting shot when Neagley runs over the assailant with her car. Although her quick thinking is worth applauding, this scene also shows a rare glimpse of Neagley at her most emotional. As Russo dies in Neagley's arms, she becomes visibly tearful. On one hand, Russo and Neagley are relieved they got a child safe. On the other hand, she's upset that she didn't make it in time to save Russo.

5 Affords nursing care for her father using mission money

"Fly Boy" – Season 2, Episode 8 (2023)

O'Donnell, Reacher, and Neagley around a campfire in snow in the Reacher Season 2 finale.Image via Prime Video

In the aftermath of taking down Langston and his middleman, Reacher and his gang are left with millions of dollars to spend. After the week they've just had, it only seems appropriate that they'd spend the money on themselves for some much-needed rest and relaxation. But that's not the case. As former 110th Special Ops members, they know it in their hearts to use the money for good.

Instead of spending it on themselves, Reacher sends the money to those left by the departed. In between covering tuition expenses and donating to animal shelters, Neagley uses her cut to afford nursing for her sick father. Getting quality healthcare was the initial reason why Neagley worked hard to earn money in the first place. Apart from Reacher, Neagley's father is the only other number she's saved in her phone, which shows just how close she is to him.

4 Threatens her assailant during a tense confrontation

"L.A. Story" – Season 3, Episode 7 (2025)

Maria Sten as Neagley with her left foot on the front bumper of a car in Season 3 of Reacher.Image via Prime

Neagley corners Costopoulos (Michael Rhoades) with a gun to the head, and when she brings up Julius McCabe's real identity, he admits that only a handful of people still know the name Francis Xavier Quinn (Brian Tee). Costopoulos once worked as Quinn's fixer when Quinn established his Chicago base five years earlier, seizing a family-owned export business and wiping out the family.

If there's one takeaway from this scene, it's never send people to kill Neagley (who once again proves to be one of TV's most badass characters). That is what Costopoulos did in Episode 6, and Neagley is visibly pissed. Neagley wants answers, and she doesn't have the patience. Anyone would think that a gunshot in broad daylight in the suburbs is high-risk, but Neagley's got her alibi all covered. If anything, Costopoulos should've sent more assassins in the first place: "Next time you want to kill me, send more guys."

3 Meets Jack Reacher face-to-face for the first time

"No Apologies" – Season 1, Episode 5 (2022)

Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) eating cereal at a bistro in 'Reacher'Image via Prime Video

There are two things people should know about Neagley. One, she hates meeting new people. Two, nobody can find her — unless it's Reacher. Even so, Reacher has to rely on a set of preconceived notions about Neagley to track her. Some of his clues include "avoid tourist traps," "wherever she's staying won't be five stars," and "near a place to eat that's reasonably priced."

Although the two had previously spoken on the phone, this was the first time the two interacted with each other face-to-face in the show. With so much elusiveness shrouding Neagley, one might think that she's some kind of person who hates social interaction. On the contrary, she's surprisingly friendly, even to the very stoic Reacher. She may be serious about her day job as a private investigator, but she knows how to get personal with Reacher sometimes.

2 Negotiates with Russian weapons dealers using a fake grenade

"Unfinished Business" – Season 3, Episode 8 (2025)

Maria Sten as Neagley dressed as a waiter behind Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher holding a gun in Reacher.Image via Prime Video

Reacher and Neagley rush to Zachary Beck's (Anthony Michael Hall) compound at breakneck speed when they learn that his 50th party is used as a cover-up for a weapons deal. Neagley immediately disguises herself as a waitress to locate the buyers. Meanwhile, everyone else fights off their respective targets. The night culminates with Reacher cornering the Russians, who happen to hold Xavier Quinn hostage.

The Russians want the money they were promised by Quinn, which Reacher doesn't have. Luckily, Neagley comes in time with a bag full of cash. However, she'll only give it to them when they hand in Quinn. When the buyers refuse, Neagley pulls out a hand grenade and takes off the pin. Alarmed by Neagley's impulsiveness, the Russians eventually hand over Quinn for the cash. Once the buyers are gone, Neagley reveals that she had the explosive diffused prior.

1 Singlehandedly kills her assassins during a surprise attack

"Smoke on the Water" – Season 3, Episode 6 (2025)

Frances Neagley (Maria Sten) in the Office Fight Scene in Season 3, Episode 6 of 'Reacher.'Image via Prime Video

Just because Neagley's far away from Reacher, that doesn't mean she's in danger. One night in her Chicago office, Neagley is casually making cereal when two assassins enter the vicinity. With no gun in her possession, Neagley relies on her stealth to get her weapon. She crawls between desks, triggers distractions like a microwave alarm and photocopier, and reaches her gun just in time.

This fight scene alone is a good glimpse of what viewers can expect in the upcoming Neagley series. Throughout all three seasons of Reacher, Neagley has been the de facto right-hand man and best friend to Reacher. She's never been at the center of a case. This Neagley moment shows the fellow Army vet's array of skills within a short time: strategic thinking, mastery of weapons, and her deadpan humor while her enemy is bleeding to death.

9 10

Reacher

Like Follow Followed TV-MA Crime Drama Action Thriller Release Date February 3, 2022 Network Prime Video Showrunner Nick Santora Directors Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent Writers Cait Duffy Franchise(s) Jack Reacher

Cast

See All

Alan Ritchson Jack Reacher
Maria Sten Frances Neagley

Genres Crime, Drama, Action, Thriller Creator(s) Nick Santora Powered by

Expand Collapse

TV
Reacher
Alan Ritchson

Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close Thread Sign in to your Collider account

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.

Your comment has not been saved

Send confirmation email

This thread is open for discussion.

Be the first to post your thoughts.