Why the 110th Was Disbanded in Reacher, Explained

Reacher is a phenomenon. Brought first to the big screen by Tom Cruise and then to streaming by Alan Ritchson in 2022, the series has dominated Prime Video since its release. Though the movies were fun and well-acted, the real meat of the character was not explored until he reached Margrave in Season 1, episode 1.

But in Season 2, we learned more about his background, specifically about the 110th, his special MP investigations unit, which was the closest family Reacher seems to have had. It was a ragtag group that he could turn into a cohesive weapon. But we also learned about how they were taken apart and how Reacher was left jaded, eventually leaving the military altogether.

Who Are the 110th in Prime Video’s Reacher?

When Reacher is tasked with assembling the 110th, it is to form an elite team that can essentially go even further than your typical military police. Their cases are bigger, the stakes are higher, and the crew is specifically chosen to bring very different aspects to the table. Let’s look at the team.

There is Neagley, whose rank of Master Sargeant makes her the lowest ranking but also the closest to Reacher. Franz was brought on board because of his ability to stop an unwinnable fight. O’Donnell is a hell of a fighter whose sarcastic mouth belies a quick mind. Dixon is the numbers person, able to sift through data while also handling themself in a fight. Swan is the resident musician who can calm the team while being one of its most private members. Lowrey is the oldest but one of the top marksmen Reacher could find. Sanchez and Orozco are immediate friends who seemed like they would be the problem children but whose reliability and varied skill sets made them invaluable to Reacher and his team.

Reacher is a bright guy, but he’s also brilliant enough to create a team of people who can extend his own knowledge and excel even further. He surrounds himself with those who can be molded while allowing them to come to their own conclusions. It makes them so effective while serving and after they have gone off on their own to new and varied careers.

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Why the 110th Was Disbanded in Reacher

There are clues about why Reacher left the army in the first place following the disbandment of the 110th, but they are far more significant in the source novels. In the novels, Reacher leaves primarily due to military downsizing. However, the full story involves the fact that he was tricked into assaulting a civilian who was later found to be innocent of any crime. This led to Reacher being demoted from Major down to Captain.

However, with hard work, he was able to be promoted back to the rank of Major. In another novel, he finds himself at odds with a Lieutenant Colonel who ensured that Reacher would never make it past the rank of Major. When this happened, his mentor, Colonel Garber, told him that with the downsizing already taking place, it would be better for him to leave the army rather than be constantly given demeaning jobs for a man of his breadth of skills and knowledge.

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When it came to disbanding the 110th, the situation was far murkier. The team takes on a lengthy investigation called Operation Kite Runner. The operation involves the transport and sale of large amounts of heroin overseas by members of the armed forces. The 110th realizes what is happening and how it is being done, only to be stopped in their tracks by the higher-ups, represented by Lieutenant Colonel Hortense Fields, who tells them that the entire 2-year operation is to be terminated. His reason is that his boss is about to get the biggest promotion of his life, and the idea that this heroin running was done under his watch would jeopardize his upward mobility.

However, Reacher, being someone with integrity and the 110th, knowing they will follow him into hell, the group decides to continue the operation and take down the drug runners. In fact, they do it spectacularly and end up with several arrests and multiple kills. The mission is a success, the entire clandestine affair is stopped, and the heroin is recovered. The fact that their operation was now unsanctioned did not matter to the 110th. They were not there to follow the orders of the military. They were there to follow the direction of a man with unquestionable integrity. Because of this decision to stop the drug runners, the 110th is disbanded and many of them are demoted.

Integrity Is King for Jack Reacher

In the end, the main reason for the disbandment of the 110th comes down to character. Each member comes to the table with their skills and faults. However, every one of them has more respect for Reacher than anything else. When he says jump, they jump. But after working with him for two years, they no longer require his direct orders. He trusts them to do their jobs, and they know that they all have each other’s backs.

The 110th may have been disbanded by people looking after their own self-interests, but Season 2 of Reacher, despite some trouble with too many clichés, makes it very clear that the team never really disbanded. The second the call went up, all of them came together to solve the mysterious death of their colleagues. No matter when you meet them, you do not mess with the Special Investigators. Reacher is available to stream on Prime Video.