Reacher keeps getting better. Along with spawning an equally entertaining spin-off, the show was recently renewed for a sixth season, and it’s highly unlikely that Jack’s drifting adventures will end there. Since more than 20 Lee Child novels still haven’t been adapted for the small screen, the Prime Video series could continue even longer than a critically acclaimed action thriller that premiered on Fox in 2001.
24 stars Kiefer Sutherland and won numerous accolades during its run, including an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series (although it’s technically more action than drama). It also holds the record for the longest-running American espionage or counterterrorism-themed show. It has more seasons than the original Mission: Impossible TV series and Britain’s The Avengers. And, like Reacher, it birthed a spin-off series called 24: Legacy.
’24’s Real Time Narrative Structure is Still Hard to Top
There are many TV shows that unfold in real life, but 24 did it in a way that will be hard to top. The Fox series focuses on a new case every season. Events in each chapter take place over 24 hours. This means each episode is roughly an hour, with split screens and an occasional screen timer adding to the tension. In comparison, Reacher relies on the eight-episode format that is common in the streaming era.
This leads us to the next best thing about 24: abundance. For those who like action TV shows, Reacher’s eight episodes never feel like enough, considering it takes up to a year (or more sometimes) before a new season is released. Since 24 had around 24 episodes per season, each season has three times the shootouts and fisticuffs as the Alan Ritchson-led series. And it isn’t just about quantity. The multiple Emmy and Golden Globe wins prove the Fox hit was better written, acted, and produced.
As for whether Jack Bauer would really beat Jack Reacher in a Battle of the Jacks, that doesn’t seem likely. Reacher is a hulking figure with incredible fighting skills and high situational awareness. His competence is never in question. However, Bauer is a more dramatically rich action hero. He has a daughter and a tech-savvy best friend whom he deeply cares about. While Bauer was always a little too hard on Chloe and would scream at her over the phone, their bond was always admirable. Bauer’s love life is also more complicated than Reacher’s relationships that last one season. Every woman he loves ends up getting killed.
Considering those factors, 24 emerges as the stronger show. Sure, some of the twists feel overblown, and the mole-in-the-house subplots are repetitive. However, the Fox action thriller still stands tall as the perfect blend of espionage, politics, and storylines that reflect society. The War on Terror was a conversation point when the series aired, so the show’s villains were mostly terrorists.
’24’ Could Return Soon
The last season of 24 ended on a major cliffhanger involving Jack’s Russian enemies and his best friend, Chloe. Since then, there has been endless talk of a revival. Now is undoubtedly the best time for such a project, given the popularity of the action genre in streaming. From Reacher to Taylor Sheridan’s Lioness, there are more great series than ever, and the Sutherland-led series would fit perfectly right now. Additionally, a new season will prompt younger people who never watched the original show to check it out, making it more popular.
The latest update came in September 2026. Kiefer Sutherland revealed in an interview with Montreal Now’s Aaron Rand that showrunner Howard Gordon pitched him an idea that Sutherland liked. He admitted that several bureaucratic hurdles would need to be cleared now that Fox is owned by Disney. Gordon revealed that he and Chip Johannessen, who worked on the spy thriller Homeland, wrote a pilot that Disney loved and that the two sides were in serious discussions.
Several ideas have been discussed in the past, including a prequel and a genre change that would mean focusing on a character who isn’t Jack Bauer. But with Sutherland part of the planning, it’s highly likely we will get a sequel revival (if Disney agrees to it). That’ll be a good thing as Disney+ doesn’t have much to offer in the action department. It needs to do a lot more to keep up with Netflix, Prime Video, and Paramount+. Hopefully, it happens, and we’ll see Jack Bauer again.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
