Why does the Reacher ATM Scene from season 2 not make sense? Explained

Reacher Season 2 has been well-received, but one scene in the opening episode has caused fans to question a character detail. Reacher, known for his simple life and preference for cash from Western Union transfers, withdraws money from an ATM using a debit card. This small change has confused viewers since he said in the first season that he only uses cash from wire transfers.

People have been talking about this on Reddit. They say it doesn't match what we knew about Reacher before. But if you look at the books that the show is based on, specifically Bad Luck and Trouble, you'll find that he got a debit card after 9/11. The show doesn't tell us about this change, and that's what's causing the confusion.

So, the show might have included this detail from the books, but without explaining it, some viewers are upset. They want to know why Reacher switched to a card when he used to be all about cash.

As Reddit user Crookeye pointed out,

"If he started using a bank, all they had to do was have a line in there explaining it when talking to Neagly."

People are asking if the show is being faithful to the original content or if it's just changing things to make them easier.

How does Lee Child explain Reacher's ATM card in the book Bad Luck and Trouble?

Lee Child's Bad Luck and Trouble shows that after 9/11, Reacher had to change how he lived. He could no longer use Western Union transfers because new financial rules needed a real ID for them.

So, he began carrying a debit card and an old passport. This small but important change let him get money without using wire transfers. The TV show follows the book closely but doesn't tell people about this big change in his life.

If you haven't read the books, you might be confused because the season 1 talks about how he only carries what he needs.

Reddit user MotNodrog notes,

"The Bad Luck and Trouble book upon which this season is based spends time explaining how, post 9/11, Reacher needed photo ID and a debit/ATM card."

The show doesn't include this explanation, which makes some people think the scene is inconsistent and question whether it was an intentional change.

Was the ATM card a plot convenience or a necessary update to the plot of Reacher?

In the context of the show's modern setting, some viewers think a debit card should be included to keep things current. They feel it's an essential update to match today's times.

As one Redditor, conservative89436, speculated,

"I think they may have ‘modernized’ it slightly and replaced Western Union with a direct deposit of his pension into an Army credit union or something."

Some people think this change seems like a quick and easy way to move the story along rather than a real development for the character. Although it's not unusual for a story to change a bit when it goes from book to screen, it still bothers fans when their favorite parts get altered.

All it would have taken was one line of conversation to explain the difference, but without it, long-time fans are confused.

As Reddit user Thorski10mm bluntly put it,