Long beforeAlan Ritchsonwas launched into megastardom with his Amazon Prime Video seriesReacher, he was one of the funniest characters on TV, with his iconic role inBlue Mountain State. FromRitchson appearing as a contestant onAmerican Idolto playing Aquaman inSmallville, the actor has had an incredible career trajectory culminating withReacher, making him the star he was always meant to be. WithReacherseason 3 premiering in February 2025, it’s worth looking back on one of Ritchson’s greatest roles.
Alan Ritchson has appeared in some fantastic movies and TV showsthroughout his career, but there was one series that premiered in 2010 that helped him begin to make a name for himself — the hilarious raunchy comedyBlue Mountain State. Who exactly did Alan Ritchson play in the series, and with talks of a sequel series forBlue Mountain Statein the works, what will that mean for him now that he is one of TV’s most popular actors?
Blue Mountain Stateoriginally appeared on Spike TV in 2010, showcasing the absurd world of college football at what feels like one of the biggest party schools in history. Though the series primarily focused on Alex Moran (Darin Brooks), the backup quarterback, for most of its run,it was Alan Ritchson’s character Thad Castle that stole every scene he was in, showing just how funny the actor truly is.
Always multifaceted, Ritchson played Aquaman one more time inSmallvillewhile he was also portraying Thad Castle.
Thad Castle is the team captain of BMS and one of the greatest players to ever play for the program. Though he often appears in stereotypical “jock” mode, Thad is perhaps the funniest part of the show, with Ritchson’s honest and brave performance as the character truly electrifying. He is at the center of virtually every ridiculous scenario that comes up in the series, and has dreams of making it into the NFL.
How Ritchson’s Blue Mountain State Performance Shows Up In Reacher
Taking into account bothBlue Mountain StateandReacheras a whole, the two series are completely on opposite sides of the TV spectrum in terms of tone and content. But at the forefront of each is Alan Ritchson as Thad Castle and thetitular character, Jack Reacherrespectively. It might not seem like there is a lot Ritchson can pull from his Thad Castle performance to informReacher, butone thing that is undeniable about both characters is their level of likable charm that Ritchson can pull off so easily.
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Jack Reacher as a character is so much more reserved than Thad Castle, but there are moments where it feels like Ritchson is reaching for hisBlue Mountain Stateperformance sometimes inReacher, though not at nearly the same energy level as Thad Castle. Alan Ritchson’s ability to be funny with two vastly different characters is just a testament to his acting skills.
Blue Mountain Sequel Series & Alan Ritchson’s Involvement, Explained
Blue Mountain Statefeatured one of Alan Ritchson’s best performances, and the show has gained a cult following since its initial run ended in 2011 after three seasons. There was one follow-up to the series in 2016, as Alan Ritchson and a number of other actors returned for a movie calledBlue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland, which picks up a few years from where the original series left off. Since then, it felt likeBlue Mountain Stateas a franchise was finished, but that might not be the case.
In February 2024,Deadlineannounced thataBlue Mountain Statesequel series was in the works, though nothing had been finalized at that time. The sequel series will see the return of the three series leads — Darin Brooks as Alex Moran, Chris Romano as Sammy Cacciatore, and Alan Ritchson as Thad Castle, a role he hasn’t played since 2016. Since that announcement, though, there have been no further updates, but ifReacherremains popular, maybe Amazon Prime Video would be willing to see arguably their biggest star reprise his hilariousBlue Mountain Staterole once more.
Blue Mountain State
Cast
Blue Mountain State is a comedy series centered around the fictional Blue Mountain State University and its football team, The Goats. The show explores the outrageous antics of team members and the college’s wild social life, highlighting themes of partying, hazing, and college football culture. Starring Darin Brooks and Alan Ritchson, the series delves into the lives of these athletes both on and off the field.
