Warning: Spoilers forward for Reacher season 3, episode 5, “Smackdown.”Alan Ritchson’s character utters a line of dialogue in Reacher season 3, episode 5, “Smackdown,” that offers a stunning quantity of perception into one in every of his lesser-known traits. Though Reacher is usually perceived to be a really particular sort of character, his assertion in “Smackdown” disproves that he totally belongs to a selected archetype. It is a delicate reveal, however one which’s important to understanding what Jack Reacher is all about.
Amazon has chosen 2003’s Persuader from Lee Kid’s enormous catalog of Jack Reacher books to adapt for Reacher season 3. Though the occasions of different novels could have occurred for the reason that finish of Reacher season 2, it is difficult to show whether or not that is the case. Regardless, Ritchson’s return to guide the Reacher season 3 solid makes him one of many solely actors to return again to the present as the difference’s semi-anthological strategy continues. This day out, Reacher is in a really totally different scenario.
Reacher Telling Richard He “Hasn’t Solved” Paulie But Proves Ritchson’s Character Would not At all times Resort To His Bodily Power
Beating Paulie will take greater than brute power, and Reacher is aware of it
When Johnny Berchtold’s Richard Beck accuses Reacher of being terrified of Paulie (Olivier Richters) in “Smackdown,” Ritchson’s character briefly seems a mix of offended and offended earlier than saying, “I am not afraid of him, I simply have not solved him but.” Reacher’s confidence that he can in the end beat any enemy in a battle brings to the floor his extremely tactical thoughts, and reaffirms the very fact he usually fights intelligently quite than having to rely solely on his appreciable brute power. What he is actually saying to Richard is that when he inevitably figures out Paulie’s weak point, he’ll beat him. Subsequently, no concern required.

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All 8 Villains In Reacher Season 3 Defined
A handful of recent villains are launched within the first three episodes of Reacher season 3, together with the heavy-hitting Paulie & the mysterious Quinn.
Richard and Reacher’s change in “Smackdown” is not the one latest instance of how Ritchson’s character makes use of all of the obtainable info and assets to his benefit. There have been a number of moments in season 3 the place Reacher has given voice to his stream of consciousness about precisely what is going to occur in particular eventualities, primarily based on projections, character motivations, statistics, and extra. Certain, he has additionally solved a number of issues with violence too, but it surely’s only one possibility in his huge bag of tips. It simply so occurs that Reacher’s bodily prowess can also be usually the best resolution.
Reacher Season 3 Has Already Established That Ritchson’s Character Will Want Extra Than His Fists To Beat Paulie
Paulie can simply face up to bodily punishment from Reacher
Paulie is the bodily superior risk that Reacher hadn’t but come up in opposition to, which makes for unpredictable storytelling. Nevertheless, in true Reacher type, he is already teased his eventual victory over Paulie with that intelligent trick within the weight room. That being stated, Reacher being floored after a single blow from Paulie serves as proof that preventing good and never exhausting will probably be key to Ritchson’s character leaving their coming conflict alive. With Reacher season 4 already confirmed, it is just about sure that Paulie will lose, however watching their battle will probably be very fascinating.
Prime Video’s Reacher Season 3 Launch Schedule |
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Episode |
Title |
Launch Date (2025) |
1 |
“Persuader” |
Feb 20 |
2 |
“Truckin'” |
Feb 20 |
3 |
“Quantity 2 with a Bullet” |
Feb 20 |
4 |
“Dominique” |
Feb 27 |
5 |
“Smackdown” |
March 6 |
6 |
“Smoke on the Water” |
March 13 |
7 |
“L.A. Story” |
March 20 |
8 |
“Unfinished Enterprise” |
March 27 |

Reacher
- Launch Date
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February 3, 2022
- Community
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Nick Santora
- Administrators
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Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent
- Writers
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Cait Duffy