Warning: Spoilers ahead forReacherseason 3, episode 5, “Smackdown.“Alan Ritchson’s character utters a line of dialogue inReacherseason 3, episode 5, “Smackdown,” that gives a surprising amount of insight into one of his lesser-known traits. AlthoughReacher is often perceived to be a very specific type of character, his statement in “Smackdown” disproves that he fully belongs to a particular archetype. It’s a subtle reveal, but one that’s vital to understanding what Jack Reacher is all about.
Amazon has chosen 2003’sPersuaderfromLee Child’s huge catalog ofJack Reacherbooksto adapt forReacherseason 3. Although the events of other novels may have happened since theend ofReacherseason 2, it’s tricky to prove whether that’s the case. Regardless, Ritchson’s return to lead theReacherseason 3 castmakes him one of the only actors to come back to the show as the adaptation’s semi-anthological approach continues. This time out,Reacher is in a very different situation.
Reacher Telling Richard He “Hasn’t Solved” Paulie Yet Proves Ritchson’s Character Doesn’t Always Resort To His Physical Strength
Beating Paulie will take more than brute strength, and Reacher knows it
When Johnny Berchtold’sRichard Beck accuses Reacher of being scared of Paulie(Olivier Richters) in “Smackdown,” Ritchson’s character briefly looks a blend of angry and offended before saying, “I’m not afraid of him, I just haven’t solved him yet.” Reacher’s confidence that he can ultimately beat any enemy in a fight brings to the surface his incredibly tactical mind, and reaffirms the fact he often fights intelligently rather than having to rely solely on his considerable brute strength. What he’s really saying to Richard is that once he inevitably figures out Paulie’s weakness, he’ll beat him. Therefore, no fear required.
All 8 Villains In Reacher Season 3 Explained
A handful of new villains are introduced in the first three episodes of Reacher season 3, including the heavy-hitting Paulie & the mysterious Quinn.
Richard and Reacher’s exchange in “Smackdown” isn’t the only recent example of how Ritchson’s character uses all the available information and resources to his advantage. There have been a few moments in season 3 where Reacher has given voice to his stream of consciousness about exactly what will happen in specific scenarios, based on projections, character motivations, statistics, and more. Sure, he has also solved several problems with violence too, but it’s just one option in his vast bag of tricks.It just so happens that Reacher’s physical prowess is also often the most effective solution.
Paulie can easily withstand physical punishment from Reacher
Image via Prime Video
Paulie is the physically superior threat that Reacher hadn’t yet come up against, which makes for unpredictable storytelling. However, in true Reacher style, he’s already teased his eventual victory over Paulie with that clever trick in the weight room. That being said, Reacher being floored after a single blow from Paulie serves as evidence that fighting smart and not hard will be key to Ritchson’s character leaving their coming clash alive. WithReacherseason 4 already confirmed,it’s pretty much certain that Paulie will lose, but watching their fight will be very interesting.
1
2
3
“Number 2 with a Bullet”
4
5
6
“Smoke on the Water”
7
8
