We’ve always known Reacher (Alan Ritchson) is a haunted man. In Season 1 we thought it was the death of his brother that chased him down a never-ending road. In Season 2 we thought it was because “you never mess with the special investigators,” but in Season 3 Reacher finally sees a ghost—a man named Quinn (Brian Tee)—and we realize that once again it’s personal and this one is going to hurt.
Every holiday season, it’s become a habit to preview the upcoming Reacher episodes and giggle in perverse glee at the hyper-precise violence, the one-liners, the big man’s odd blend of misanthropic heroism, and every scene with the bestie, Neagley (Maria Sten). I watched the first two seasons in one or two days. But the investigation in Season 3 got under my skin. I had to take breaks, breathe, reflect, and figure out why I was so shook.
When talking around the RIOTUS campfire, I’ve mentioned that S2 was fun but it didn’t hit the same highs as the first one. It’s not just the cold-blooded brutality but the depth of feeling, the warmly beating pulse that gave fuel to the action. S2 nailed its themes of friendship and funny found families, but it wasn’t completely satisfying.
S3 doesn’t have that problem. My new favorite sub-genre is People Thinking Reacher Won’t Kill Them When He Will. Alan Ritchson says they went harder this time around—upped the degree of difficulty on the fights and stunts, invested in new technology and tools, and focused the impact of the storytelling. But it’s also because we see how deeply human Reacher is again, whether it’s saving a kid being bullied or dealing with a loss he’ll never get over. He’s also facing off against a guy who’s twice his size in Paulie (Olivier Richters). That’s not hyperbole. I guess if it starts with “Ritch” or “Richt” it’s going to be extra-extra-large.
To get to that more personal side, S3 sees Reacher go under cover to hunt down a man so bad he tells Neagley to stay away. Y’all, what the hell is so bad he feels the need to protect his trusted wingwoman from it? You’re about to find out. Part of the problem is an “exotic” rug exporter called Bizarre Bazaar, run by Zachary Beck (Anthony Michael Hall). Something isn’t right about their business. We know this because Beck’s son, Richard (Johnny Berchtold), is missing an ear because of it. There’s also way too much muscle at the front gate, beginning with Paulie and his bad attitude. it all leads to Quinn, the ghost from the past that Reacher has to exorcise or die trying.
Trust Reacher to go undercover as…Reacher and make it convincing. Helping him out with the investigation are ATF agents Susan Duffy (Sonya Cassidy) the boss lady and this season’s Bond babe, “The Old Man” Guillermo Villanueva (Roberto Montesinos), and the rookie Steven Elliot (Daniel David Stewart). Confession: I think they’re ATF (keeping the ABCs of law enforcement straight isn’t easy). Of course, even after telling her to stay away, Reacher is going to need long distance help from the bestie, Neagley.
sidebar: Neagley is becoming one of the best characters on television and this season tells us why.
What evolves is a Reacher-style excavation of the relationships between fathers and sons & mentors and protégés: the misunderstandings, the need to protect, and the thirst for revenge when it all goes wrong. What emerges is a season that made me pause to catch my breath every two episodes from the big action, big feelings, and big bad backstory. None of the characters or emotions are out of place in Season 3 and the investigation lands as hard as the fists.
Reacher Season 3 is a high-octane game of espionage, romance, neck-breaking, revenge, explosions, giggles, and People Thinking Reacher Won’t Kill Them When He Will. And I can’t wait to press play again.
