Reacher Recap: Math Is Never Wrong

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Initially, I referred to the captivating TV series “Justified” as a smarter version of “Walker, Texas Ranger.” At its least engaging, “Reacher” sometimes seems like a more intellectual take on “Walker, Texas Ranger,” for those aspiring to appreciate the depth and sophistication of “Justified”.

In this part of the story, the wheel keeps turning, marking the conclusion. After a firefight in a warehouse that reduces Beck and Quinn’s unremarkable henchmen pool even more – Reacher chooses not to kill the last one, Harley (played by Brendan Fletcher), because he informs Duffy, “it would seem odd” if Reacher is the lone survivor of another gun battle. This segment attempts to elevate tension by taking out two characters we barely know or care for: Eliot, the inept DEA agent who couldn’t read maps and refused cigarettes, and Annette, the slightly flirtatious French maid who baked pies and changed sheets. Eliot’s brutal death by boot-stomping has been heavily hinted at, making it feel like it was foretold multiple times. The unfortunate fellow was simply too naive for this harsh world, but Duffy is fully accountable for his demise. She even deceives Eliot’s father about the circumstances of his death!

In a twist reminiscent of the novel “Persuader” by Lee Child, the episode subtly hints at a deception earlier on by having Reacher keep Duffy’s DEA badge after she loses it during the warehouse fight. Later, he hides this badge in his pillowcase instead of on his large-sized Land Cruiser, which seems unusually risky given that Annette has previously searched his room. Could it be that Reacher left the badge there with the hope that Annette would find it, considering her past search? The sudden revelation that Annette is an ATF spy indeed feels unexpected, almost as if it came out of nowhere.

The scene in the book that isn’t present involves Agnes, the cook in Zachary Beck’s household, commenting that the coffee she served Jack Reacher – “Hot as hell, black as pitch!” – is a high-end brand that passed through a cat’s digestive system. Initially, Reacher simply notes it tastes like coffee. However, following his dismissal of one of Beck’s kitchen table newcomers for making an inappropriate remark about Annette, Reacher reflects on the coffee as coming from a cat’s rear end. This moment stands out as significant in the story.

The primary issue with the ongoing third season of Reacher is that it struggles to present its main antagonist, Xavier Quinn, as a truly intimidating figure. Instead, he is portrayed as easily outmaneuvered by lesser criminals like Zachary Beck and incompetent hires such as Angel Doll and Paulie. In comparison, Harley emerges as the most terrifying adversary we’ve encountered so far, displaying a chilling disregard for human life. He boasts about his past actions, such as allowing a disabled man to drown while pleading for mercy, and even uses “The Neptune Society” as a euphemism for disposing of bodies in water. This seems too sophisticated for someone as vicious as Harley.

In the cat-butt coffee scene, the two fresh thugs, or enforcers, referred to as legbreakers, symbolize Reacher’s ongoing struggle with villains. They are meant to be the reinforcements, the tough guys, handpicked by Quinn – a rogue Army Intelligence Colonel on the run – and strategically placed at Beck’s establishment, much like Paulie. However, upon our introduction to them, they are lounging around making light-hearted remarks about the staff, behaving more like bumbling fools than formidable adversaries. Reacher delivers a beating to one of them without facing any repercussions, even earning praise from Annette in the form of a pie delivered to his room. The man Reacher confronted seems unharmed by the encounter too. In the ensuing fight sequence, it appears as though Reacher cripples the baddie’s knee, but when we see him again later, he is walking without any apparent discomfort. This pattern of events makes Quinn and his numerous henchmen seem as harmless as Zachary Beck himself.

Richard Beck, Zachary’s son who’s still in college, has told Reacher that Cooper, who was supposedly killed by the DEA but is actually being held captive illegally, was more of a watcher than a bodyguard for Richard. This watcher was tasked with keeping tabs on Richard to ensure Zachary obeyed Quinn. However, it’s puzzling why Cooper, after brutally attacking Elioit and escaping, would go to Beck instead of Quinn. Reacher explains to Duffy, during another one of their loud, tension-reducing phone conversations while Reacher is supposed to be undercover and in constant danger, that Cooper will have to come to the house personally because he doesn’t have his phone and it’s unlikely that this man could remember Beck’s unlisted number if he somehow got another one. This seems to be the most believable part of this episode with a lot of loose ends.

In the novel Persuader, Duffy cleverly arranges for a temporary disruption of phone service to the Beck compound, allowing Reacher to set up an ambush for the returning bodyguards. Here, Duffy induces a blackout at the Beck residence and the nearby area by firing a few shots from her service weapon at an electrical transformer, much like a mischievous seventh-grader shooting down streetlights with a BB gun. It’s puzzling why Beck wouldn’t invest in a generator for his seaside property considering he doesn’t have motion sensors or cameras and there’s the possibility of a storm or an unauthorized DEA operation. However, given that this man has a penchant for firearms and isn’t particularly shrewd, it’s not surprising that he might prioritize a backup system to keep his gate from opening during power cuts over the mounted belt-fed machine gun in his guard house (although it should be noted that the machine gun belongs to Paulie).

In a power outage, Reacher uses the cover to strategically position an ambush intended to halt Cooper from reaching the Beck residence. He manages to escape by informing Beck that he’ll be inspecting the road for potential dangers. “This is the only access point,” the recent guest explains to the long-time homeowner. Oh, this guy with his explanations, always Reacher! While conversing with Villanueva from the DEA, Reacher proposes flipping Villanueva’s car to establish a roadblock. He guarantees Villanueva that Cooper will likely have enough space to halt his own vehicle after turning the corner before colliding with Villanueva’s. “Numbers never lie,” Reacher states. The reason why Villanueva needs to stay within the overturned car for this ruse to succeed? Because he just needs to shut up, that’s all!

Upon returning to the darkened Beck residence following Cooper’s death, Reacher learns that an internal search has revealed a traitor among them. He suspects someone discovered Duffy’s badge, but it turns out Annette had a secure government messaging device. This was the gadget Reacher used in “Persuader,” rather than a typical chatterbox phone. Reacher masks his disgust at Annette’s demise, feigning anger because Paulie killed her before he could grill the spy. Paulie takes the murder casually, claiming it was an accident – the massive, 400-pound giant may have unintentionally struck this small young woman too forcefully. “Oops,” he says.

Once more, it appears as if only Paulie could face the consequences for this from Quinn. It’s peculiar that he doesn’t seem the least bit concerned, which seems to diminish Quinn’s intimidating presence. This situation also involves a double tragedy: Reacher isn’t just seeking justice for U.S. Army SFC Dominique Kohl anymore; he’s also avenging ATF informer Annette. It seems that one unconventional, vengeful hobo doesn’t need too many dead young women to ignite his quest for righteous retribution – clearly more than one is necessary.

Overwhelmed by his anger, Reacher lashes out at Paulie with a powerful punch to the torso. In response, Paulie retaliates with a hard slap that leaves Reacher on the ground, writhing in pain as if he’s having a severe headache. A close-up shot reveals Ritchson’s impressive acting skills, portraying a level of shock, agony, and fear that seems unfamiliar to the tough-as-nails Reacher. For a brief moment, it appears that something significant is at risk.

After regaining his strength, he’s assigned the grim duty of removing Annette’s body and disposing of it in the water. Harley follows along, grumbling about the necessity of placing a classified ad for a new housekeeper, protesting “I’m not Steve Jobs!” The puzzle remains as to why Beck would entrust this task to him, or even allow Beck to hire another maid. Reacher silences these thoughts with the same punch he used on Paulie, which surprisingly had a greater impact on the smaller man than it did on the larger one.

Richard visits Reacher’s room to share that he’s aware Reacher hid Annette’s body, shattering the illusion of their father-son bond. He also accepts that Reacher might be fearful of Paulie, a claim Reacher refutes, stating instead that he hasn’t “cracked the case” on Paulie yet. As the violent season progresses, Reacher is starting to resemble Dexter in his methods.

In simpler terms, the authors’ decision to reveal Beck’s illicit gun business through Annette being an ATF agent feels like another weak plot point borrowed from the book. It’s not a shocking revelation as Zachary’s office is essentially a gun museum and he shows a particular interest in firearms. This seems like something even an intelligent ex-military cop like Reacher might have figured out earlier, given that there are many professionals like orthodontists and accountants who own guns. However, it still appears to be a clue that could have been deduced by Reacher sooner.

During our noisy conference call with Duffy, I’ve come to a conclusion: given how swiftly Paulie took out Annette, it seems Duffy’s informant, Teresa Daniels, must have met her end already. With Quinn calling us both for a reprimand and potentially a firing squad, I’ve made up my mind – I’m determined to put an end to Quinn once and for all. Beck inquires if I’m prepared to face the big boss.

For quite a while, I’ve been anticipating this instance,” Reacher says, his words carrying an unusual stiffness and formality, leading one to wonder if he’s under the influence or perhaps not entirely human. However, we’ll have to wait until next week to uncover the truth about his identity!

In an Investigation, Details Matter

In one conversation with Reacher, Duffy is attired in pyjama shorts that align with the sofa’s striped design she’s seated on. Is it interior decoration serving as camouflage? Are the set and costume teams meticulous about ensuring not even a piece of fabric escapes their resourcefulness?

In this episode, Villanueva experiences all manner of disrespectful remarks that one might imagine. Duffy, for instance, complains while waiting for him, saying something along the lines of, “I’d never be held up so frequently by your pea-sized prostate.” Later, Reacher makes a comment about donuts that seems to mock his size. A scene where Villanueva is driving alone and singing “La Bamba” gives off an impression that the show is stereotyping him based on ethnicity. These instances are not mere microaggressions; they are overtly disrespectful remarks and actions.

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2025-03-06 19:18