Reacher Recap: The Seventh Sense

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As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed a significant shift between Lee Child’s 2003 novel “Persuader” and its TV adaptation. In the book, Jack Reacher remains rather reserved and tight-lipped, which perfectly suits the first-person narrative style. However, on screen, he seems more talkative – a change I suspect stems from the need to adapt a solitary novel character for a shared medium.

But it’s not just that; in the book, Reacher is truly isolated once he manages to infiltrate Richard Beck’s heavily secured import/export business. His only means of communication with Duffy, the DEA agent who roped him into this unofficial mission, is through a basic yet supposedly secure messaging device.

In the TV show, what you see as just a phone is constantly being used by Reacher for chatter. Kicking off this episode, he immediately calls Duffy upon discovering Teresa’s earring in Beck’s carriage house. Based on an almost finished meal of food he had seen Duke carry out to this building earlier and the existence of a cot with a space heater, he deduces that Teresa’s captors might have moved her no more than a few hours previously. He swiftly dampens Duffy’s relief by stating, “If Beck is in cahoots with Reacher’s old adversary Francis Xavier Quinn, they aren’t keeping her alive and well for no particular reason.

At the place where Reacher’s DEA associates have established their base, the young agent Elliot has Richard Beck’s bodyguard, who Reacher supposedly killed, handcuffed to a chair. Suddenly, Duffy barges in and starts brutally attacking the man, seeking information about Teresa’s location. Villanueva steps in to stop her, reminding them that they’re holding this man unlawfully. In a peculiar manner, Villanueva suggests calmness, addressing her as Suzie Q. When Elliot concurs, Duffy teasingly calls him Magellan. This made me chuckle, as it was the same individual whose inability to read a map led to Duffy’s warrant for surveilling Beck becoming invalid.

“Sometimes I call him Ponce de Moron,” Duffy tells Villanueva. C+ for that one.

At the Beck residence, it seems Duke has found Reacher taking an unauthorized stroll until Ritchson, in a shirtless debut for the season, steps out from the bathroom, looking quite well. Duke instructs Reacher to join another associate named Angel Doll on a journey to locate the truck used in Richard Beck’s kidnap attempt. Afterward, Duke exits, leaving Reacher alone to contact his buddy, Duffy, once more, this time potentially exposing their conversation to eavesdropping ears.

It seems illogical for the task, since Beck—given his influential network—could easily obtain Reacher’s fingerprints and military records swiftly, could find the license plate of a detained vehicle without dispatching an untrustworthy associate to the yard under cover of darkness. This person, who openly expresses his readiness to kill the officer guarding the yard if necessary, would only escalate the situation, attracting unwanted attention. Beck is not on par with Professor Moriarty in terms of cunning and deviousness.

Regardless of how feeble the reason might be, waking up Jack Reacher in the dead of night could prove shrewd, as someone deprived of sleep tends to err more often. It’s clear that enduring one or multiple rounds of Russian roulette doesn’t shield Reacher from being under scrutiny.

During a secret conversation with Reacher, Duffy reveals that both the pickup truck and the Audi driven by Richard Beck’s bodyguard were parked in the same police compound. Reacher warns her that if Angel spots the Audi without any remaining signs of a man who was brutally killed in the driver’s seat, their entire plan will be exposed. Duffy mentions she is heading to the impound lot to transport the Audi, but Reacher needs to delay things for a while.

The character named Angel Doll, tasked with chauffeuring Reacher to the location, is quite chatty. It’s puzzling how someone with lips as loose as his managed to get entangled in this criminal network, but it won’t be long before he’s out. Unfortunately, actor Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz delivers lines such as “I have more lookups than the Central Maine Power Company” in a way that’s music to the ears. Reacher discovers that Angel Doll, like him, is an ex-Army man and that the criminal organization they both serve values initiative. Crucially, he confirms what Reacher had suspected all along: Beck is not the true leader of this operation.

Duffy and Villanueva arrive at the tow yard first, but their Audi ends up being held back by a broken-down vehicle. Duffy requires extra time to navigate the situation. Meanwhile, Reacher casually extends his restroom and coffee break to an unreasonable length, adding a comical touch to the scene.

As a cinephile, I find myself pondering about how Reacher and his companion aim to access the impound lot. Angel hints at two methods, one being a $500 bribe (the carrot) and the other, a gun (the stick). However, when the officer turns down the bribe, things escalate rapidly. Reacher intervenes, delivering a swift blow to render the cop unconscious before Angel could pull the trigger. This action saves the man’s life, albeit risking the repercussions of potentially killing a law enforcement officer just to obtain the number of a suspect vehicle’s license plate, which seems like an unwise move to me, but who am I to judge?

Just as Reacher anticipated, Angel spots the Audi in the parking lot, showing signs of damage from the kidnapping attempt, but no trace of blood inside. “It’s cleaner than my car,” Angel remarks. Reacher points out that it has Delaware license plates, a detail he knows because Duffy recently changed them and is, in fact, concealed beneath this Audi at this moment. Despite his suspicions, Angel is more excited about the promotion he hopes to earn from successfully completing this task, exclaiming, “I’m climbing the ladder just like George Jefferson!

After finishing their early-morning chores, Reacher was ready for sleep. But it wouldn’t happen. Before he could even close his eyes, there was a knock at the door. Beck ordered him to head downstairs to the gym for a discussion with Paulie and Duke about the day’s duties. Duke was doing dips on a bench, while Pauli appeared to be lifting what looked like eight weight plates. Just like John C. Reilly in Boogie Nights, he asked Reacher how much he could lift in a bench press. However, as author Lee Child mentions, Reacher’s impressive physique comes from dining at diners and not deliberately exercising. Reacher claimed that a bench press doesn’t accurately measure strength.

Reacher proposes an impromptu game of “Bavarian arm wrestling,” cleverly devising a situation where Paulie will inadvertently punch himself, reminiscent of grade school pranks. Although it’s predictable, the amusement lies in watching the plan unfold. Once Paulie falls, he becomes aggressive and eager for a confrontation. Just as the altercation seemed imminent, Duke interrupts with a task for Reacher: driving a Bizarre Bazaar truck to New London, Connecticut. Interestingly enough, I’ve spent time in New London myself, attending the National Critics Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, only a short distance away on Ocean Avenue! My experience tells me that simply driving a truck there wouldn’t be as exciting as my previous visit.

Reacher travels using a GPS navigation system to reach his designated location within six hours. He maintains the speed limit and doesn’t concern himself with what he is transporting, be it rugs, drugs, or a DEA informant named Teresa Daniels who was recently held captive at the Beck compound. Reacher contacts Duffy from the road to set up a meeting with his team, allowing them to inspect the truck’s cargo and determine its nature.

Additionally, he contacts his longtime acquaintance Frances Neagley (Maria Sten), who wasn’t featured in the novel “Persuader,” but her endearing presence since the Amazon series debuted has made it hard to exclude her from subsequent episodes. Reacher requests Neagley to gather documents related to Duke, Paulie, and Angel Doll, with the latter two likely possessing military records. Neagley proposes to clear her current assignments and rejoin forces with Reacher. She feels slighted when Reacher declares it’s too risky, inquiring, “Who are you facing off against, Reacher?” He ends the call without responding. Reacher is a reliable ally but not always the best friend.

During their meeting with Duffy and Villanueva, Reacher explains some fundamental police matters to these two seasoned officers, such as his reason for waiting 72 seconds after parking the truck before exiting. “That’s the duration it takes to drive a mile at 50 miles per hour,” he explains. “Nobody would tail visually from a distance greater than a mile,” he adds. Duffy confirms that the earring found on the Beck property is Teresa’s. Reacher advises Duffy that there’s no way she could be ready for what might be discovered inside. She may find it insulting; after all, she’s dealt with dead bodies before, right? However, she seems captivated by Reacher’s patronizing attitude.

In the novel, Villanueva unlocks the back of the truck and a K-9 officer friend of Duffy’s arrives with a drug-detecting dog named Pfizer. A witty comment is made by the police officer about how drugs are Villanueva’s business. He boasts that his dogs can detect even a Christmas fart on New Year’s, and declares Reacher’s truck to be free of illegal substances. In the story, it’s revealed that this long journey into New London is a test of loyalty for Reacher. He hands Villanueva his GPS device and instructs him to get back on the highway, suggesting he’s being watched. In the series, it’s Reacher who restores the lock on the truck, setting up a humorous moment about how he only uses a soldering iron to get tough suspects to cooperate. The expression on Duffy’s face when she calculates the situation is priceless.

While Reacher and Duffy are driving en route to meet Villanueva, “Dry the Rain” by The Beta Band plays on the radio. If the argument about “Surfin’ Safari” in the Vinyl Vault during the last episode seemed like a subtle reference to High Fidelity, this time it’s clear! Reacher speculates that Angel’s disclosure suggesting Beck is not in control makes him believe Francis Xavier Quinn, an old adversary of Reacher who we have only caught a brief glimpse but has yet to speak, might be the true mastermind behind the antagonist. He also shares that he too, like Duffy with Teresa, once had a protege.

Duffy wonders, ‘What action did Quinn take toward her?'” and “Lee Child’s go-to line is ‘Reacher remained silent.’ That’s what he does here.

After leaving Duffy with Villanueva, Reacher continues toward his destination. However, he’s promptly instructed to return a different Bizarre Bazaar truck to Maine instead.

After spending approximately 12 hours on the road, Reacher returns to the warehouse and finds Angel there on his own. Angel has been simmering with his doubts. He’s not happy that Reacher intervened in his plan to kill the cop. What makes him even more uneasy is the fact that the minivan Reacher says he commandeered to drive Richard home didn’t show any signs of being tampered with. “I have a sixth sense for these things,” Angel remarks. The horn from Duke’s car calls them both outside.

In order to make a firm resolution, Reacher forcefully hits Angel’s head against a table, effectively silencing the loquacious individual with a single strike. To accommodate the deceased body, he is compelled to fracture its leg so it can be concealed beneath the desk. It’s a tactic we’ve witnessed Reacher employ in the past. Meanwhile, an exasperated Duke queries Reacher about the delay. “Angel talks too much,” Reacher replies. I must admit, I enjoyed listening to him speak; his accent had a melodious quality that surpassed Duffy’s Boston brogue.

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2025-02-20 21:57