Reacher Season 3 Episode 5 recap: Shocking scene and major twist change the game for Jack
Reacher Season 3 is past the half-way point now, and in Episode 5, there’s a shocking scene that deeply affects Jack and his team, plus an unexpected twist that no one saw coming.
Season 3 of Reacherkicked off with a burst of episodes that featured Jack going undercover in a shady import/export business in search of a missing person, as well as anenemy from his past called McCabe, who now goes by the name Quinn.
In Episode 4,a series of flashbacksrevealed why Reacher has beef with McCabe, over a friend and colleague called Dominique, whom McCabe murdered in brutal fashion.
Meaning we now know why Reacher wants revenge, and also just how dangerous this villain is. So here’s what goes down inEpisode 5, meaningSPOILERS AHEAD…
Brutal kill spurs Reacher on
Episode 5 kicks off with trouble in a warehouse, and Reacher springing into action to help his DEA collaborator Susan Duffy. They make their escape, and while Jack is helping to dispose of a body, young DEA Agent Steven Eliot is left alone with Richie’s former bodyguard. Which is a big mistake.
The first four episodes have established Eliot as keen – but also inexperienced – and the bodyguard has clocked it, slowly using that information to his advantage by repeatedly asking for a cigarette. Eliot eventually appeases him, little realising that his prisoner has a mouthful of rubbing alcohol.
The bodyguard spits the liquid onto a naked flame and burns Eliot’s face, then breaks free from his ties, and stamps on Steven’s head until he’s dead. It’s the most shocking scene inSeason 3thus far, though the bodyguard soon gets his comeuppance, with Jack staging an accident to prevent him reaching McCabe, then calmly shooting him in the head.
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The Season 3 twist no one saw coming
The start of Season 3 featured a clever switcheroo whereby the audience was fooled for much of the first episode, until the big reveal that Richie’s attempted kidnapping was a set-up. A similar thing happens in Episode 5, when it looks like Jack’s secret cell-phone is found, thereby blowing his cover.
But turns out the phone belongs to a French housemaid called Annette, who was working for the ATF, meaning Reacher is safe. But also suggesting that Beck’s security is terrible, as Teresa, Reacher,andthe maid have all been able to infiltrate his inner circle.
Reacher is forced to help dispose of Annette’s body. But along the way he finds out exactly what McCabe is doing, which involves running guns and selling untraceable weapons.
Jack finally meets his match
The episode is titled ‘Smackdown,’ so those expecting a major rumble will have to make do with Reacher finally discovering whatman-mountain Paulieis made of during a brief back-and-forth. As during an argument between them, Jack punches the giant in the stomach, and he remains unmoved.
In response, Paulie slaps Reacher, and he isshook, the look on his face suggesting Jack has never been hit that hard before.
The episode ends with Reacher being summoned to meet with Quinn/McCabe, and hoping that the ridiculous amnesia contrivance will mean he isn’t recognised. But Jack is nevertheless prepared to kill him again, subtly putting hand to gun as he says: “Yes, I’ve been waiting for this moment for some time now.”
For more on the big guy, here’s details of theReacher Season 3 cast and characters, arundown of the Reacher soundtrack and songs, a guide to thebook on which the new series is based, plus details of themajor change made during adaptation.
