Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for the Reacher Season 3 finale.
Well, folks, it’s been a season of shattered jaws, broken ribs, and morally satisfying vengeance—but Reacher saved the biggest, dumbest, most violently operatic showdown for last. Season 3 goes out with a bang, several booms, a few crunches, and a strong reminder that Reacher (Alan Ritchson) isn’t just the kind of man who punches through doors—he stampedes through people like a wrecking ball with military training. Like a refrigerator with feelings. Like a Panzer tank with lovely eyes. Let’s break down this glorious finale, where everything explodes and somehow Paulie (Olivier Richters) still doesn’t die the first time.
Quinn Sets a Trap in the ‘Reacher’ Season 3 Finale

Image via Prime Video

We kick off at Bullhead Salvage Yard, where everyone’s in position for what they think is a controlled takedown. The ATF is ready, Beck’s (Anthony Michael Hall) nervously shifting in the dirt, and Reacher’s perched like a murder hawk in sniper mode. And then, of course, everything goes sideways, because it’s an ambush. The ATF starts dropping like flies as bullets fly from all directions. Beck dives for cover. Duffy (Sonya Cassidy) suits up and charges into the fray because, obviously, she’s had enough of bureaucratic fumbles. Meanwhile, Reacher does what Reacher does best—starts cleaning house.
Beck almost gets taken out, but our hero swoops in, guns blazing, and makes sure he lives to regret a few more things. One of Quinn’s (Brian Tee) goons tries to send a backup text, but Reacher intercepts and sends an “all clear” instead, buying Neagley (Maria Sten) more time to continue scoping out the real party—the one happening at Beck’s house, complete with hostage, sketchy buyers, a pretty good lounge singer and likely hors d’oeuvres.
It’s Paulie vs. Reacher in the Season 3 Finale

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Reacher jumps on a call with Neagley via the world’s tiniest phone and tells her the next part of the plan: they’ll return the trucks to Beck’s house like nothing happened. Reacher also tells Neagley to leave Paulie to him. Because Paulie? Oh, he owes that guy a beatdown. Meanwhile, humble king Villanueva (Roberto Montesinos) is doing his best to drive a truck despite absolutely zero qualifications. He’s making it work.
Inside the Beck mansion, Quinn is entertaining the buyers like he’s some sleazy Bond villain. He even flashes a photo of Teresa Daniel (Storm Steendon) like she’s some kind of gift. Gross. Back outside, Reacher has a bit of a situation with one of Quinn’s drivers. He spares him… briefly. Suggests he find some rope to keep himself alive. Oh wait, nope—he breaks his neck instead. Moving on! Paulie comes out to inspect the returned trucks, which leads to the main event: Reacher vs. Paulie. This isn’t just a fight. Godzilla and King Kong would look at these two and take the night off. While Reacher’s having the most dangerous playdate imaginable, Neagley, Duffy, and Villanueva infiltrate the Beck house disguised as waitstaff. Their mission? Find Theresa and not get shot. Easy.
Villanueva ends up fighting a goon in the bathroom and invents a new form of plumbing-based murder. Meanwhile, Beck is hunting for his son, Richard (Johnny Berchtold), hoping to get him out before Quinn realizes loyalty is a one-way street. Back to the yard. Reacher’s landing punches, but Paulie shrugs them off like they’re gentle nudges. Even a low blow does nothing. What the hell is wrong with him? Reacher tries a shovel. Paulie HEADBUTTS IT IN HALF. We are not okay.

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Reacher Is Down (But Not Out) in the Season 3 Finale

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Paulie slams Reacher through a table, drops a pile of compost on top of him, and when Reacher doesn’t rise, assumes he’s done. Wrong. He hangs Reacher with a chain and walks away. But Reacher isn’t done. Of course not. He frees himself, grabs a rake, and goes full rage mode. Smacks Paulie in the leg. They both tumble into the ocean in what feels like the most symbolic backyard brawl of all time. Paulie tries to drown Reacher. A wave pulls them both under — but Reacher resurfaces and finally manages to deliver a throat strike powerful enough to send Paulie sinking into the depths. Thank goodness, Paulie is finally dead.
PAULIE IS NOT DEAD. He crawls back from the sea like an unholy swamp beast. We are now fully in cartoon territory. Peter Griffin and the giant chicken are shook. The fight resumes in the guard shack. Reacher smashes a monitor over Paulie’s head. Tries to mow him down with a machine gun. Paulie grabs it. Reacher, being a genius, had plugged the barrel. The gun backfires. Paulie gets shot through the neck. Now he’s done. Maybe. Please.
Duffy finds a heavily drugged Teresa, while Quinn is escorting his buyers to a barn to finalize the deal, but one perv sneaks away to assault Teresa. Duffy catches him and shoots him in the dick, then the head. Efficiency. Meanwhile, Reacher storms the weapons warehouse and just wrecks the buyers. The camera practically flinches. Quinn returns to find everything in shambles. Neagley gives chase. Beck finds Richard and tries to confront Quinn with a fake gun. It doesn’t work. Quinn murders Beck, who dies in Richard’s arms.
Reacher Moves On in the Season 3 Finale

Reacher tracks Quinn through the house, now armed with a shotgun and righteous fury. The Russians arrive and try to claim Quinn as part of their deal, but Reacher called dibs first. Neagley, being Neagley, pulls the pin on a grenade. Nobody flinches. It works. The Russians bail, and Neagley reveals it was a fake. We knew she was a smart cookie. She, Villanueva, and Duffy leave Quinn to Reacher’s mercy. Quinn tries to talk his way out of it. Says he doesn’t even remember Reacher. Big mistake. Reacher says one name: Dominique (Mariah Robinson). The 110th Special Investigators officer that Reacher grew close to, and that Quinn butchered. Boom. Shotgun to the face. Goodbye, Quinn.

The next morning, Reacher tells Richard to take a car, take some cash, and run far away. Richard thanks him for helping him see the good in his father. Reacher just nods and says he doesn’t dwell on the bad—he hunts it down and ends it. Duffy reveals she’s leaving the DEA. Reacher might be the best man she’s ever known, but they aren’t built to last. Reacher is almost speechless, because she stole his goodbye speech. They share a final kiss. Bitter. Sweet. Perfect.
Neagley finally figures Reacher out. It’s not that he loves the little guy. He hates the big ones. The bullies. And he’ll never stop hunting them. Teresa reunites with her grandmother. Richard hits the road. Reacher mounts Beck’s motorcycle and vanishes into the distance. Another case closed. Another monster buried. And Reacher? Already onto the next one.
All three seasons of Reacher are streaming now on Prime Video. We’ll see you for Season 4.

Reacher

Reacher Season 3 ends with with a bang, several booms, a few crunches, and a reminder that its lead can bulldoze through people.

Release Date

February 3, 2022

Network

Prime Video

Showrunner

Nick Santora

Directors

Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent

Pros & Cons

Episode 8 is a satisfying ending to a much-improved season.
Reacher’s fight with Paulie is suitably nasty.
Neagley’s upcoming spin-off is set up well.

The finale feels a bit rushed at times.