WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Reacher season 3, episode 7.
Prime Video’sReacherseason 3, episode 7, “L.A. Story,” sets up a thrilling showdown between Reacher and two of thefranchise’s best villains, Paulie and Quinn. While I was half-expecting Harvard graduate Oscar Finlay to show up once Reacher and Susan Duffy made a pit stop in Boston, seeing Teresa’s concerned grandmother was a nice touch to start the episode. WithReacher’s cover now fully blownat the Beck residence, Duffy and Reacher have to find a new way to not only save Teresa but also bring Quinn to long-overdue justice.
The penultimate episode of season 3 finds Reacher matching Duffy’s energy by getting his hands dirty for the greater good. During their stint in Los Angeles, they blackmail Darian, a business associate of Zachary Beck, with blatant lies to get a favor out of him. Reacher breaks his own word by setting Darian up for a DEA raid, which may mark the lowest moral point for Reacher out of any previous episode.Neagley is cleverly includedby telling Beck the truth about McCabe, setting up a deal that may become a lethal trap.
I Was Expecting More Of A Thrilling Entry Before The Season Finale
Image via Prime Video
Reacherseason 3’s penultimate episode is mostly anticlimactic heading into the season 3 finale. Several layers of exposition and plot development occur through conversation alone, which makes for a well-crafted but also unexpectedly dormant episode for a typically thrilling action series likeReacher. Once again, season 3’s villains fuel the episode’s tension from the shadows, forcingmost of the scenes to unfold through strategic conversations in various settings.
If the episode weren’t saved by a clever cliffhanger ending, the whole effort would be lukewarm at best.
Reacher and Duffy finally spark their romantic interest after Duffy still playfully denies her attraction towards Reacher in episode 6. She is still arguably the weakest love interest out of all Reacher seasons, particularly because their situation isn’t fueled by romance whatsoever. If it weren’t such an ingrained part of theReacherformula, the season might havebenefited from removing the romantic element between Reacher and Duffyaltogether. Their intimate scenes are hardly necessary or all that entertaining.
Why Reacher Doesn’t Kill Quinn In Season 3, Episode 6
Despite having the perfect opportunity to get Quinn out of his way, Reacher holds himself back from killing in season 3’s episode 6 for one reason.
If the episode weren’t saved by a clever cliffhanger ending, the whole effort would be lukewarm at best. Compared to season 1’s penultimate episode, “Reacher Said Nothing,” – which is one of the best of the entire series – “L.A. Story” feels likea whole lot of plot explanation through dialoguerather than compelling visual storytelling.
This Season Is Starting To Lose Steam At The Worst Possible Time
The opening scene of season 3, which turns out to be an elaborate scheme for Reacher to gain access to Zachary Beck’s operation, makes for arguably the best premise of anyReacherseason. It also set a high bar which, judging by episode 7’s lackluster output, may have been too high. Itplaces the pressure of the entire season on the broad shoulders of its finale, which could very well make or break the whole installment.
I can’t help but think about how great season 1’s story was and how strong the ensemble cast’s chemistry was in season 2.
Looking back atReacherseason 3 from the end of its penultimate episode, I can’t help but think about how great season 1’s story was and how strong the ensemble cast’s chemistry was in season 2. While I enjoy the narrative of Lee Child’sPersuader, it feels like something isn’t exactly clicking with its TV adaptation compared to past seasons. I’ve been looking forward to Reacher’s showdown with Paulie for so long that I’m already exhausted from it.I had hoped there would be more from Paulie’s characterto latch onto but he has faded in recent episodes.
Reacherseason 3, episode 7 did provide one crucial answer to a lingering mystery: Teresa is still alive. This, paired with meeting Teresa’s grandmother, adds some emotional weight to Duffy’s mission to save her. Considering what Quinn did to Lt. Kohl and how dark this entire season has been,I hope Reacher gets his revenge on Quinn to the fullest extent. It will be most interesting to see how Reacher and Duffy can get back into the Beck residence after being exposed and, most of all, whether Quinn will remember Reacher or Kohl.
Resting on the season’s low point heading into the finale doesn’t exactly seem ideal forReacherseason 3.
Reacherseason 3’s penultimate episode leaves a lot on the table, which will hopefully pay off in satisfying ways during next week’s finale. Up until this point, I’ve been relatively pleased with the whole season. That said, resting on the season’s low point heading into the finale doesn’t exactly seem ideal forReacherseason 3.
Reacher
Reacher follows Jack Reacher, a former military police investigator, as he navigates civilian life. Without a phone and carrying minimal belongings, Reacher drifts across the country, experiencing the nation he once served, and encounters intriguing challenges along the way.
