Prime VideoThe Reacher Season 3 finale features murder, mayhem, and the settling of multiple scores, but one specific kill stands out from the many deaths.
Jack has been a man on a mission in Reacher Season 3, going undercover to track villain Xavier Quinn, the man who killed his friend and colleague Dominique Kohl.
To carry out that task, he infiltrated Zachary Beck’s dodgy import-export business, and eventually came face-to-face with Quinn, who didn’t recognise him due to one of TV’s worst tropes.
But that storyline – as well as several others – are wrapped up in the climactic Episode 8, which also features a truly memorable kill. So head here for our Reacher Season 3 finale recap, and list of major deaths, or scroll down for the details of the most gruesome kill. Meaning SPOILERS ahead…
Why Paulie’s death was worth the wait in Season 3
Prime VideoReacher Season 3 has been building up to the “fight of the century” between Jack and Paulie, thanks to the latter being nearly a foot taller than the former, and even stronger.
They’ve been butting heads throughout the first seven episodes, with Jack mocking Paulie in the gym, and Paulie later slapping the wind out of Jack.
That lengthy setup finally pays off in Episode 8, via a fight that fills the first half of the finale. It starts outside, with the pair tossing each other into trucks, then moves inside with slams onto tables and shelves, as well as a spot of strangulation and eye-gouging.
Prime VideoThe duelling duo go underwater, with Paulie trying to drown Jack, and Jack responding with a devastating punch to his throat. But Paulie somehow survives that blow, and they end up fighting in shed where everything from a fire extinguisher to a computer monitor come into play.
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It looks like it’s all over when Paulie grabs a huge gun, and points it at Reacher while saying, “You shouldn’t have f*cked with me. I’m bigger than you. I’m stronger than you.”
He then fires, but in a shocking turn of events, the bullets don’t blast into Jack, but rather fire back into the face, neck, and torso of Paulie. “You might be bigger and stronger, but I’m smarter,” says Reacher. “I pulled a bullet from the belt and plugged the barrel.”
He then watches Paulie bleed out, their epic fight ending on both a surprising twist, and a truly brutal kill.
Jack will return in Reacher Season 4, while for more on the big guy, here’s how to read the Reacher books in order, plus how many Reacher movies Tom Cruise made. Also, check out our list of the best TV shows of 2025 so far.