‘Reacher’ Season 3, Episode 5 “Smackdown” Recap & Review

This article has spoilers for Reacher Season 3, Episode 5, “Smackdown”

In the new world order of streaming, TV shows are usually about 8-10 episodes long, making each episode much more important in terms of content and impact on the season. This week is episode five of eight in Reacher season three, a significant episode that could help shape the back end of the season. While there is good plot development and a couple of key deaths, including a surprising one, “Smackdown” comes up short, with some overly long scenes and equally flat dialogue. 

The episode picks up right where last week left off, with Duffy (Sonya Cassidy) and Villanueva (Roberto Montesinos) investigating a lead at a warehouse. They get compromised, but Reacher (Alan Ritchson) warns them in time before showing up in person and helping take out the trash. The agents get away, and Reacher and the one remaining henchman get in a car to pursue. However, Reacher purposely disables the car (getting it stuck) so they can’t follow.

Upon returning to Zachary Beck’s (Anthony Michael Hall) estate, Reacher has the grim task of disposing of the two bodies from the warehouse gunfight in the ocean. This involves a conversation with the remaining henchman about the disposal situation there, which almost feels like foreshadowing for future episodes. 

Meanwhile, in a turn of events that was probably surprising to no one, rookie agent Steven Eliot (Daniel David Stewart), on babysitting patrol for the bodyguard the agents have stashed away in a safe house, finally makes a mistake that can’t be corrected. The bodyguard escapes, killing Eliot on the way out, and when Duffy discovers the body, she makes a risky but necessary decision to call Reacher to warn him. However, they come up with a plan to stop the bodyguard from reaching Beck’s place and blowing Reacher’s cover (and by stopping him, I mean Reacher killed him).

When Reacher returns to the house, he finds Beck and a couple of henchmen waiting for him, and they have news. It turns out they searched the house while he was gone. While they missed the phone in his room, they found another in the maid’s room, and she was working undercover for the ATF. That’s a dead DEA and ATF agent in one episode, making it more personal now than ever. This is where Reacher has a quick but violent encounter with bodyguard Paulie (the very large and intimidating Olivier Richters), who puts Reacher to the floor with one punch. There is a fairly good chance that Reacher won’t underestimate his strength and speed again. 

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“Smackdown” wraps up with Beck and Reacher getting called into a meeting with the “big boss,” who Reacher is sure is Quinn (Brian Tee). Even with Duffy and Villeneuvea backing him up, Reacher goes into the meeting with the thought that he might have to shoot his way out once Quinn recognizes him. Suffice it to say that Reacher won’t die, but the possible reveal of Quinn and blowing Reacher’s cover is an interesting idea for next week’s episode. One also has to wonder if there are any more undercover agents hiding amongst the criminals and crews.

The pace and action were again solid this week, and the show is becoming very adept at keeping things moving, good or bad. Losing the rookie agent and the surprising death of the maid added some extra weight to an episode that at times needed a kick in the ass. While the pace was good, numerous scenes seemed to drag on for no real reason (the numerous “body in the wheelbarrow trips” are one example). Also, some of the dialogue was just forced and awkward. It sometimes made for an uneven episode, stopping the momentum for no apparent reason. 

However, the episode was still well done and had a few curveballs that will be important down the line. With “Smackdown” in the books, there are now three episodes left and a few key points to be addressed. A confrontation with both Quinn and Paulie, finding Teressa, dead or alive, and how many bodies will be left standing at the end. There are more than a few debts to be repaid, and it goes without saying that however it plays out, it won’t be done quietly.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars