Shocking flashback in Reacher Season 3 reveals what Jack is really fighting for

In the most dramatic episode of Reacher Season 3 thus far, an extended flashback reveals what Jack is really up to, and adds serious emotional depth to the series.

Reacher Season 3 Episodes 1-3 dropped last week, and saw the hulking drifter go undercover in search of a missing person called Teresa, who disappeared while covertly working for shady businessman Zachary Beck.

But Reacher has reasons of his own for the dangerous operation, to do with a mysterious figure from his past called Quinn, who sold secrets to America’s enemies, and whom Jack describes as “the single worst person I’ve ever known.”

He clearly wants revenge, and in Reacher Season 3 Episode 4 – which is titled ‘Dominique’ and now streaming on Prime Video – we find out exactly why, so beware of SPOILERS ahead.

Introducing Quinn and Kohl to Reacher Season 3

At the start of Episode 4, Reacher and DEA Agent Susan Duffy realise that Beck’s boss Julius McCabe is the same person as Reacher’s enemy Quinn, whom Jack believed he had killed. Which leads Reacher to recount their back-story.

While running the army’s 110th Special Investigations Unit, Quinn’s file came across Reacher’s desk, at the much the same time that Dominique Kohl entered his office.

A Sergeant First Class, Kohl is assigned to the Unit, and it quickly becomes clear she’s a mini-Jack, with steely determination, an eye for detail, and Sherlock Holmes-like powers of deduction.

The pair bond during a stakeout and successful interrogation, during which they learn that Quinn is military intelligence, as well as a ruthless psychopath. But they collect the evidence, make the case, and Reacher sends Kohl to arrest their target.

How the past influences the present in new series

Which is where it all goes wrong, in genuinely heartbreaking fashion. The tragedy puts Reacher on a collision course with Quinn that ends with Jack thinking he’s killed the traitor via bullet to the head.

But back in the present-day – and via a pretty dodgy contrivance concerning a small round and tough skull – it’s very clear that he hasn’t. Meaning Reacher must murder Quinn all over again.

It’s a brilliant episode that raises the stakes, aligns the goals of our heroes, underlines the fact that Teresa is in very clear and present danger, and singles Quinn out as Jack’s most dangerous foe yet. And someone we now really want him to kill.

For more on the big guy, here’s details of the Reacher Season 3 cast and characters, a rundown of the soundtrack and songs, a guide to the book on which the new series is based, plus details of the major change made during adaptation.