Reacherhas been a major hit ever since it premiered in 2022 and the third season is proving to be even better. The performances are homogeneously powerful, while the scenes of violence and slaying, though shown at a clinical remove, are still shattering to watch. For this chapter, the showrunner Nick Santora adapted the seventh book in Lee Child’s JackReacherseries:Persuader. As is the case in the show, the book follows the titular character as he tries to take down Zachary Beck — a man believed to be involved in illegal operations while pretending to be in the business of selling oriental carpets.
The show doesn’t cheat on the book, though one major scene is toned down greatly. The episode “Dominique,” told through flashback scenes, reveals that Alan Ritchson’s character had a competent protégé named Dominique Kohl (Mariah Robinson) during his days as a Major in the United States Army’s 110th MP Special Investigations Unit. Unfortunately, Kohl was tortured and murdered by Francis Xavier Quinn. The show touches on this tragic event on a surface level, but the book digs into it disturbingly.
Author Lee Child Describes Kohl’s Death Graphically in ‘Persuader’
InPersuader, Dominique Kohl isassigned to work under Jack Reacher.She does her job thoroughly, so a great camaraderie develops between her and her boss. Unsurprisingly,the two are the first to stumble upon the illegal activities of the intelligence officer named Francis Xavier Quinn, and it falls to them to do something about it. But just whom can they trust?
Quinn ensnares them in a labyrinthine game of cat and mouse as he continues selling classified military technology to his band of shadowy associates. But they are on him. They identify a dead-drop site and gather all the evidence that will be enough to convict the man. Because Kohl had been so passionate about the case,Jack Reacher allows her to head to the villain’s location and make the arrest by herself so that she can get the credit and boost her resume.
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Thrilled, Kohl heads to Quinn’s base in her full military uniform and with her nameplate fully displaying “Kohl,” so that the criminal will always know who arrested him. Unfortunately,Quinn captures Kohl and tortures her. He mutilates her, and then stabs her under the chin until the blade reaches her brain. After he is done, he flees.
The passage is more disturbing than anything Lee Child has ever written, but the author’s intention is clear.He not only wants to paint Quinn as a greedy person who has been searching for lucre under the noses of his superiors, but also as one of the most sadistic people in fiction.He wants readers to feel the same pain that Jack Reacher eventually feels over this loss. As soon as Quinn commits the murder, we know that Reacher will subject him to a brutal death when he finally finds him. This gives us the urge to continue reading, looking forward to that moment.
Season 3 of ‘Reacher’ Only Shows the Aftermath of Kohl’s Death
Make no mistake:Kohl’s story is still moving and frightening in “Dominique.”The episode’s music and intrepid, intrusive filming style help evoke a heady, clandestine world of crime without consequences; an ecosphere bound to implode. For those who haven’t read the book,the new character’s death hits even harderbecause the friendship between her and Jack Reacher is first built to solid levels. We see him warming up to her when she arrives at his office. He tells her how he doesn’t keep chairs because he doesn’t want people to hang around for too long, torturing him with inane questions and their annoyingly sycophantic personalities. For her, he makes an exception.
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Jack Reacher trusts the good-natured Kohl with Quinn’s case, and she almost delivers. Unfortunately, the villain gets the better of her.When the protagonist finds her body, he doesn’t react much. He simply makes that facial expression that tells you he is going to get the person that did it. For anyone new to Reacher’s world, Kohl’s death is painful because she had such a promising future.For book fans, the screen version of events is equally disappointing and relieving.
Prime Video has the freedom to go dark (as we’ve seen withThe Boys), but we are spared any graphic detail in the storyline involving Kohl. This is partly becauseReacheris a dad show. People can get killed, but the fanbase doesn’t wish to see bare bones and flesh. Despite that, some book fans would feel thatit would have been interesting to see things playing out exactly as they do on the pages. It would have been disturbing but not surprising. Reacher says “trouble always finds me.” To him, what often begins as a tranquil and free-flowing communing with nature often turns into nasty, terrifying confrontations with primitive forms of humanity. So, why shy away from showing all the misfortunes tied to the character?
The Novel’s Crying Scene Would Have Been Useful on the Show
Excluding the torture scene makes sense, butthe show should have kept Jack Reacher’s emotional breakdown. InReacher, the protagonist is devastated after finding Kohl’s body, but he doesn’t seem too bothered. He simply moves on and plans vengeance. InPersuader,he is so crushed that he throws up and starts crying. Reacher then reminds readers thathehasn’t cried in over 20 decades.
As tough as anyone is,some things break you and the TV version of Jack Reacher would have appeared even more relatable if he had one such moment.Kohl meant a lot to him. Her quiet dignity and compassion had helped restore his zest for life and work.
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From the show’s storytelling perspective, it makes sense for the character not to dedicate a few minutes to wailing, since he quickly realizes that Quinn is still in the compound and pursues him.Reacher captures the man, marches him onto a cliff’s edge, and shoots him in the forehead with his pistol.Surprise… surprise… the man doesn’t die. It makes little sense, considering that our hero is supposed to be an effective fighter and killing machine.
Keeping the book’s version of events could have saved the show from this blemish. Some viewers might have hated seeing Mr. Tough Guy shed tears and refuse to eat. They might have argued that his magnetism and confidence, his cocky rocker ego, and pure cheek are what make the show truly special. After all, there has always been the notion that people like him shouldn’t cry. Can Jason Statham cry in a movie? Unlikely, but times change and heroes evolve. We shouldn’t be stuck inthe macho daysforever.
Most people would presumably appreciate seeing the man in a defeated state momentarily. Jack Reacher is not a superhero. He is a human with emotions. The character’s disintegration would also have added some intensity to the mission. Right now, his pursuit doesn’t feel personal. It feels like it’s only part of a job. Nonetheless,this doesn’t dampen Season 3’s quality.Shootings, explosions, double crosses, twists, and philosophical jibber-jabber all figure into this witty yet somber high-energy third chapter — a fun cross between neo-noir and military thriller with a decidedly dour procedural twist. Hop on it.
