Reacher Season 3 Episode 8 recap and ending explained: Does Quinn die?

Reacher Season 3 has come to a conclusion on Apple TV+, so here’s what happens during the finale, including details of the big Jack v Paulie fight, plus what happens to evil villain Quinn.

Reacher Season 3 has been a very personal story for the title character, as he looks to avenge the death of his friend and colleague Dominique Kohl, who was murdered by Xavier Quinn.

Jack thought he had killed Quinn previously, but the traitor survived a bullet to the head, and now sells weapons to the highest bidder.

So Season 3 has been all about Jack getting close to Quinn to murder him for a second time, while also trying to save a missing woman called Teresa. With the concluding Episode 8 now streaming, here’s how those storylines plays out, meaning SPOILERS ahead…

Reacher vs Paulie in the fight of the century

Prime Video

Reacher Season 3, Episode 8 kicks off with Jack realising he’s in an ambush, and that the big arms deal is happening at Zachary Beck’s house during his 50th birthday party. A huge gun-fight follows, where bad guys – as well as multiple ATF agents – are killed.

Jack makes it out alive, but before he can go after Quinn, the big guy has to deal with an even bigger guy in the shape of man-mountain Paulie.

Their fight starts with some strangulation, before they toss each other at stationary trucks. Then Jack goes for a gun, which Paulie knocks it away, stating: “No guns, we do this like men.”

In response, Reacher kicks him in the balls, but as with his previous punch, fists don’t work on Paulie, who throws Jack into some shelves and onto a table in a shed. Then after he receives a spot of eye-gouging, Paulie knocks Reacher out.

“Let’s see how you like being choked, a**hole,” says Paulie as he ties a chain around Reacher’s neck and hoists him to the ceiling. But like a bad Bond villain, Paulie leaves the room where Jack is dying, but not dead, which is a big mistake.

Prime Video

Reacher pulls the chain out of the ceiling, then emerges from the shed, to which Paulie responds “son of a b*tch!” The pair get back into it, tumble down a hill, and fall off a cliff into the ocean.

What follows is a fight with waves taking them under. Paulie holds Jack beneath the surface, but quick as a flash, Reacher turns the tables, and punches Paulie in the throat, seemingly sending him to a watery grave.

But nope, it ain’t over yet, as while Reacher is heading for the house, Paulie appears behind him, prompting Jack to say: “You’ve got to be kidding me.” More fighting follows, involving weapons like a fire extinguisher, a computer screen, and a huge gun.

When Paulie gets his hands on said gun, he says “You shouldn’t have f*cked with me. I’m bigger than you. I’m stronger than you.” He then fires, but the gun explodes in his own face, neck, and chest.

“You might be bigger and stronger, but I’m smarter. I pulled a bullet from the belt and plugged the barrel,” retorts Jack, as he watches Paulie breath his last breath.

Duffy rescues Teresa

Prime Video

DEA Agent Susan Duffy has felt guilt throughout Season 3 of Reacher, as she sent Teresa into Zachary Beck’s business as an undercover agent, where she promptly went missing.

In Episode 8, Teresa has been drugged, and is offered to terrorist Nasser to sweeten the arms deal he’s entering into with Quinn.

But before Nasser can assault Teresa, Duffy appears and shoots both him and his bodyguard, before whisking Teresa away to safety.

Quinn shoots Zachary Beck dead

Prime Video

Elsewhere in the house, when it looks like the deal is about to go south, Quinn takes Richie Beck hostage, prompting his father Zachary to step in and point a gun at Quinn, ordering him to drop his Uzi.

Trouble is, it’s the toy gun that Richie gave his dad, and while he’s making his stand, the end of the gun starts to droop. Quinn sees his opportunity, picks the Uzi back up, and fires multiple bullets into Zachary’s chest, killing him.

Richie also grabs a gun and shoots at Quinn, who bolts out the door unharmed.

Reacher kills Quinn, again

Apple TV+

But Quinn can’t run forever, and until he completes the arms deal, can’t pay the Russians what he owes, so they take him prisoner.

Neagley knows how much Jack wants his man however, so locates the money meant for the exchange, and holds a grenade over it, telling the Russians they can have it as long as they hand Quinn over to Reacher.

The Russians are happy with that offer, so depart with the money and without Quinn, while Neagley leaves Reacher to complete his mission.

Quinn tries to talk his way out of certain death, while Jack is incredulous that Xavier doesn’t remember him. But Reacher hasn’t got time to discuss their shared past. Instead he says: “All that matters is, her name was Dominique,” before shooting Quinn in the head, killing him properly this time.

Duffy breaks up with Reacher, who rides off into the sunset

Prime Video

Then it’s all about goodbyes. Richie and Jack have a moment, with Beck junior saying he’s glad his got to see the good in his father before he died. With Reacher’s blessing, he grabs some money, and drives off in one his his dad’s expensive cars, with plans to start life anew.

It’s at this point in a Reacher series where Jack usually breaks up with his love interest, but here Duffy steals his speech, saying she’s not into commitment, and effectively breaking up with him. Having squared stuff with the ATF and DEA, Duffy then takes Teresa home, where she’s reunited with her grandmother.

As for Reacher, he finds a kick-ass motorcycle in Beck’s barn, and rides away from the carnage of Season 3, battered and bruised, but ready to fight another day.

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. Alternatively, check out our list of the best TV shows of 2025 so far.