Warning! This article contains spoilers for Reacher season 3’s episode 6.

Despite waiting to confront and kill Quinn, Jack Reacher holds himself back from doing the deed in Reacher season 3’s episode 6. Reacher is deadset on taking down Quinn’s gun-running business for more reasons than one in season 3. He is not only driven by his strong sense of justice but also wants to help Duffy save Teresa. However, the primary reason why he agreed to go undercover and help the DEA uncover the truth about Beck’s business was his desire to exact revenge on Quinn.

Jack Reacher usually tries his best to avoid trouble, which is why he seems a little apprehensive when Duffy tries to convince him to join forces with them. However, he agrees when he learns that Quinn, too, is involved in Beck’s operation, believing that going undercover would give him the perfect opportunity to punish Quinn for murdering Kohl. Despite being so eager to avenge Kohl’s demise, Jack Reacher avoids killing Quinn in Reacher season 3’s episode 6.

The Dress Makes Reacher Realize Teresa Could Still Be Alive

Quinn Confirms That He Kept Teresa Alive For One Reason

When Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher is about to meet Quinn in season 3’s episode 6, he keeps his right hand behind his back, ready to draw his weapon on his long-standing enemy. He even grabs his gun as Quinn comes closer to him, suggesting that he will kill him if necessary. However, to Reacher’s surprise, Quinn does not recognize him. Instead, he appreciates him for getting Angel out of the way and asks him for his way. Although Quinn seems to realize that he has heard Reacher’s name before, he offers him a handshake, which confirms that he has retrograde amnesia.

This puts Reacher at ease because he realizes that Quinn is not an immediate threat to him, and he can wait for the right opportunity to get him out of his way. After Quinn and Reacher shake hands, Reacher notices one of Quinn’s men taking a woman’s dress to a room. Quinn notices Reacher’s gaze and says that the dress is for Teresa. He implies that even though he wanted to kill Teresa for overhearing something she should not have, he kept her alive because his client is into redheads like her. To “sweeten” the deal with his client, he kept her for the final stage of his deal.

Realizing that killing Quinn would likely prevent him from saving Teresa, Reacher decides to hold himself back. He seemingly cares little about putting his own life on the line to serve justice to Quinn. However, he understands that he would also put Teresa’s life in danger if he did not carefully navigate. As a result, he does not take his gun out and spares Quinn’s life to kill him another day.

Reacher Must Realize He’s Outgunned In Season 3, Episode 6’s Opening Scene

Reacher May Not Have Made It Out Alive If He Had Killed Quinn

Reacher and Beck were surrounded by Quinn’s men when they entered the warehouse in Reacher season 3’s episode 6. If Reacher had risked attacking Quinn, he may not have made it out alive since many of Quinn’s men were armed. This would have been counterproductive because it would have prevented the DEA from saving Teresa and would have jeopardized any chance of dismantling Quinn’s entire operation.

Although Jack Reacher is determined to kill Xavier Quinn in Reacher season 3 after what he did to his former military police ally, Dominique Kohl, he knows that he cannot act impulsively. Therefore, instead of jumping into a showdown, Reacher first ensures whether Quinn remembers him. When he realizes that Quinn is not faking his amnesia and has no recollection of how he tried to kill him, the Alan Ritchson character avoids taking his gun out and awaits a better opportunity to seek vengeance.