WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Reacher season 3, episode 6.

Prime Video’s Reacher season 3, episode 6, “Smoke on the Water,” features more screen time for Quinn and a kick-ass scene from Neagley that proves her upcoming standalone series will be a hit. While the best villains of Reacher season 3 – Paulie Van Hoven and Xavier Quinn – were mostly on standby for the first five episodes, Reacher season 3, episode 6 finally gets both of them front and center in thrilling ways. Now that Reacher’s cover is blown to Quinn and Zachary Beck, he will have to move fast to help Susan Duffy save Teresa.

Reacher season 3, episode 6 reveals the true dynamic between Quinn and Beck, which is far from a mutually beneficial partnership and more of a hostage situation. After Reacher discovers that Quinn cut off Richard’s ear in Reacher season 3, episode 5, he realizes he can trust Richard to keep his secret. That turned out not to be necessary after Quinn had two of his henchmen torture a current member of the 110th Special Investigators Unit for intel on Reacher, showing how ruthless yet effective Quinn’s tactics can be.

Neagley’s Shootout Scene Wasn’t In Lee Child’s “Persuader” Book But Is One Of Season 3’s Best

It’s A Surefire Highlight Of The Action-Packed Episode

The plot develops rapidly in the sixth episode of Reacher season 3, making for a bit of a jumpy viewing experience. That said, I’m thrilled series developer Nick Santora found a great way to implement Francis Neagley’s character even though she was not included in Lee Child’s “Persuader” book, which Reacher season 3 is based on. In the two scenes that she’s in, Neagley offers both tactical skill and hilarious one-liners, which makes the prospect of her upcoming standalone Amazon series all the more promising.

Reacher season 3, episode 6, also reveals a dark side to Reacher’s love interest and sidekick Susan Duffy, who opts to leave one of Quinn and Beck’s guys on a burning boat to die. Duffy hasn’t had the best chemistry with Reacher compared to his previous love interests but her aggressive go-getter attitude usually falls somewhere between admirable and hilarious. Duffy’s continuous denial of her clear interest in Reacher has been one of the funnier aspects of her character and offers a nice change of pace from past seasons.

Quinn Is Easily The Most Unhinged Villain Out Of Any Reacher Season

Reacher’s Blown Cover Could Mean Trouble For The Becks

Quinn is proving to be a downright terrifying and surely psychopathic villain in Reacher season 3. While it was already clear what Quinn was capable of through his brutal treatment of Lt. Dominique Kohl in Reacher season 3, episode 4, seeing him in the present-day timeline on the verge of an apparent breakdown makes him more unsettling than any previous Reacher TV villain. I’m surprised Reacher didn’t take the first shot he could have at Quinn but he will hopefully have a better opportunity to make Quinn remember his, and Lt. Kohl’s, names.

The friendly relationship between Reacher and Richard Beck that started the plot of Reacher season 3 offers some of the more wholesome moments in the series, especially after the abrupt death of Beck’s maid Annette, who was revealed to be an ATF agent. Reacher trusting Richard now means that he will likely try to save him, and maybe even Zachary, from Quinn’s death grip. Now that both Reacher and Duffy are more motivated than ever before, they will likely exhaust all possible resources to take Quinn out.

Another standout scene was Reacher stealthily killing some Quinn henchmen in the darkened woods, bringing the series back to Reacher’s epic facepaint murder spree from season 1. Whatever Reacher season 3 lacks in character chemistry, it makes up for in gripping action sequences and series-best villains. Even though watching Reacher undercover was thrilling and suspenseful thus far, I’m looking forward to seeing Reacher in his true fearless form again now that the cat’s out of the bag.

Reacher season 3, episode 7 taking place at least partly in Los Angeles is an unexpected twist for season 3’s penultimate episode. As we get closer to the impending showdown between Reacher and Paulie, Reacher will finally put his brawn to the test against Quinn’s giant, surely finding a way to outsmart him at a crucial moment.

Reacher season 3 is already the most unforgiving and tonally dark installment of the Prime Video series to date. If its last two episodes can pay off all the exceptional buildups, Reacher season 3 may just be the best one yet.