All 8 Villains In Reacher Season 3 Explained

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Reacher season 3, episodes 1-3.

A handful of new villains were introduced in the first three episodes of Reacher season 3. Based on Lee Child’s 2003 novel Persuader, the seventh entry in the Jack Reacher book series, Reacher season 3 features Reacher going undercover as a federal informant, which offers a fresh perspective on the larger-than-life figure in the acclaimed Prime Video series. Following its three-episode premiere on February 20, 2025, Reacher season 3 has earned a near-perfect 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, making it statistically the best entry of Amazon’s Reacher TV adaptation thus far.

In Reacher seasons 1 and 2, the villains were serious threats, particularly to people that Reacher cared about, such as the 110th Special Investigators in season 2. Reacher season 3, however, ups the ante with its slate of antagonists, introducing darker themes and, surprisingly, even bigger physical opponents than the 6-foot-5 Reacher (in the books, at least. Alan Ritchson is 6′ 2″ in the series). Reacher will have to utilize both his brains and his brawn to go up against these heavy-hitters and powerful foes in Reacher season 3, led by the wealthy and well-connected Zachary Beck.

8

Zachary Beck

Wealthy Business Owner Of Bizarre Bazaar

Zachary Beck is played by Anthony Michale Hall in Reacher season 3. A wealthy and well-connected businessman, Beck lives in a guarded mansion on the scenic coast of Maine. He owns and operates a rug business known as Bizarre Bazaar, which manufactures and ships luxury rugs. After the DEA tracks the known drug smuggler Julius McCabe taking a flight to the small Maine town to meet with Beck, Susan Duffy and her associates become suspicious of Bizarre Bazaar.

Beck is a stern businessman and appears to be corrupt even though it’s clear that he loves his son, Richard Beck. Zachary isn’t the best father as his business takes priority over his relationship with his son, but there are still remnants of a decent human being in his character. Zachary’s dealings with Julius McCabe have put his life, and Richard’s, in danger, making them both essentially trapped under McCabe’s rule.

7

Chapman Duke

Zachary Beck’s Head Of Security

Chapman Duke, played by Donald Sales, is (or was after Reacher season 3, episode 3) Zachary Beck’s head of security. Although his character is relatively short-lived in Reacher season 3, Duke was initially an integral member of Zachary Beck’s operation. He was one of several personnel that McCabe implemented to watch over Beck’s day-to-day, dually acting as a protector and enforcer of both Beck and, in a larger sense, McCabe’s operation.

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Reacher kills Duke in Reacher season 3, episode 3 so that he can get closer to Beck and develop a sense of trust without Duke in the way. If Reacher hadn’t taken Duke out, he would have been a major liability to his undercover operation. Duke mostly gives Reacher tasks and keeps tabs on him during Reacher season 3 episodes 1-3, making him a nuisance that Reacher had to take care of. Reacher basically did Beck a favor, since Duke’s true boss was McCabe.

6

Paulie Van Hoven

Zachary Beck’s Bodyguard

Paulie crossing his arms in Reacher season 3

Paulie Van Hoven is the “big bad” in Reacher season 3 and quite literally the “biggest bad” in the series thus far. Played by the 7″ 2′ Dutch bodybuilder and actor Olivier Ritchers, Paulie is the first villain in the Amazon Reacher series that seems insurmountable, even for Reacher. Paulie mans the front gate at Zachary Beck’s mansion and acts as his personal bodyguard. He and Reacher immediately don’t like each other, setting up a highly-anticipated showdown between the two characters.

Reacher proves early on in season 3 that Paulie may have more physical force than he does, but Reacher is much more clever than Paulie.

Reacher proves early on in season 3 that Paulie may have more physical force than he does, but Reacher is much more clever than Paulie. Reacher hilariously sets Paulie up to punch himself in the face during a morning gym session, which, as Reacher fans know, is not part of the Reacher character’s routine. Like Duke, Paulie’s real boss is McCabe, but he is assigned to protect Beck and his estate for the sake of Bizarre Bazaar.

5

John Cooper

Richard Beck’s Bodyguard

Reacher Season 3 Ep 2-1 — Image via Prime Video

John Cooper is the name of Richard Beck’s bodyguard who Duffy, Guillermo, and Sam hold hostage after their staged kidnapping in the beginning moments of Reacher season 3. Not much is known about Cooper, who is played by Ronnie Rowe other than he is one of McCabe and Beck’s guys on the lower end of the totem pole.

Cooper is being held by the DEA illegally but isn’t being tortured or questioned all that much, so he doesn’t give up any information about McCabe, Beck, or Bizarre Bazaar. He’s a relatively expendable character in Reacher season 3 but could create a big problem for Duffy and the DEA if he makes it out alive.

4

Angel “Angel Doll” Dole

One Of Zachary Beck’s Henchmen

Reacher Season 3 Ep 2-15 — Image via Prime Video

Angel Doll, played by Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz, is a henchman and worker for Zachary Beck, much like Reacher is when he first arrives at Beck’s residence. Angel Doll and Reacher are given assignments by Duke but unfortunately for Angel, this one would be his last. Angel planned to kill the night shift police officer at the impound station before Reacher’s quick thinking saved his life by simply assaulting him.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, looking back at someone, in Reacher season 2, episode 1

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Angel proves to be street-smart but is a con artist and murderer, making him an ideal worker for Beck and McCabe. Angel ends up being too perceptive for his own good and becomes suspicious of Reacher, which would be the last thing he ever does.

3

Sklar & Bellinger

Bizarre Bazaar Warehouse Workers

Reacher Season 3 Ep 3-3 — Image via Prime Video

Sklar and Bellinger are a package deal in Reacher season 3, only appearing twice in the first three episodes at a Bizarre Bazaar warehouse. Sklar is the only one with a speaking role between the two of them but they essentially do the same job, overseeing the warehouse and supervising shipments of Bizarre Bazaar merchandise.

Although Bellinger doesn’t have a speaking role in Reacher season 3, he nearly chokes Susan Duffy to death during a fight. Reacher ends up killing both Sklar and Bellinger in the same office where he had killed Angel the night before, framing them all for being a part of Richard’s staged kidnapping.

2

Townie

Richard Beck’s High School Bully

Reacher Season 3 Ep 3-7 — Image via Prime Video

Although he doesn’t have a name in the series, “Lead Townie” has a bit of a backstory and personal beef with Richard and Zachary Beck. While Richard is shopping for a prized replica gun from his father’s youth for his birthday, the townie approaches and claims that it was Zachary Beck’s fault that his father lost his job and that his family lost their house.

A composite image of Jack Reacher looking over his shoulder in front of Reacher walking down the street angrily in Reacher

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The townie explains that Zachary bought a quarry and turned it into a site for more Bizarre Bazaar warehouses right before he smashes the prop gun. The situation isn’t explored much further than that, as Reacher quickly handles Richard’s threat and his group of townies with ease.

1

Xavier Quinn

Also Known As Julius McCabe

Reacher Season 3 Ep 3-11 — Image via Prime Video

Xavier Quinn, also known as Julius McCabe, is the main antagonist in Reacher season 3. Reacher has a personal history with Quinn, who changed his name after serving in the military as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, which is how Reacher knows him. Quinn left the Army and sold military secrets to enemies of the United States, which is only part of the reason why Reacher hates him so much and wants him dead.

All signs point to Quinn, who is played by Brian Tee, being known as McCabe to Beck, Paulie, and the rest of his subordinates at Bizarre Bazaar. There is still much to learn about the mysterious figure in Reacher season 3 but it is safe to say that Reacher has some unfinished business with Quinn, regardless of his name change.