Reacher Season 3 Episode 8: The most awaited Reacher vs. Paulie fight is finally happening, and here’s what Alan Ritchson had to say about it

Reacher doesn’t back down from a fight. But what happens when he goes up against someone even bigger than him? Reacher Season 3 has been one wild ride. And we are finally heading into the finale.

Yes, that means the most anticipated showdown of the season is finally here - Reacher vs. Paulie.

Fans have been waiting for this moment ever since Paulie and Reacher came face to face. Paulie is played by the 7-foot-2 Olivier Richters. And if Alan Ritchson’s latest comments are anything to go by, this fight is going to be nothing short of brutal.

The man literally broke his shins and tore tendons filming it. Let’s get right into it!

Reacher Season 3 Episode 8: The clock is ticking

Let’s rewind a bit before we talk about the fight. Episode 7 left us all wondering what might happen next.

Reacher thought he had Quinn exactly where he wanted him and got his sniper set up with a plan in place. But he got outplayed.

Quinn had been pulling the strings all along leading Reacher to believe the deal was going down in the Salvage Yard. But the real exchange was happening at Beck’s house, where Richard is.

That means Reacher is nowhere near the action. And Richard is in serious danger. Beck is not safe either. But the big question as we head into Episode 8 is - will Reacher be able to save both of them?

We’re about to find out. And if he does make it in time to Beck's house, he’s definitely walking straight into one of the most bone-crushing fights in Reacher history.

Reacher vs. Paulie: The Ultimate Showdown

We’ve seen Reacher go up against some really tough guys. But Paulie is just something else. He is a beast. Bigger. Stronger. And meaner.

And according to Alan Ritchson, this fight scene pushed him to his absolute limit both physically and mentally.

Ritchson revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the fight took three weeks to film. He and Olivier Richters walked away from it with broken bones and torn tendons. It was THAT intense.

"I started by breaking my shins and adding a good 12 inches to my height just so I’d be on par with him. He’s a beast, and looking up at him is a little intimidating. He worked really hard. He spent, I think, four months preparing just to get his fight skills where he felt they needed to be. He showed up really ready. Over the course of the season, there’s a lot of tension mounting between these two characters, and it all comes to a head with this one grand fight that took three weeks for us to film. Those were the three hardest weeks of my life. I mean, both of us were broken and battered and had bone breaks and tendon tears by the end. It was a really difficult thing to get through. But it was also really rewarding."

However, Ritchson believes it was all worth it. He shared:

"The audience hasn’t really gotten to experience anything quite like this. Reacher usually handles himself really easily and it’s anything but this season. I think people will really enjoy it."

Paulie might have the size advantage, but Reacher has the brains and the skills. Plus, he's got the sheer stubbornness to take down anyone who stands in his way. So this is going to be an all-out slugfest with both fighters pushing themselves to their absolute limits.

So if we consider how physically demanding this sequence was, the end result is not going to be anything other than visceral and brutal. Oh, and definitely unforgettable!

We all know Reacher is fighting for vengeance. And after all the mind games Quinn has played Episode 8 is where it all comes to a head.

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more updates and detailed coverage.

Edited by Sroban Ghosh

Help Us Improve

Reacher Season 3 Episode 8: The most awaited Reacher vs. Paulie fight is finally happening, and here’s what Alan Ritchson had to say about it

Reacher Season 3 Episode 8: The clock is ticking

Reacher vs. Paulie: The Ultimate Showdown

Help Us Improve