Reacher Season 3 finale sneaks in a brilliant nod to Die Hard, here’s what you missed

Reacher Season 3 finale is a gift that keeps on giving. It delivered everything we wanted from the series finale. We got closure. We definitely got some really good and tense action scenes. And lastly, needless to say but it was a really satisfying end to a pumped up season.

We saw Reacher finally shoot Quinn dead. Well, maybe we were hoping for something a bit more gruesome and dramatic, considering everything Quinn had done. Especially what he did to Dominique and how that affected Reacher. But at least this time he’s probably going to stay down for good.

But Reacher wasn’t the only one who stole the show in this finale. Susan Duffy gave us one of her most bad*ss action scenes of the season.

When she had gone to rescue Teresa, she had to hide when the Russian guy came in. But then she stepped out and shot the Russian guy in the crotch, then rolled over and took the guard at the door down too. She finished off the Russian guy with a clean shot to the head. Classic!

And then there’s Villanueva who honestly was the underrated MVP of the season. He’s been there for Duffy which means he’s been there for Reacher too. He played more of a supporting role helping out in the background for most of the season. But in the finale he finally got his moment. And it was beyond satisfying.

Let’s break it down.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinions. Reader discretion is advised.

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Reacher: Villanueva - the underrated player of Season 3

Villanueva has been the backbone of Reacher Season 3. He’s helped Reacher and Duffy accomplish their goals. He's fought alongside them, and never once did he seek recognition.

He wasn’t in it for the glory of it. He just wanted to get the job done (safely) and go home to his wife. And as a bonus, he even picked up flowers for her on the way. What better way to return to a beloved spouse eagerly waiting for you back at home?

But in the finale, Villanueva wasn’t just a background player. He took on an important role in rescuing Richard and had a major fight scene.

We saw Duffy, Zachary Beck, Villanueva, and Neagley infiltrate Beck’s mansion as the team prepared for their final mission. Reacher stayed outside to face off against Paulie.

Neagley needed to blend in with the waitstaff so she had to dress the part. Luckily it was Villanueva who just happened to be wearing a white shirt. Similar to the ones the waiters are wearing. He gave it up without any hesitation. And for the rest of the episode, we see him in his white vest.

And that’s where the Die Hard nod comes in.

Villanueva, in his white vest, immediately reminded us of Bruce Willis’s iconic John McClane from Die Hard. That classic action hero look made the parallel hard to miss.

But Villanueva isn’t what we'd expect a typical action hero to look like. He’s not a muscle-bound man with six packs and exceptional martial arts skills. He’s a regular guy. Just an agent doing his job, and that’s what makes his moment even more powerful.

The real standout scene for Villanueva was the brutal washroom fight.

His part was to rescue Richard. But he found himself cornered by one of Quinn’s men. Initially, he took a few hits and got beaten up badly. He even dropped his gun and was left weaponless. But then the electric trimmer plugged into the wall came in handy for him.

In a moment of quick thinking, he punched his opponent, which sent him stumbling backward onto the toilet. Villanueva took this opportunity to drop the trimmer into the toilet bowl. A surge of electricity shocked Quinn’s man. And that's what gave Villanueva the perfect opening to take him down for good.

This scene was proof that he is not to be taken lightly. Villanueva used his quick thinking skills to put down his enemy. The scene was raw, intense and brilliantly executed.

Richard had been hearing all the noise from his room. When he opened the bathroom door, he found Villanueva all bloodied and exhausted sitting on the floor next to the lifeless body of Quinn’s man.

Villanueva was an underrated character throughout the season. And with an unforgettable Die Hard-style action scene, he has now left a lasting impression on Reacher fans.

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Villanueva is the reluctant hero we can’t help but root for

Throughout Reacher Season 3, Villanueva makes one thing clear. He just wants to go home to his wife. He’s a good and dedicated agent who does his job well. But he isn’t looking for trouble.

He does not want any glory or is seeking out fights. He just wants to do what he’s supposed to and retire in peace. But he never turns his back anytime a friend needs his help.

If Villanueva is needed, he will show up no matter how dangerous the situation may get. And that’s what makes his character so compelling. This aspect of his character also mirrors John McClane from Die Hard.

McClane wasn’t trying to be a hero as well. He just wanted to spend Christmas with his wife. But fate had other plans.

Both men are reluctant warriors who are thrown into situations where they have to fight and bleed before they can finally reunite with the person they love. Neither wants the spotlight. But when it’s time to step up, they do it again and again.

Like a perfect ending for a hero, Villanueva reunites with his wife at the end of the finale. He finally got to do what he’s wanted all along, which was to go home to his wife. And that too, with flowers in his hands!

Such a sweet ending to Reacher Season 3 definitely deserves another new beginning.

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