Reacher Season 3: Leaving out a Paulie scene made him less terrifying than in the books

Jack Reacher (played by Alan Ritchson) has faced his fair share of tough guys. Some were easy to take down, while some did leave an impact on him. But few are as downright terrifying. As you already know, Paulie probably tops that list.

Both, in Lee Child’s Persuader and the Reacher series, Paulie is huge. He is portrayed in the same way in both versions. But there is something that the series didn't show, making him less terrifying than the novel.

In the novel, Paulie tortures Zachary Beck's wife, Mrs. Beck. That cruelty makes him even more scary. The series dials his villainy just a notch down by removing Mrs. Beck from the story completely. But that doesn't mean this version of Paulie is weak. He is still absolutely frightening. Let's explore more.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

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Reacher Season 3: Paulie, a merciless beast

Paulie (played by Olivier Richters) stands head and shoulders above the rest.

He is not into long speeches or dialogues. He likes to keep it short and crisp. But actions are what speak the most. Even in the latest episode, he is so unfazed about the maid's murder. He does not believe in forgiveness, second chances, or showing mercy.

What most fans are now waiting for is the showdown between Reacher and Paulie. Fans are so used to seeing Reacher handle his enemies with ease. But Paulie is a different beast.

We saw how Reacher's powerful punch to Paulie's ribs didn't hurt him. He barely even flinched. But the slap across the face by Paulie to Reacher shook the living hell out of Reacher. This scene shows that Paulie might be physically stronger than Reacher.

But what could have made Paulie even scarier was if the series had decided to stick with the book a bit more. If Paulie's cruelty towards Mrs. Beck was shown in the series, viewers would have found him even more terrifying. Yes, his military background is mentioned in the series, but his sociopathic tendencies could have been more highlighted.

That would have intensified the character and make the anticipated Reacher vs. Paulie showdown even more challenging.

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Reacher Season 3: Persuader's Paulie and the deleted scene that would have made Reacher's Paulie even scarier

We often say that nobody should mess with Reacher. But if there is one guy you don’t want to mess with in Persuader, it’s Paulie. He is Beck's muscle whose presence is as menacing as a wild beast. But what fans must not have noticed is that he is actually an ever-present shadow keeping everyone, including Mrs. Beck, under control.

Mrs. Elizabeth Beck is trapped in a world she can’t escape. And Paulie is a big reason why. He is the gatekeeper of the Beck estate. But he’s not just guarding the house, he is making sure that Mrs. Beck knows her place.

He actually represents the suffocating power structure within the Beck household. He makes sure that life is miserable for anyone who dares to step out of line. And the kind of nature he has, it's enough to keep the Mrs. in check. One can only imagine the kind of oppressive environment she lives in, in the novel.

However, in Reacher, the series adaptation, Mrs. Beck is absent. Readers of the novel know that Paulie’s cruel treatment of Mrs. Beck is what makes him even more repulsive. But the show deletes this very aspect.

Instead, it subtly hints that Mrs. Beck passed away long before the events of Reacher. And that is one of the reasons why Zachary Beck is not very close with his son, Richard.

Without her in the picture, Paulie’s character loses one of his most detestable traits. His cruelty towards Mrs. Beck still maintains the status quo.

He is still an intimidating force just with a slightly less moral depravity hanging over his head.

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