Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Reacher season 3, episode 5.
Reacher star Sonya Cassidy reacts to the most recent death of the action-crime series and teases its tumultuous aftermath in upcoming episodes. Based on the book series by Lee Child, Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher in the Prime Video adaptation is currently working undercover with DEA agents, closing in on those responsible for the death of his protégé, Lt. Dominique Kohl. Reacher season 3, episode 5, titled “Smackdown,” delivered several major deaths, but the loss of DEA Agent Steven Eliot was one of the most devastating for Reacher’s team.
In an interview with TV Line, Cassidy opens up about the impact of Eliot’s death on their takedown of Quinn’s illegal weapons operation. The actor notes that the loss of Eliot will likely propel her character, DEA Agent Susan Duffy, into an even more determined and “dangerous” mindset to find Teresa—a kidnapped girlfriend caught in the crossfire of Paulie and Quinn’s arms dealings. Read what she had to say below:
The loss of Eliot is horrendous. Horrendous. It is unimaginable to lose one of your team, someone who was so young… But it’s also a tragic sign of where they’re at that point. They’re losing. People are dying, and they’re not getting any closer to taking down these guys or finding Teresa.
So in that moment, we’re at a crossroads with Duffy. She’s like, “Do I continue doing this? How much longer do I keep trying?” But she is so determined and driven that she chooses the path of, “His death cannot have been for nothing, so let’s just f–king do this. I am not walking away from this, I cannot walk away, having lost a young man’s life and still having not having found Teresa.”
Duffy can see one path and nothing can deter her from it at this point. [It’s] very dangerous, it’s maybe not necessarily the right thing, but I admire her for it — and it makes for better television, as well.
What This Means For Reacher
Duffy & Reacher Are More Determined Than Ever
Eliot’s death marks a significant turning point in Reacher season 3. With Quinn’s operation now revealed to be weapons trafficking instead of drug smuggling, the situation has escalated beyond the DEA’s jurisdiction. However, this won’t stop Susan Duffy, Guillermo Villanueva, and Reacher from pursuing justice, especially after losing Eliot. The death was not necessarily a surprise to everyone. In a review of Reacher season 3, episode 5, ScreenRant‘s Greg MacArthur wrote the following:
[The] episode offered a variety of key character deaths, starting with DEA agent Steven Eliot, who I could tell wasn’t going to survive Reacher season 3 with his nice-guy treatment of his prisoner John Cooper, Richard Beck’s bodyguard, who proves to be a cold-blooded killer.
For Duffy in particular, Eliot’s murder serves as a grim reminder of the cost of their undercover investigation. As Cassidy points out, “his death cannot have been for nothing.” Duffy refuses to back down despite the increasing danger, making her more determined than ever to see the mission through. With Teresa still missing and the casualties behind Quinn’s operation piling up, Duffy and Reacher will need to rely on each other more than ever to take down one of the greatest villains in Reacher season 3 before they lose anyone else.
Our Take On Eliot’s Death
No One Is Safe In Reacher Season 3
Eliot’s death was a visceral moment that affirmed Reacher season 3’s darker, more ruthless tone. While his demise wasn’t entirely unexpected, it served as a harsh lesson about the stakes of taking on Quinn’s operation. More importantly, his loss is going to fuel Duffy’s resolve, pushing her and Reacher to act with even greater urgency for these next particularly critical episodes of Reacher. With Quinn and Paulie still at large, Eliot’s murder raises the stakes, ensuring the rest of the season will be a high-octane battle for justice and revenge.
Source: TV Line
Reacher
8/10
- Release Date
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February 3, 2022
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Nick Santora
- Directors
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Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent
- Writers
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Cait Duffy