How Reacher season 3 will perform compared to its predecessors remains uncertain, but one quote from Lee Child’s book proves that it will raise the stakes for the titular character in one significant way. In its debut season, Amazon’s Reacher underscores the titular character’s physical prowess in its early episodes by showing how he single-handedly beats several dangerous prisoners without even breaking a sweat. Reacher season 2 takes things even further by portraying how the Alan Ritchson character takes down an entire biker gang with help from the former members of his 110th Special Investigation Unit.

Although Jack Reacher takes some damage toward Reacher season 2’s ending, he still seems nearly indomitable when villains like Langston try to fight him without any weapons. Given how it is always fascinating to see Reacher effortlessly demolish his opponents, it is hard not to look forward to his one-on-one fistfights in season 3. However, since Reacher season 3 is adapting Lee Child’s Persuader, Jack Reacher’s days of defeating his enemies with ease may be numbered — a Lee Child quote from the book proves this.

One Persuader Quote Draws A Clear Picture Of Paulie’s Massive Stature

Lee Child’s Persuader Reveals Paulie Is Six Inches Taller Than Reacher

In Lee Child’s Persuader, Jack Reacher describes Paulie by saying, “This guy was at least six inches taller than me and probably ten inches wider across the shoulders.” He further adds that Paulie probably outweighs him by more than two hundred pounds. Since Jack Reacher is about 6 feet 5 inches in the original Lee Child books, Paulie should be close to 7 feet if he is 6 inches above the main character.

“He was a very big guy. I stand six feet five inches tall and I have to center myself quite carefully to walk through a standard thirty-inch doorway. This guy was at least six inches taller than me and probably ten inches wider across the shoulders. He probably outweighed me by two hundred pounds. Maybe by more.”

Paulie’s description in the book effectively makes him look intimidating and a worthy threat to Jack Reacher. Although Reacher rarely fears anyone, the way he details Paulie’s imposing physique suggests that he, too, sees him as a formidable adversary. However, as colossal as Paulie may seem in Lee Child’s Persuader, his version in the Amazon show is going to be even more massive, raising the stakes for Jack Reacher in season 3.

Olivier Richters’ Casting Makes The Show’s Paulie An Even Bigger Threat Than His Book Counterpart

Olivier Richters Is Taller Than The Book’s Paulie

Alan Ritchson is about 6 feet 3 inches tall, making him two inches shorter than the original Jack Reacher from the Lee Child novels. On the other hand, Olivier Richters, who has been cast as Reacher season 3’s Paulie, stands at 7 feet 2 inches, making him close to two inches taller than the book’s version of his character. These differences in character heights may seem trivial, but they could significantly change Reacher and Paulie’s dynamic in the show.

According to the book’s lore, Paulie is about half a foot taller than Reacher. In the show, however, the heights of the actors playing the two characters suggest that Paulie will tower over Reacher with a 1-foot difference in season 3. For context, there is a similar height difference between Kevin Hart (5’2”) and Dwayne Johnson (6’3”). Throughout Reacher seasons 1 and 2, Alan Ritchson’s version of the character seemed invincible because of how massive he was compared to every other character.

This is about to change in Reacher season 3 because the Amazon show has made it even more challenging for Jack Reacher to beat Paulie by casting Olivier Richters. Even with the six-inch difference between the two characters in Lee Child’s Persuader, the climactic fight between Jack Reacher and Paulie ensues for almost five pages until Reacher finally finds a way to overpower him. With their 1-foot size difference in the Amazon show, Reacher will likely have to bring out the absolute best version of himself to stand a chance at winning against Paulie.

Reacher Season 3’s Raised Stakes Promise To Show The Best Version Of Alan Ritchson’s Character

Reacher Season 3 Promises To Deliver The Amazon Show’s Best Action

In Lee Child’s Persuader, Jack Reacher also quotes, “I don’t care about the little guy. I just hate the big guy. I hate big smug people who think they can get away with things.” Since Reacher cannot help but hate the “big guy,” the fact that the show’s version of Paulie is even bigger than his book counterpart suggests that Jack Reacher will despise him even more. As a result, he will not even show the slightest hesitation or mercy against Paulie when he locks horns with him in Amazon’s Reacher season 3.

While only time will tell whether Reacher season 3 will live up to the high expectations set by its predecessors, Paulie’s casting almost promises viewers will get to see some of the best action scenes the series has ever delivered. Since Alan Ritchson’s Reacher is usually the “big guy” who talks down on his enemies, Paulie’s tremendous size difference also suggests Reacher will have to use both brain and brawn to overcome the towering antagonist. Hopefully, Reacher season 3 will make good use of these brilliant casting choices and present some epic action sequences.