Reacher season 3 is now poised to bring Ritchson's hulking hero back to the small screen in an adaptation of Child's Persuader book. The book follows Jack Reacher as he infiltrates a criminal organization, eventually facing off against a massive adversary named Paulie.

Prime Video now provides a new look at Reacher season 3, showing Ritchson's Reacher tricking Paulie, played in the show by bodybuilder Olivier Richters, into punching himself in the face. The clip begins with Paulie asking Reacher how much he can bench press before the two men decide to engage in "Bavarian arm wrestling." Bavarian arm wrestling, as it turns out, is Reacher's way of tricking Paulie into hitting himself. Check out the clip below:

What The Reacher Clip Means For Season 3

Alan Ritchson's Character Can't Rely On Strength Alone

After the positive Reacher season 2 reviews, the bar has been set fairly high for season 3, but the Persuader book is a fan favorite. Paulie, in particular, remains one of the most memorable villains Reacher has ever faced off against, in part due to his immense size. In the book, Paulie is described as being seven feet and two inches tall and 300 pounds, making him considerably larger than the six-foot five-inch Reacher.

The latest clip, however, speaks to how Reacher could end up getting the upper hand on Paulie since, for once, he won't have the advantage of brute strength. In addition to being big and strong, Reacher is also clever, often using ingenuity to defeat his enemies on top of his brawn. With season 3 set to feature a story with Reacher largely separated from allies, back to working on his own as he was in season 1, the combination of his strength and his intelligence will be more important than ever.

Though Ritchson won't be working as part of a team in Reacher season 3, series veteran Maria Stern will be reprising her role as s Neagley in the new episodes, despite Persuader not featuring the character.

Our Take On The Reacher Season 3 Clip

Ritchson's Performance Will Anchor The New Episodes

One of the reasons why the Prime Video series has been successful is because Ritchson is leading the Reacher cast. The actor captures the character's impressive physicality, but also his charm and his cleverness. The latest clip suggests this winning combination will be on full display in the new season, which is a promising sign.

Even though Reacher will have to rely more on his intelligence when it comes to Paulie, the Reacher season 3 trailers have teased that a major brawl between him and Paulie will be a centerpiece of the new episodes. How and when this fight occurs remains to be seen, but it could end up being the best action scene in the show if it's pulled off correctly. Though many questions remain about Reacher season 3, the dynamic between Ritchson's character and Paulie looks certain to be a highlight.

Source: Prime Video