Reacher Season 3 Neatly Sets Up A Major Book Character For Season 4

Warning: Major spoilers for Reacher season 3 episode 4 "Dominique" below!The introduction of General Garber in Reacher season 3 suggests another key book character could turn up in season 4. There aren't that many recurring characters in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series - outside of Reacher himself, of course. That said, Amazon's adaptation has made his best friend Neagley (Maria Sten) a recurring figure; Neagley is even getting a spinoff show for her own. The latest episode of season 3, "Dominique," is told mostly in flashback and sees Reacher recounting the murder of the title character, Dominique Kohl (Mariah Robinson).

Kohl is a bright young Sergeant assigned to help him on a case, with Reacher's superior Garber (Andreas Apergis) basically ordering him to be her mentor. Garber is Reacher's own mentor in the books and was a key figure in shaping Jack's sense of morality and investigative skills. Garber even has catchy mottos of his own, including "Never get distracted from the exact job at hand," or telling Reacher to "Do it once, do it right" when it comes to killing Quinn (Brian Tee).

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Garber's Appearance In Reacher Season 3 Sets Up His Daughter, Jodie, For Season 4

Jodie Garber is a major character in two Jack Reacher novels

Jack Reacher saluting Leon Garder in Reacher

Amazon's Reacher has no shortage of great source material to pick from, with fans waiting on adaptations of favorites like 61 Hours or Echo Burning. Garber himself has appeared in five novels, including the second book Die Trying (where Reacher had to stop a radical militia) or prequel titles like The Enemy. His appearance could also be setting Tripwire as the book adapted for season 4, where Garber's daughter Jodie played a featured role in the story.

Sadly for General Garber himself, he dies shortly before the book begins, with Reacher and Jodie reuniting after his funeral. It feels notable that Garber appears in season 3, especially since he wasn't part of Persuader at all. Garber's brief appearance could hint that the fourth series will cover one of the novels he appeared in; since Tripwire is considered one of the best, that's the most obvious candidate. Then again, an adaptation of Die Trying wouldn't go amiss either.

Jodie Garber's Role In Lee Child's Reacher Books Explained

Jodie was Reacher's deepest romance

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher with books background.

Jodie was introduced in Tripwire, with Reacher first meeting Garber's daughter when she was 15 and he was in his 20s. She was described as having a crush on Reacher at that age, but for reasons that should be very obvious, nothing happened between them. When they reunite following Garber's passing, Jodie has become an attorney in New York. Tripwire's plot involves Jodie hiring a private detective to find Reacher, with the two then looking into the book's main antagonist.

Reacher and Jodie also start a romance during their investigation, and in a move that breaks series protocol, they remain together for more than one book. Jack and Jodie live together for a time after the events of Tripwire and remain an item until the end of the fourth book, Running Blind. While Jack cares deeply for Jodie, when she announces she's heading to the UK after being made a partner in her law firm, Reacher decides it's time to end their romance and go back to his drifting ways.

Running Blind was published under the alternate title The Visitor in the UK.

Jodie has yet to reappear in the books, though she has been mentioned in passing in later books. Jodie was one of Reacher's key romances, and he came about as close to settling down with her as he everhad in previous novels. Fans of the Reacher TV series might view Roscoe (Willa Fitzgerald) as the one who got away, but Jodie holds that crown in Lee Child's source material.

Could Garber Become A Future Reacher Love Interest?

Jodie would be a great addition to Reacher's next season

The first three series of Reacher have been smart with how they've varied the types of adventures Jack has gotten himself into. Each season has revealed new things about Reacher as a character too, but it would be real interesting to see him attempt to settle down. Assuming Garber's appearance in "Dominique" is a clue that season 4 will cover Tripwire, then it could see Reacher wrestle with the idea of abandoning his wandering ways and living a regular life.

... the Reacher/Jodie relationship would be a great arc for the show to explore.

Reacher's relationship with Jodie in Tripwire and Running Blind is the best developed of the books, and she's a great character on her own terms. That said, adapting Tripwire would more or less force the showrunners to cover Running Blind next; this could feel restrictive after previous seasons allowed them to pick any book they wanted. Even so, the Jodie relationship would be a great arc for the show to explore.

Alternately, Garber's role could hint that season 4 will adapt one of the prequel novels. Assuming the series runs for a long time, it would be wise to cover these books before Alan Ritchson ages out of playing a younger Reacher. A good candidate in this regard would be The Affair, where Garber plays a big supporting role and the story details the events that led to Reacher quitting the Army.

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