Warning! This article contains minor spoilers for Reacher season 3’s episode 1.
Alan Ritchson’s character takes a dig at Paulie’s size by asking him about “HGH” inReacherseason 3’s episode 1, leaving one curious about what he is trying to imply. When it comes to its depiction of the titular character, Jack Reacher, theAmazon Prime Video detective showhas stayed loyal to its source material. Although the show’s version of Jack Reacher speaks a little too much, defying the “Reacher said nothing” trope, he is still a man of a few words in the series.
Like Reacher in the books, theAlan Ritchson characteronly delivers a few badass one-liners time and again. Other times, his mere presence is enough to strike fear in his enemies and command respect from his allies. InReacherseason 3, however, the character equips himself with gags surrounding a villain’s size because, for the first time, he comes across someone close to a foot taller than him. When he first encounters the villain,Paulie, inReacherseason 3, he does not hold himself back from asking him if he is looking for HGH.
What Reacher’s “HGH” Insult To Paulie In Season 3 Means
Reacher Pokes Fun At Paulie’s Massive Size
When Reacher first arrives at Zachary Beck’s residence in season 3’s episode 1, he encounters Paulie. Since Reacher rarely crosses paths with people taller and wider than him, Paulie’s mammoth stature catches him off-guard. However, instead of feeling intimidated by Paulie’s presence, he confronts him when he starts searching him for weapons. He asks Paulie if he expects to find HGH and a hypodermic needle. Since syntheticHuman Growth Hormone (HGH) is often used as a performance-enhancing drug by bodybuilders to grow in size, Reacher accuses Paulie of steroid use with the insult.
…even though, for once, Reacher is facing someone bigger than him, his clever insults and quick wit are enough to level the playing field.
He blatantly calls him out for his steroid usage, implying that his massive size is merely the result of chemical enhancements rather than natural strength. Reacher even doubles down on this in another scene where Paulie challenges him to bench more than him in the gym. Instead of accepting the challenge, Reacher cleverly exposes Paulie for being all brawn and no brain by making him punch himself. These hilarious moments between Reacher and Paulie establish that even though, for once, Reacher is facing someone bigger than him, his clever insults and quick wit are enough to level the playing field.
Reacher Likely Knows A Bunch Of Height-Based Insults From Personal Experience
Reacher Knows What It’s Like To Be The Biggest Guy In The Room
When Reacher tells Neagley that Paulie is even bigger than him, she jokingly says that the last time she saw someone that huge was at Mt. Rushmore. This is not the first time someone has taken a jab at Reacher’s size. Neagley’s one-liner establishes that Reacher has taken many height-based insults all his life. Therefore, from personal experience,he probably has many other witty comebacks up his sleeve to deflect Paulie’s claims of being stronger and bigger than him.
Reacher Season 3: How Paulie In the Show Compares to the Book Character
Paulie is set to make his debut in Reacher season 3, but how will his character be different from Lee Childs' Jack Reacher novels?
While these comebacks may not be enough for him to take Paulie down in a one-on-one showdown, he could get into theReacherseason 3 villain’s head and break his confidence with his psychological games. Typically, in theoriginalJack Reacherbooks, the main character is not supposed to be much of a talker. However, the fact that he has to rely more on his words and trickery to establish his superiority over Paulie suggests that Olivier Richters' character is a genuine threat inReacherseason 3.
Reacher
Reacher follows Jack Reacher, a former military police investigator, as he navigates civilian life. Without a phone and carrying minimal belongings, Reacher drifts across the country, experiencing the nation he once served, and encounters intriguing challenges along the way.
