Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Reacher season 2 finale.Reacher season 2 ends with the 110th Special Investigations Unit accomplishing their mission for retribution, but that's only half of what happens in the action-packed finale. Jack Reacher started his new mission with the death of his and s Neagley's former military teammate, Cal Franz, but his murder was only the beginning of a deep mystery that eventually involved their other friends, Manuel Orozco and Jorge Sanchez also turning up dead. Making it worse were the suspicions that another Special Investigator, Tony Swan, may have had them killed.

The case proved far too dangerous just for Jack and Neagley, so they brought in other allies — fellow Special Investigators, David O'Donnell and Karla Dixon, as well as New York police Guy Russo. Being mostly surrounded by people who previously knew Jack altered the character's usual stand-off demeanor. It also set up a less surprising finale, since there was no way that the 110th Special Investigations Unit would fail at seeking vengeance against those who killed their own. Instead, the more interesting part of the Reacher season 2 finale is what comes after Jack and his team win.

The Special Investigators' Reacher Season 2 Finale Plan Explained (In Full)

Jack's Plan Is Quite Simple But Needs Proper Execution

Jack's plan to save Dixon and O'Donnell is quite simple, but extremely difficult to pull off because of how big of a risk it is. He lets himself be captured, so he is able to infiltrate the facility, while Neagley, with the help of Senator Lavoy's people, works their way outside and uses the element of surprise to get Langston off balance. Granted that there are some curveballs along the way, but the Special Investigators are capable enough to easily adapt to the situation. After a tussle in the helicopter, Jack keeps his word and throws Langston off the aircraft.

Why Reacher & Dixon Don't Stay Together

It's A Less Sad Break-up Compared To Roscoe's

Reacher season 1 ends with Jack breaking up with Roscoe Conklin after engaging in an affair with her throughout the case in Margrave. In season 2, Jack began a new romance with fellow Special Investigator, Dixon, but once again decided to part ways. This time, however, their separation is less sad compared to Roscoe's, primarily because Dixon understands that Jack is unable to settle in one place. The pair spend the night one last time and then bid each other farewell. That being said, it doesn't mean that they can't reunite in the future.

What Really Happened To Tony Swan

Swan Is Confirmed To Be Dead

The 110th Special Investigations Unit's bond is questioned in Reacher season 2 when Swan became a suspected co-conspirator of New Age Technology. As the evidence against him piled up, Jack and the team started to have opposing views on his innocence.

The villain only kept his eyeballs for verification purposes — something that he revealed to Jack in the Reacher season 2 finale.

In the end, it's revealed that Swan didn't cause the deaths of Franz, Orozco, and Sanchez. Instead, he was the one who blew the whistle on Langston's illegal operations, causing him to be killed. The villain only kept his eyeballs for verification purposes — something that he revealed to Jack in the Reacher season 2 finale.

Reacher Season 2's Ending Sets Up Future 110th Cameos

If Finlay Can Return, Then The 110th Can As Well

At the end of Reacher season 2, Jack, Neagley, O'Donnell, and Dixon all go their separate ways. The four's survival from the New Age ordeal allows future seasons of the Amazon Prime Video series to bring them back, in case the narrative calls for it. While Child's books take on an anthology type of storytelling — something that the show is also adapting, Reacher season 2 breaks one of the novels' rules by bringing back Oscar Finlay in Reacher season 2 following his involvement in season 1. This sets a precedent for the Special Investigators' return.

Why Reacher Keeps The Money (& What He Does With It)

Jack Uses The Money To Do Good

After taking care of Langston and his men in Reacher season 2, Jack and the Special Investigators wrap things up by going after AM. Interestingly, the usually calm and collected villain acts panicked; he tries to talk his way out of the situation by reminding Jack that he's just the middleman in this whole transaction. Still, he's so far involved in the crime that there's no doubt that he's going to end up dead. Meanwhile, Senator Lavoy's people are arrested by Homeland Security, with Jack banking on Joe's ties with the organization.

Swan's cut gets donated to an animal shelter in his name.

Instead of surrendering the money that they confiscated from AM, however, Jack decides to keep it to himself. He distributes it to everyone who has been victimized by the whole ordeal, sending them to the surviving family of Franz, Orozco, Sanchez, and even Russo. Meanwhile, Swan's cut gets donated to an animal shelter in his name. For the surviving of the 110th, Neagley's father gets round-the-clock medical care, as part of her portion; Dixon gets his under his kids' names, setting them up for the future; and Dixon receives enough to start her own company.

Did The Special Investigators Really Need To Kill EVERYONE In Reacher Season 2's Ending?

Jack And His Team Want Nothing But Revenge

When Jack set out to find the killers of Franz, he was already determined to make them pay. In the end, even if Langston is the mastermind of the whole brutal murder scheme, he and the team decide to make sure that everyone involved pays for what happened to his friends — including people who were just paid by Langston. Considering the bond of the 110th Special Investigations Unit and the way some of its were killed, it's understandable that Jack, Neagley, Dixon, and O'Donnell decide to kill everyone who played a part in their deaths.

Reacher's Final Words To Neagley Explained

"Yes, Master Sergeant."

Since the whole operation in Reacher season 2 started with Jack reuniting with Neagley, it makes sense that it also ends with their separation. While saying their goodbyes, Neagley softly commands him to be better at keeping in touch while he wanders the country and ends with a stern "is that understood?". Jack simply answers "Yes, Master Sargeant," referring to her rank in the military.

What To Expect From Reacher Season 3

Jack Is Off To His Next Mission

Reacher season 3 continues the adventures of the wandering hero as he is back for a new mission. As with season 2 being largely separated from season 1, the third season of Reacher will be its own story, taking inspiration from Lee Child's seventh book in the Jack Reacher series, Persuader. The novel follows Reacher going undercover in a drug kingpin's operations while also trying to save a captured DEA agent.

Also similar to the other seasons of the show, Reacher season 3 will take inspiration from the novel but also take its own path with the story. This includes the return of fan-favorite character s Neagley who is not featured in the novel. One of the most exciting aspects of the new season is seeing that Reacher may have met his match as he will face off with Olivier Richters as Paulie, a character who actually makes Reacher look small in comparison.

How The Reacher Season 2 Ending Was Received

Many Critics Felt The Fun Outweighed The Flaws

Reacher season 2 continued the strong reception for the show that began in season 1. While some of the critics reviewing the finale were less than pleased with how things wrapped up, it seemed that most of them have come to understand the kind of show Reacher is and fully embraced it, even with some flaws. The review of the season 2 finale from The Guardian seemed to echo the assessment of many critics by calling the show "A little corny, sure, but big fun." Likewise, a review with CBR suggested the show balances the ridiculous with the fun:

There are two moments from the Reacher Season 2 finale that push the limits of viewers' suspension of disbelief. One still works in spite of this, while the other could undercut the climax of the fight for some.

Forbes was particularly harsh on the finale of the second season of the show. Along with feeling as though the season overall was a major drop in quality from season 1, the review also criticized the various action cliches of the final episode. They concluded the review with a warning to the show for its next season lest Reacher fall off the rails:

At the end of Season 1 I was ready for more, excited to Reacher on his next adventure. At the end of Season 2 I’m just angry that they’d take such a promising series and star—Alan Ritchson is great in the role regardless of the show’s other shortcomings—and ruin it so entirely. I hope the people in charge take this criticism to heart and do better in Season 3, because this was not it.

However, even with all the cliches intact, a review at IGN acknowledged that there are certain guarantees with the show and its hero that is part of why people like to watch, even if it can be predictable:

Reacher rollicks along to a largely typical and action-fuelled finale – but this really isn’t a criticism. The fact that Reacher himself is as inevitable and unstoppable as an incoming tide is the entire appeal.

How The Reacher Season 2 Ending Sets Up Season 3

Reacher May Keep His Friends Close

While Reacher avoids the case-of-the-week format by telling one story over the course of an entire season, the first two seasons have been largely separate from each other. Each season of Reacher adapts a new novel from Lee Child's book series and can operate as a standalone story, following Reacher on his latest mission. It seems as though this will largely be the case for season 3 of the show and that the season 2 finale will not have a huge impact on what happens in the new season.

However, the one element of the season 2 finale that will have a lasting impact is Reacher acknowledging that he is not the lone wolf he pretends to be. His fellow soldiers represent the only family he has left, which likely means that fans will see more of the 110th going forward. Indeed, Maria Stern is confirmed to return as s Neagley in Reacher season 3. While nothing else is confirmed, it would not be surprising if some of the others appeared in season 3 of Reacher, even if it is a small cameo, like Finlay's appearance in season 2.