Dixon replaces Roscoe as Reacher’s romantic interest in season 2, but one line from the finale proves she’s also the better match for him.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Reacher season 2.

SUMMARY

 After leaving Roscoe at the end of season 1, Dixon is Reacher’s love interest in season 2.
 Karla Dixon is a better romantic match for Reacher, displaying a deep understanding of his personality when she jokingly asks him to meet her parents.
 Reacher calling Roscoe a “friend” in season 2 also suggests that his bond with Dixon is stronger.

Reacher season 2’s finale subtly proves Dixon would be a better romantic match for Alan Ritchson’s character than Roscoe from season 1.

Jack Reacher’s staunch refusal to stay in one place plays havoc on his love life, resulting in a series of short-term motel room flings that never amount to anything deeper, irrespective of the emotional feelings Reacher may develop for the woman in question.

During Reacher season 1, the sturdy protagonist experienced a frisson with Margrave’s Roscoe Conklin, but, inevitably, he skipped town before the final credits rolled.

Exactly the same thing happens with Serinda Swan’s Karla Dixon in Reacher season 2. Finally giving into the sexual tension that began during their days as members of the 110th Special Investigators unit, Reacher and Dixon are essentially a couple throughout season 2.

Despite offering a history that Roscoe could not, however, even Dixon fails to drag Reacher from his life of gas station showers and suspiciously warm bus seats.

Reacher season 2 ends with yet another breakup, but if the not-so-gentle giant ever did settle down, one line from the finale, “Fly Boy,” hints Dixon would be the stronger match.

Dixon’s Joke In Reacher Season 2’s Finale Proves She Understands Him Better Than Roscoe

Reacher and Dixon’s ending scene takes place in a motel room shortly after the final battle, and allows the couple one last fumble before parting. Discussing their situationship, Dixon begins by asking if Reacher would like to meet her parents – an offer that scares the protagonist more than anything else over the past eight episodes.

Dixon eventually puts Reacher out of his misery, admitting, “I’m f**king with you.” Dixon goes on to confirm that she harbors no serious hopes of settling into a normal relationship, and fully expects Reacher to move onto his next destination.

Reacher’s ending with Dixon is almost the exact opposite of his final scene with Roscoe in season 1. Like Dixon, Roscoe extended an offer for Reacher to stay with her. Unlike Dixon, she wasn’t messing around, meaning Reacher had to let the smitten cop down with an awkward analogy about campfires.

Dixon knew Reacher well enough to anticipate the answer he would give if she asked the same question, and even predicted that she could have a little fun at Reacher’s expense by pretending otherwise.

Dixon’s joke highlights her deep, intimate knowledge of Reacher’s personality and motivations, and hints that, if he ever did settle down, she would be his perfect romantic match.

Season 2 Already Proved Reacher Was Over Roscoe

A completely separate season 2 scene already indicated that the bond between Reacher and Dixon is stronger than Reacher and Roscoe’s ever was. For the vast majority of Reacher season 2, Roscoe goes completely unmentioned – even when Neagley discussed his past love interests, and even after Finlay came back.

This alone implied that whatever feelings Reacher held for Roscoe evaporated between seasons, but when Roscoe finally did get mentioned, Reacher all but announced that he no longer felt any romantic attachment towards her.

Neagley was the one who dropped Roscoe’s name, prompting Dixon to ask, “Who’s Roscoe?” Reacher responded by describing Roscoe as a “friend.” One might assume this was merely an attempt to spare Dixon’s feelings and avoid any potential social awkwardness, but Reacher has repeatedly proven that he possesses all the sensitivity and social tact of a charging rhino.

Only seconds before the “who’s Roscoe” line, Reacher had been discussing murder and death in front of a scared teenager, while his Special Investigator friends were also shocked by Reacher’s lack of subtlety when dealing with relatives of their deceased friends.

If Reacher calls Roscoe a “friend,” therefore, that is exactly how he sees her, further confirming they were never as well-matched as Reacher and Dixon in Reacher season 2. On the odd chance that Amazon’s nomadic hero ever does decide to settle down, Dixon might find her “old business” with Jack Reacher finally becoming new business.