Movies

Did ‘Mission: Impossible 8’ Just Kill Off Its Best Character? Fans Are Furious!

BBG News

Attention! This discussion might contain spoilers about Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Ethan Hunt’s adventures have come to an end according to the latest movie release, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. This film marks Tom Cruise’s farewell in the series that significantly boosted his popularity. Although it has a few rough patches compared to earlier films, it offers a fitting conclusion and demonstrates yet again Cruise’s fearlessness in risking his life for our enjoyment. The action scenes take some time to arrive, but when they do, they feature some of the best stunts in the series.

The Final Tying Up

The movie, “The Final Tying Up,” also neatly wraps up several unresolved mysteries from earlier movies, shedding light on the true nature of the Rabbit’s Foot introduced in “Mission: Impossible III.” This revelation brings the story back to its roots with the original film’s antagonist, Jim Phelps. Most beloved characters are given a final chance to shine, making us cherish Benji, Grace, and Luther (may he rest in peace) even more. However, we can’t help but feel that this movie, and by extension, “Dead Reckoning,” may have unfairly treated one of the franchise’s most beloved characters, Ilsa Faust (portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson).

Read Our Review

Wherefore Art Thou, Ilsa Faust?

In the shocking turn of events within “Dead Reckoning,” the antagonist Gabriel found himself face-to-face with newcomer Grace, but MI6 agent Elsa Faust stepped in to protect her. As Ethan made his way to save Grace, Gabriel managed to overpower Elsa and seemingly fatally stabbed her. This death came so unexpectedly that viewers were skeptical it would be permanent, and indeed, it was eventually revealed as a ruse.

Sadly, it’s true that Ilsa is nowhere to be found in “The Final Reckoning”, which suggests she perished in the previous movie (a clue perhaps that her death in the beginning of “Dead Reckoning” was only a ruse, and this time it would prove to be permanent). It’s worth noting that the Mission: Impossible series has a history of dramatically killing off characters, as the original TV show’s hero died at the end of the first episode, and Luther bit the dust in the opening sequence of “The Final Reckoning”.

After appearing in Rogue Nation, Ilsa has been widely loved by fans, largely due to Rebecca Ferguson’s captivating performance. However, her sudden exit sparked curiosity, as Hayley Atwell’s character Grace shares many similarities with Ilsa. Given that both characters perform similar roles and Atwell is delightful in the series, it was not hard to view her as a possible replacement for Ilsa.

Why did the character Ilsa get written out of the series? In an interview with The Wrap in 2024, Ferguson explained that she had enjoyed her time on the show but was ready for new opportunities. Moreover, as the films focused more on the team dynamic, she felt that Ilsa no longer aligned with that concept: “Ilsa was starting to become a team player. However, everyone has different desires, and for me, Ilsa was always a rogue character… With so many new characters joining, there wasn’t enough room left for her original role.

‘Mission: Impossible’ Wasted Ilsa… And Rebecca Ferguson

Regardless of director Christopher McQuarrie’s limitations, it’s still plausible to imagine that he could have crafted a more fitting conclusion for Ilsa, given her combat prowess within the franchise. It seems unrealistic that she would be defeated in hand-to-hand combat, and if Ilsa had sacrificed herself by taking a bullet intended for Grace, it would have been consistent with her character as a loyal team player despite her rogue tendencies. The unexpected nature of her demise led many fans to initially suspect a deception or fakeout.

A more troubling aspect is that Ilsa’s death represents a well-known narrative device, known as “fridging,” which has faced growing condemnation over the past decade. Essentially, “fridging” occurs when a female character is callously killed off to fuel the motivation of a central male character. Despite being frequently criticized as sexist, this trope persists alarmingly often in today’s blockbusters. Several Marvel Cinematic Universe films have incorporated “fridged” characters into crucial plotlines, while Deadpool 2 faced significant backlash for killing off its female lead early on. Even Christopher Nolan has been subject to criticism due to his frequent use of this trope in his works.

Given the swift replacement of Ilsa with Grace in the Mission: Impossible series, it seems rather unfair to longtime fans who cherished Ilsa’s character. Fans admired Ilsa for being a solitary figure, yet she showed genuine concern and care towards Ethan and his team. Whenever they found themselves in a tight spot, she was always ready to lend a hand. Therefore, when the series barely acknowledges her after her demise, it just doesn’t resonate as authentic.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Read More

2025-05-29 02:02

Previous post Matlock Season 2: The Shocking Twist That Will Leave You Breathless!
Next post Deadwood: The HBO Western That Changed TV Forever