Mission: Impossible –The Final Reckoning Kills Off One of the Franchise’s Biggest Stars (And Completely Fumbles it)

At last, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” has hit the big screen, wrapping up Tom Cruise’s thrilling spy story in an explosive finale. In this installment, Ethan Hunt and his covert operatives engage in their riskiest mission to date. The plot unfolds two months after the events of “Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning,” with the malevolent artificial intelligence, dubbed the Entity, posing a greater threat than ever before. As the Entity seizes control of the world’s nuclear weapons, Ethan and his comrades scramble to thwart its apocalyptic plan, all while running against the clock. Regrettably, not everyone survives this perilous confrontation.

To vanquish the Entity permanently, Ethan realizes he must be prepared to surrender everything, even his companions. Despite his efforts to shield his comrades, Ethan finds they are ready to risk their lives to save the world. This revelation sent shockwaves through the fanbase, demonstrating no one is invulnerable in the struggle against the Entity. Regrettably, The Final Reckoning escalates its toll on lives by claiming another significant character from Ethan’s squad. Similar to Ilsa’s demise, there are certain concerns regarding the latest fatality within the Mission: Impossible series.

Luther Stickell Dies in Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning

Gabriel Orchestrates Luther’s Death Early in the Film

Shortly after a dangerous encounter with Gabriel, Ethan Hunt learns that Luther Stickell’s secret base is under London’s streets. Reaching there, he finds Luther trapped in a room with a bomb, destined to disarm it and save the city at the cost of his own life. Unable to reach Luther in time, Ethan tries to take his place but realizes it’s futile. With mere seconds left on the bomb’s timer, Luther urges Ethan to flee while he disarms the bomb’s core. As Ethan escapes, a preliminary explosion collapses the tunnels around Luther’s base, burying the IMF agent under tons of debris. Despite his tragic fate, Luther’s selfless act spares millions from the blast’s impact.

Starting The Final Reckoning, this moment proves to be especially heart-wrenching. The bond between Ethan and Luther was unparalleled among their teammates; their alliance stretching back to the very beginning. Through thick and thin, they stood together – Luther supporting Ethan’s risky plans, while Ethan protected Luther during their most treacherous missions. Luther’s demise intensifies Ethan’s determination to annihilate the Entity and Gabriel, as he knows neither can be permitted to live. In Dead Reckoning, Ethan vowed to keep his teammates safe, but ultimately failed, losing Ilsa Faust and Luther by the end of the conflict. Fortunately, Luther is the last casualty on Ethan Hunt’s IMF squad during their battle with the Entity, yet his loss resonates as the most poignant.

Why Luther’s Mission: Impossible Death Doesn’t Work

Luther’s Death Feels Rushed and Awkward

Despite the fact that “The Final Reckoning” generally gets many aspects right, the demise of Luther is not one of them. His sad ending appears hurried and ill-fitting, falling short in paying tribute to the character who has appeared almost every third movie, save for Ethan Hunt. To begin with, Luther’s death happens surprisingly early in the film, taking place during the initial act and thus leaving him with limited screen time. Although the farewell conversation between Luther and Ethan is emotional, it seems incomplete, as it represents only a handful of their interactions throughout the movie. A more effective portrayal of Luther’s death might have been to save it for the end of the film, allowing one final opportunity for the character to shine before bidding farewell. This would also have amplified the tension in “The Final Reckoning”‘s third act by imposing a significant cost on our heroes for defeating the Entity. Following Luther’s death, all major characters survive the concluding battle with the Entity. If Luther had perished during that final fight instead, the film’s climax might have been more impactful.

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Why Did Mission: Impossible Kill Off Luther?

Killing Luther May Not Have Always Been the Plan

Luther’s peculiar part in “The Final Reckoning” suggests that behind-the-scenes troubles may have influenced the final version of the movie, potentially causing it to deviate from its original intended form. It is plausible that “The Final Reckoning” wasn’t initially planned as a standalone film, but was restructured during production to function independently.

Originally, the seventh and eighth installments of the “Mission: Impossible” series were conceived as one continuous story, titled as “Dead Reckoning Part One” and “Part Two.” However, the underperformance at the box office of “Dead Reckoning Part One” forced Paramount to position its next film as a completely distinct movie rather than a sequel, despite maintaining the same narrative thread. Additionally, it became apparent that “Mission: Impossible 8” would be the concluding chapter of the franchise following the revelation of its title as “The Final Reckoning.” This change might have prompted Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie to modify some aspects of the film’s plot, including the outcomes for certain characters.

Killing off a key character like Luther could send a clear message that The Final Reckoning is the concluding chapter in the Mission: Impossible series. It’s possible that Luther’s demise wasn’t initially part of the script for this movie, but was included to elevate the tension and significance as the last installment in the long-running saga. This could explain why Luther’s death appears sudden and unexpected, potentially due to a late alteration in the film’s plot. Despite some fans being disappointed by Luther’s ending, most can agree that The Final Reckoning delivers on its other promises, resulting in an enjoyable and thrilling addition to the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is now playing in theaters.

2025-06-04 07:06