Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning ends the series with the door slightly open, but it makes an odd character choice that would affect future projects. The Mission: Impossible series is one of the best action franchises ever. Since 1996, the series has constantly reinvented itself, imagining new ways for Tom Cruise to endanger himself via many of the most amazing stunts ever put to film. Final Reckoning is no different, with a submarine sequence and a biplane chase that will have audiences holding their breath.
While the eighth chapter in the franchise is supposedly the final film, it ends the series on an open-ended note. Ethan Hunt and his IMF team go their separate ways but never indicate that they’re completely retired. If the world needed them, they would definitely unite again to save the day. However, there could be a different team dynamic if another project happens, since Simon Pegg’s Benji takes on more of a leadership role. Hopefully, that isn’t the direction the franchise takes as that isn’t the right position for that character.
Benji Becomes The Leader Of The IMF In Final Reckoning (And I Don’t Like It)
Benji Steps Away From The Computer To Lead The Team
Benji has been a crucial part of the IMF team since Ethan sought his help in Mission: Impossible III. A technician for the IMF, Benji officially became a field agent in Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol and was established as one of Hunt’s closest allies in the following films. He’s a devoted loyal agent and friend, and a viciously intelligent technician. However, Benji’s never been much of a leader, often staying in the background as Ethan’s “man in the chair,” giving him instructions from behind a computer.
However, Benji takes on a larger role in Final Reckoning. Since he’s one of the few veteran IMF agents left on the team, Ethan asks him to lead while he’s underwater, retrieving The Enтιтy’s original source code. He also asks Benji to take care of the team when he chases Gabriel (Esai Morales) in the film’s climax. While Benji is an experienced agent, he isn’t exactly a leader, and it takes away from what his character does best.
Why Benji Being Team Leader Is A Problem For Final Reckoning
Benji Is Better As A Supporting Character To Ethan
The team dynamic is thrown off in Final Reckoning since everyone is so new. Haley Atwell’s Grace was added in the previous film, Mission Impossible: — ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Reckoning, and Pom Klementieff’s Paris and Greg Tarzan Davis’ Theo were previously antagonists to Ethan’s mission. After Luther (Ving Rhames) dies at the beginning of the film, Benji is the only veteran team member left. However, Benji’s role has mainly been as a character who sits in the shadows, monitoring the situation and giving Ethan alerts.
He knows how to hack a computer or defuse an explosive, but he might not be the best at dishing out orders.
Benji’s also an excellent comedic character, delivering hilarious reactions to Ethan’s ridiculous stunts. Benji hasn’t shown he can lead the team in the middle of the action, though he does display some leadership qualities. However, his expanded role as the temporary team leader in Final Reckoning leads to several moments that seem out of character for him. He has to do some fighting, which seems outlandish when he’s fighting trained soldiers. He knows how to hack a computer or defuse an explosive, but he might not be the best at dishing out orders.
Benji Leading The IMF Could Hurt A Future Mission: Impossible Movie
Mission: Impossible Wouldn’t Be Interesting With Any Leader Besides Ethan Hunt
Final Reckoning is advertised as the last film in the Mission: Impossible series. However, that’s not always the case. If the film Final Reckoning performs well at the box office, Paramount will certainly look at ways to capitalize on the film’s success, whether that’s a spinoff or sequel. If the films do continue with Benji as the team leader, that isn’t the most interesting direction for the franchise.
Cruise is the heart and soul of these films. Hunt’s dedication to saving the world is only surpᴀssed by Cruise’s determination to save cinema through his amazing and wildly dangerous stunts. While Benji is a great character, Hunt is the best and most intriguing leader of the IMF. It looks like the franchise is over, but continuing it with Benji as Hunt’s replacement after Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning would be a mistake.
