The Fast & Furious franchise should have bowed out gracefully after Furious 7. Paul Walker’s tragic passing gave the series an emotional high point, with a beautifully executed farewell that felt like the perfect conclusion. But instead of ending on that heartfelt note, the series has spiraled into mindless, over-the-top action with no real weight.
One of the biggest examples of the franchise losing its way is when they introduced Transformers' level plothole continuity with John Cena’s character, Jakob Toretto. In F9, we’re suddenly told Dom has a long-lost brother who was apparently a super-spy all along. But how does that even make sense? Dom started as a street racer and a VCR thief—why would his younger brother feel the need to become a covert agent just to escape his shadow? And even more bizarrely, he transitions from a ruthless operative to a wisecracking uncle figure in Fast X, completely contradicting his original persona.
Beyond the plot holes, the action itself has lost its impact. Earlier movies had a sense of grit and stakes—even when the stunts were over the top, they were grounded by character-driven moments. Now, the franchise throws logic out the window with cars swinging between skyscrapers, launching into space, and surviving impossible crashes without a scratch.
Not only has the franchise lost its emotional core, but it has also handled Brian O’Conner’s absence in a strange and inconsistent way. Instead of using CGI and Paul Walker’s brothers, as they did in Furious 7, to give Brian a meaningful role, the writers have awkwardly sidelined him.
Despite being one of the franchise’s most skilled drivers and a key member of the family, Brian is now conveniently “staying home with the kids” while the world is falling apart. It feels unnatural, especially when Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) is still actively involved in the action. If they wanted to keep Brian’s presence alive, they could have used modern technology to tastefully integrate him rather than pretending he just sits every mission out.
Instead, his absence highlights the franchise’s struggle to move forward in a way that feels authentic.
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Source: Dan Lalonde
Photo Credit: Universal
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