This story began 22 years ago whenthe original The Fast and the Furiouswas released in theaters.
It continued into the franchises fifth, sixth, and seventh films, which is when tragedy struck.
Walker died November 30, 2013, right in the middle of production of Furious 7.
Walker, seen here in the first Fast and Furious movie, died in 2013.Image: Universal
Director James Wan then ends the film on a magical, heartfelt montage paying tribute to Walker.
And its been a lot.
Heres how its played out.
Diesel and Walker in the original.Image: Universal
In 2017s The Fate of the Furious, Dom is blackmailed into betraying his family.
No, Letty (Doms then-love interest, played by Michelle Rodriguez) quickly snaps back.
We cant bring Brian and Mia into this.
Dom with little Brian as a baby.Screenshot: Universal
We agreed on that.
Roman lets it go and the movie moves on.
That seemingly throwaway scene set a precedent for the future.
The film ends as Brian arrives.Screenshot: Universal
Brian and Mia are done.
They decided to leave and, because everyone is family, the on-screen characters choose to abide by that.
Its a little weird… but its fine.
Mia with now, older, little Brian.Screenshot: Peacock
After the group is forced into hiding, someone joins them in their battle: Mia.
Thats not great but that logic tracks well enough so were okay with it.
What doesnt track is what happens next.
Fingers crossed for a better ending.Image: Universal
If you get involved here, you put everything at risk, Dom tells his sister.
Your kids, the world you built.
My kids and yours are in the safest hands possible, Mia retorts.
Is Mia capable and badass just like Brian?
Is it essential that we know where the kids are?
At this point, three movies in a row have ended with some sort of Walker nod.
And yet, the events of F9 dont do Brian any favors.
Hes stuck at home doing the important, but very much overqualified job, of watching the kids.
Lets go with that though.
Babysitting is his thing now.
He watches the kids.
Got it.Enter 2023s Fast X, which takesthis gradual degradation of Brian to even more baffling new depths.
For starters, Brian (and his child) dont show up at a Toretto family barbecue.
In fact, she brought grandma to the party.
Did she not think her fathers mother would want to meet her child?
Was Brian busy doing something else?
Are they in a fight?
Dom specifically states that Mia and Brian have been contacted and are safe, checking that box.
Who is there watching him?
It has to be Brian, right?
Bring the kid to his house.
As you’re free to probably guess at this point, its not Brian watching his nephewits Mia.
And they are at Doms house, not Brians.
A reminder that no one knows where Brian and Mia live but everyone knows where Dom and Letty live.
Their house was literally blown up in a previous movie.
Wheres the logic in Mia alone staying there?
Dom and Lettys is the first place anyone looking for the child would arrive to get him.
Which, wouldnt you know it, is exactly what happens.
Armed and armored soldiers come after Mia and little Brian.
Mia is a great fighter and does her best, but she needs help defeating the bad guys.
Enter… no, not Brian.
Jakob, her brother, sent by Dom to retrieve little Brian.
To fight for his family.
And the implication by comparison is that Brian is not that.
Mia doesnt reappear in the film.
Theres no mention of maybe the nephew going to stay with his amazing uncle and cousins.
Of Auntie Mia taking him back to her place.
Of Brian suggesting a better plan.
Which, we guess, is forgivable since clearly Walker isnt in the film.
Its a bad look.
Now, to be fair, things could have been a whole lot worse.
If any of the movies killed Brian in an unbefitting way, fans wouldve been upset.
If, god forbid, he kept appearing as a CGI creation, that too would have been upsetting.
But the specifics of it have been an absolute disaster, continually showing disrespect toward the character Walker crafted.
Finally, here we must acknowledge that the Fast and Furious isnt over yet.
Thats a stain on the legacy of the franchise.
A franchise that Vin Diesel may carry, but Paul Walker helped build.
Dom famously said, You never turn your back on family.
Maybe he should turn the mirror on himself because hed been doing just that.
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