11 Hidden Easter Eggs and Franchise Calls in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

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Mission: Impossible – The Last Stand

The much-anticipated finale of the Mission: Impossible action series is here, potentially marking Tom Cruise’s last outing as Ethan Hunt. This film serves as a comprehensive tribute to the entire franchise, with Hunt embarking on a perilous mission to thwart The Entity and Gabriel. The climactic moments of Mission: Impossible – The Last Stand offer an adrenaline-pumping conclusion.

In wrapping up the Mission: Impossible franchise, there are numerous intricate Easter eggs and crucial narrative links that skillfully tie in with the preceding sequels. Unlike other films in the series, these connections aren’t overt; instead, they revolve around recurring characters and subtly expanding on the legendary missions undertaken by Ethan Hunt and his IMF team. However, The Final Reckoning adopts a unique method, providing viewers with direct glimpses of familiar scenes from the past.

9. The Entity Cycles Through Mission: Impossible’s History

A Montage Of The Previous Seven Movies Kicks Off This Chapter

In the opening of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” I found myself immersed in a whirlwind of franchise nods, where The Entity swiftly showcased numerous glimpses from the series, possibly hundreds. It would be an arduous task to detail each scene, but this visual feast seemed to encapsulate every pivotal, memorable moment that has defined the franchise over the years. This montage effectively set the stage for the ensuing two and a half hours, using vintage footage to refresh our memories of moments past as they were referenced along the way.

This sequence not only displays various scenes and recycled dialogue as narration, but it also delves into several characters that have been significant in Ethan’s life. Characters such as Luther, Benji, Ilsa, Julia, Max from the first film, Alanna, her daughter from the recent installments, Jane Carter, and Lindsey Farris are all present. A thorough frame-by-frame analysis of The Final Reckoning would be needed to spot every scene and character that appears in this sequence.

8. The Rabbit’s Foot

The Events Of Mission: Impossible III Make An Important Comeback

In the gripping conclusion of “The Final Reckoning“, it becomes clear that Ethan is pivotal in the origin of the Entity, due to his actions during “Mission: Impossible 3“. This film chronicles Ethan’s pursuit of the enigmatic Rabbit’s Foot, a potentially catastrophic artifact rumored to hold a destructive biological or chemical force. On several instances throughout the movie, Ethan refers to it as “the Anti-God”, and this religious symbolism resurfaces in “The Final Reckoning” when we learn that the Rabbit’s Foot was an early form of AI that contributed significantly to the creation of the Entity.

This subtly unveils the religious symbolism related to the Entity, including its cross-shaped key and those who reverence it as acolytes. This ties it back to Ethan’s notion of the Anti-God, demonstrating that all elements in this entire series are interconnected. It’s a circular unraveling of events that connects everything from past movies, significantly strengthening Ethan’s relationship with the Entity and burdening him with guilt over its genesis.

7. Owen Davian & Julia

Mission: Impossible 3’s Story Is Called Out

Another clear allusion to “Mission: Impossible III” arises when Gabriel taunts Ethan by bringing up the movie’s antagonist, Owen Davian, and his then-spouse, Julia. Gabriel uses them as a means of provoking Ethan while he and Grace are in captivity. The former chosen one recalls for Ethan how Davian had used the threat of harming someone dear to him to force him into actions against his will. In “Mission: Impossible 3”, Davian abducts Julia and vows to kill her if Ethan doesn’t retrieve the Rabbit’s Foot.

In “The Final Reckoning,” Gabriel aims to duplicate an effective antagonist scheme. He warns he’ll kill Grace unless Ethan retrieves a hard drive essential for controlling the Entity. Regrettably for Gabriel, his strategy doesn’t unfold as intended.

6. Donloe’s New Home In The Arctic

William Donloe’s Punishment From 1996 Is Still Ongoing

In the upcoming movie, The Final Reckoning, some new faces join the cast, but it also reintroduces a few cherished characters from previous installments in the series. One such character is William Donloe, the CIA agent who unintentionally lost his position following Ethan’s break-in at Langley in Mission: Impossible (1996). Although he was a secondary character in the original film, The Final Reckoning expands his role significantly, demonstrating that he shares the same courage and integrity as Hunt’s other associates.

In a previous adventure set in 1996, Donloe had to leave Langley due to mishandling a break-in. Fast forward to the present day, Grace, Benji, and Paris find themselves crossing paths with Donloe again after they journey to a distant arctic research center to locate the wreckage of the Sevastopol submarine from ‘Dead Reckoning’. This connection to Donloe’s past is a clever touch in the writing that ties things together neatly.

5. Briggs’ True Identity

Shea Whigham’s Character Has A Shocking Secret

In the trailers for “The Final Reckoning,” both William Donloe’s return and the Rabbit’s Foot were hinted, but what wasn’t revealed was the real identity of Shea Whigham’s character, Jasper Briggs. In a dramatic confrontation between Ethan Hunt and Briggs, it turns out that Briggs is actually the son of Jim Phelps – the character played by Jon Voight in the original “Mission: Impossible” series.

On the outside, it appears as a simple Easter egg, but beneath the surface, it’s an intelligent character move that significantly deepens the strife between Hunt and Briggs. They aren’t merely antagonists due to their pre-existing loyalties, but instead because of the longstanding rivalry between Hunt and Briggs’ father. This is subtly hinted at as the reason for Briggs’ eagerness to confront Hunt in Dead Reckoning, and it amplifies the poignancy of their uneasy alliance in The Final Reckoning.

4. Ethan’s CIA Briefing

The Final Reckoning Includes A Fun Recap Of Hunt’s Previous Crimes

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I can’t help but recall the pivotal moment in “The Final Reckoning” when Ethan surrenders to the CIA and parts with the cruciform key. Later on, Holt McCallany’s character, as Secretary of Defense, recites a litany of accusations against the IMF agent. He brings up the daring break-in at the CIA’s “black vault,” a significant event reminiscent of Brian de Palma’s original “Mission: Impossible” film. Further down the line, he mentions an explosion that rocked the Kremlin and an audacious infiltration of a top-secret CIA security briefing.

The explosion at the Kremlin in “Ghost Protocol” and Ethan’s deception of getting into Kittridge’s inner circle during “Dead Reckoning,” which led to the IMF being wrongly accused and Ethan posing as a security member, respectively, are two instances of Ethan taking huge risks and breaking the law in the Mission: Impossible series. Given these actions, it’s understandable that the CIA would still be upset with him.

3. Donloe Returns Ethan’s Knife

The Knife Represents Hunt’s Past

In “The Final Reckoning,” one particularly touching scene for me was the interaction between Ethan and Donloe on their journey to South Africa, where they aim to confront Gabriel and weaken the Entity’s control over global nuclear forces. As the story unfolds, these two men find themselves in a heartwarming moment of reconciliation. You see, Donloe chooses to forgive Ethan for the heist at Langley, an action that led to their meeting the extraordinary woman who became the love of Donloe’s life.

In a gesture filled with emotion and symbolism, Donloe presents Ethan with a knife – a reminder of their shared past and the forgiveness he now offers. This very same knife was left behind by Ethan during the heist, making its return all the more poignant and significant.

In contrast to the usual thrill of dangerous stunts and fast-paced action scenes that are characteristic of the Mission: Impossible series, The Final Reckoning notably emphasizes the intimate, character-centric moments within its narrative. A poignant instance between Ethan and Donloe serves as a prime example, offering these characters resolution through the significant act of Donloe returning Ethan’s knife. This subtle but meaningful gesture acts as an engaging Easter egg for longtime fans of the franchise, while also symbolizing Ethan’s journey reaching completion in its closing scenes.

2. “Phineas Freak”

Luther References His Old Nickname In His Final Moments

In a subtle and poignant reference, Luther’s final utterance of “Phineas Freak” in “The Final Reckoning” is one of its most emotionally charged moments. This nickname was given to Luther by Ethan Hunt during their first encounter in 1996’s “Mission: Impossible,” due to Luther’s legendary status as the only person who could hack NATO Ghostcom. This reputation was what initially attracted Ethan to Luther, and by invoking this nickname again in “The Final Reckoning,” Luther is subtly reminding Ethan of their long history together – a testament to their friendship and trust, as he assured his friend that he could handle the situation at hand.

The bond between Ethan and Luther has been a steady feature of the Mission: Impossible series from its inception, and although Luther was often predicted to perish in The Final Reckoning, his demise was no less painful. Yet, his ability to keep his humor during those last moments demonstrates that Luther had no qualms about giving up his life for those he cherishes – a recurring theme evident throughout The Final Reckoning.

1. The President’s Letter

The Date On President Sloane’s Letter Is A Subtle Easter Egg

In the intricate tapestry of “The Final Reckoning”, a minor detail that might have escaped many viewers’ attention is the date on President Sloane’s letter to her friend – May 22, 1996. This date, while presented in the story as the date of a significant tragedy that Sloane uses to persuade the naval captain, carries a wider implication; it happens to be the same date when “Mission: Impossible” was first released in cinemas.

Although this minor point might not significantly alter the overall narrative, it subtly reinforces the persistent motifs in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” particularly the ideas of circular narratives and the notion that our lives are shaped by the cumulative impact of our decisions.

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2025-05-23 16:03