best Mission: Impossible movies. Not only does it suitably set up everything that’s coming in the final installment, but it also marks a fresh chapter for the franchise and one that’s grounded in rich character work and tight storytelling.

Dead Reckoning features some of Mission: Impossible’s best-ever stunts, from the iconic motorcycle jump to the final-act train crash, but it’s the story that really sets this movie apart from some of the franchise’s earliest sequels. The introduction of Hayley Atwell’s character Grace was an excellent decision that gave Ethan Hunt another friendly face to keep him grounded, while Benji and Luther’s roles also increased in importance, leaning heavily on the series’ themes of friendship and sacrifice. However, there’s one key decision in Dead Reckoning that makes sense in isolation but seems confusing in the wider scope of the franchise.

Ilsa Faust's Death In Dead Reckoning Didn't Make Sense

There Was No Reason For The Character To Die In That Moment

Gabriel killing Ilsa Faust halfway through Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning is easily the film’s most divisive moment, and it does not hold up particularly well under scrutiny. Not only does Ilsa sacrifice herself for somebody she’s never met (which seems disarmingly out-of-character), but there’s also nothing to suggest that Gabriel is any stronger than the hundreds of people Ilsa has killed before. He has the of the entity, but there’s no reason he should have been able to defeat her in single combat.

The death seems like it was only included for shock value, and that’s no reason to get rid of one of Mission: Impossible’s best characters. While it’s possible that her death was somehow faked, and Ilsa could return in The Final Reckoning, this seems very unlikely and would just retroactively make the scene less important. The movie already included one fake-out death scene for Ilsa, and it would be frustrating if The Final Reckoning revealed that her second death was also temporary.

Rebecca Ferguson Was The Best Part Of Recent Mission: Impossible Sequels

The Actor Brought A New Dimension To The Series

Since her introduction in Rogue Nation, Rebecca Ferguson has consistently been the best new addition to the Mission: Impossible franchise. Her dynamic with Ethan has been fascinating to watch develop over the years, going from professional rivals to genuine friends who put their lives on the line to protect each other.

There’s no doubt that The Final Reckoning will be the biggest and most emotional entry in this franchise, so it would have made sense to save her tragic goodbye for this final installment.

None of this is to say that Ilsa has to survive until the very end; it’s just that the way Dead Reckoning handled her death felt cheap and rushed. There’s no doubt that The Final Reckoning will be the biggest and most emotional entry in this franchise, so it would have made sense to save her tragic goodbye for this final installment.

Ilsa's Death Was Purely Used To Set Up Gabriel As Ethan's Nemesis

Hunt Needed To Lose Somebody To Make The Fight Personal

However, to say that Ilsa’s death in Dead Reckoning doesn’t make sense isn’t to say that it’s without purpose. This major loss ultimately gives Ethan even more reason to fight against Gabriel, who’s working alongside the Entity. The two spies have a fractured history already; Dead Reckoning reveals Gabriel was responsible for the murder of Marie, a crime of which Ethan was accused before subsequently choosing to the IMF.

The Entity ensures that Ilsa (or Grace) is killed to cause further animosity between Ethan and Gabriel, ensuring that if Ethan somehow defeats Gabriel, he’ll be motivated to kill him and thus destroy the Entity’s secret in the process. To this extent, Ilsa’s death makes sense within the confines of the story, but that doesn’t make it sting any less. The Final Reckoning will feel incomplete without her, but it’s an obstacle that easily could have been avoided.

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning will be released on May 21, 2025.