F9: Why [SPOILER]’s Scene Was Perfect (& Didn’t Ruin His Furious 7 Ending)

Warning: Major SPOILERS ahead for F9!

F9 found a way to incorporate Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner without ruining the character’s perfect Furious 7 ending. The seventh installment of The Fast Saga served as Walker’s farewell in the franchise following the actor’s tragic death in 2013. While Brian was kept alive in the franchise, it was unclear how the figure would be incorporated into the storyline seeing as he’s one of central character Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) closest allies. F9 explained Brian’s absence while giving him a fitting appearance in the final sequence without tarnishing his previous sendoff.

Walker made his Fast Saga debut in the series’ debut installment, The Fast and the Furious. Though Brian became a leader alongside Dom in their globe-trekking missions targeting dangerous criminals and terrorists, he first portrayed a member of the LAPD. His partnership with Dom forced him to pull away from his career as a detective and the FBI, but his fight for justice never diminished. Brian served as a starring character in all installments leading through Furious 7 except for Tokyo Drift. His brotherly bond with Dom grew more official after marrying and starting a family with Dom’s sister, Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), which helped provide the franchise with a viable excuse for his absence while keeping him present offscreen.

In Furious 7, the saga was tasked with finishing Walker’s scenes even though the actor passed away before filming had ended. They succeeded and hinted at Brian’s need to focus on his growing family before The Fate of the Furious explained that Brian retired from frontline missions with Dom and the crew. When Brewster was confirmed to reprise her role as Mia in F9, many questioned how the movie would leave Brian out of the action. However, the plot convincingly explained how Brian stayed behind to protect his kids and nephew while Mia helped Dom deal with their brother, Jakob Toretto (John Cena). During the barbecue sequence at the end of F9, there was a seat at the dinner table left open as Mia mentioned the person was on the way. At first, it seemed they were referencing Jakob, who mended the relationships with his siblings, but instead, the late arrival was Brian, speeding into the driveway with his blue Nissan Skyline GT-R. Since the movie didn’t directly show Brian, it kept his perfect Furious 7 farewell intact.

Brian’s involvement in F9 was brief but significant. The short scene involving the blue Nissan proved that Brian is still a key member of the family even if he isn’t fighting on the frontlines. By keeping him involved but out of the spotlight in the fictional universe, the franchise is taking a stance that they refuse to erase the character and everything Walker built. Brian may not be in focus as a key character any longer, but his legacy continues to live on.

Just with a quick shot of the Nissan Skyline, longtime Fast & Furious fans instantly knew who was behind the wheel. Skylines were Brian’s signature car of choice since the early days of the franchise. The exact model in F9 almost directly resembled the vehicle used in 2009’s Fast & Furious. While a lot has changed in the real-word with the franchise over the last decade, not much has changed with Brian in the fictional world. More importantly, F9 didn’t make any controversial decisions in bringing back Brian. The film made it clear he was present without crossing any lines with a direct appearance through CGI or body doubles. While Furious 7 still serves as Brian’s true sendoff, it’s satisfying knowing he still lives on alongside his Fast family.

About The Author

Kara Hedash
(1744 Articles Published)

Kara Hedash is a features editor and writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world’s most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara’s not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty.

See also  Where to Make Offerings at Perches in Genshin Impact (Through The Mists World Quest)

More From Kara Hedash