I'm so disappointed that The Final Reckoning changed a lot after the disappointing box office performance of 2023's Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning. Because of this, several plotlines that were set up in Dead Reckoning do not receive satisfying payoffs in the newest film in the spy series. This is a shame, especially since Ilsa Faust's death in Dead Reckoning has practically no impact on the story of The Final Reckoning.

Despite some underwhelming aspects, Ilsa can be seen at the end of The Final Reckoning. I don't think this theory is true at all, which makes it even more disappointing that Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning completely ignores Ilsa Faust.

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning Mostly Ignores Ilsa's Death

Ilsa Isn't Mentioned in The Final Reckoning

About halfway through Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Ilsa dies whilst in a sword fight against Gabriel. Since she had been one of the core of Ethan's team since 2015's Rogue Nation, this was one of the biggest deaths in the entire franchise. In Dead Reckoning, her death was meant to show how Ethan's actions affect those he loves the most, an idea that Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning also explores.

While fans have theorized that Ilsa Faust may still be alive, Christopher McQuarrie has continuously stated that her death is permanent.

Since The Final Reckoning also explores this idea, it's disappointing that Ilsa Faust is never brought up in the movie. The newest Mission: Impossible movie only takes place two months after Dead Reckoning, so Ethan and the other characters should still be grieving the loss of Ilsa. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be the case at all. I understand that the characters in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning are distracted by their fight against the Entity, but I wish they at least acknowledged how much Ilsa meant to them.

Dead Reckoning & The Final Reckoning Failed To Show The Impact Of Ilsa's Death

Ilsa's Death In Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Is Underwhelming

In addition to being one of his most trusted allies, Dead Reckoning hinted at a potential relationship between Ethan and Ilsa. I actually appreciate the subtlety when it comes to the potential romantic connection between Ethan and Isla, but both Dead Reckoning and The Final Reckoning needed to at least show how heartbroken Cruise's character was after her death. Ethan may get a little angrier than usual at the end of Dead Reckoning, but that's basically his only reaction to Ilsa's death.

Ethan's hate towards Gabriel should feel more personal since he is the one who killed Ilsa.

This is made even worse since he doesn't even mention Ilsa when he encounters Gabriel again in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. Obviously, Ethan wants to stop Gabriel since Esai Morales' character wants to control the Entity and become the most powerful person in the world. However, Ethan's hate towards Gabriel should feel more personal since he is the one who killed Ilsa. Ideally, it would've been clear that Ethan wanted revenge for the death of Ilsa in The Final Reckoning, but this is not the case.

The Final Reckoning Cut A Storyline That May Have Enhanced Ilsa's Death Storyline

The Final Reckoning Ignores A Major Moment In Ethan's Past

Looping back to the fact that Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning's story was changed after the release of Dead Reckoning, it's clear that this affected the lasting impact of Ilsa's death. The previous Mission: Impossible movie created a parallel between Ilsa and Marie, a woman who Ethan loved who was also killed by Gabriel right before he got recruited to the IMF. Unfortunately, Marie's story was cut from The Final Reckoning, meaning that important details about Ethan and Gabriel's past remain a mystery.

Keeping this storyline in The Final Reckoning would have allowed Ilsa's death to have more of a lasting impact. However, the writers of The Final Reckoning instead decided to completely ignore both Marie and Ilsa. This decision makes Ilsa feel like a less important character in the franchise, which should not be the case. Therefore, I'm extremely disappointed with how Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning dealt with the aftermath of Ilsa's death.