WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Fast X.

Fast X hilariously called out a Fast & Furious villain trope that has been part of the franchise for at least six movies. The latest Fast & Furious film revisited Fast Five (2011), arguably the turning point for the Fast Saga in terms of budget and box office, through Jason Momoa’s Dante Reyes. By retconning Fast Five, Fast X crafted a unique villain who does not seem interested in a future redemption arc.

Dante Reyes was a breath of fresh air for the Fast Saga, as recent Fast & Furious villains had been just more of the same. There seemed to be no stakes for the Fast & Furious antagonists, mostly because they would often be redeemed anyway. Dwayne Johnson's Hobbs, for example. Now, Fast & Furious finally addressed this problem, in-universe.

Fast X Calls Out How Fast & Furious Villains Keep Joining Dom’s Family

Fast five dom Aimes Fast X

When Alan Ritchson’s Aimes is briefing Brie Larson’s Tess on Dominic Toretto, he mentions how Dom’s family “corrupts the authorities,” using Brian O’Conner, Elena Neves, and Luke Hobbs as examples. Aimes also mentions how Dominic Toretto’s crew keeps getting bigger, a reference to how almost every Fast & Furious villain ends up joining Dom’s family. While Brian O’ Conner was never a villain, Paul Walker’s Fast & Furious character was supposed to arrest Dom Toretto and his friends – not join them. Likewise, Elena and Hobbs were sent to capture Dom’s family but ended up becoming part of it. Fast & Furious' villain trope would then continue with the Shaw brothers.

Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw, who seemly killed Han in Fast & Furious 6’s post-credits scene and tried to kill Dominic Toretto’s entire family a few times, ended up becoming part of the crew in The Fate of the Furious. Deckard Shaw was even invited to Dom’s barbecue, even though no one there knew that Sung Kang’s Han was alive. The Fate of the Furious also saw Luke Evans’ Owen Shaw, Fast & Furious 6’s villain, helping save Dominic Toretto’s son. Lastly, John Cena’s Jakob Toretto went for the menacing F9 villain to the cool uncle in Fast X. As Aimes put it, Dom’s family can be a “car cult."

Fast X Still Continues Fast & Furious’ Villain Trope

Blended image of a sored Cipher and Dom in the Fast and Furious series

A redemption arc for Dante Reyes seems very unlikely. However, Fast X still continued Fast & Furious’ villain trope. Cipher, who was the main antagonist in both The Fate of the Furious and F9, had no choice but to align herself with Dominic Toretto and his family in Fast X. Cipher was attacked by Dante, who took over her entire operation and assets, including her soldiers. While there is still bad blood between Dom and Cipher, as she killed Elena, Charlize Theron’s Fast & Furious character is very much part of the crew now. Fast X’s cliffhanger ending even saw Cipher and Letty working together.

Gal Gadot’s return as Gisele in Fast X’s ending suggests that Cipher will continue to work with Dom’s friends. Fast X set up Fast & Furious 11 as the most ambitious Fast & Furious film yet, as almost every possible character has returned. The upcoming Fast & Furious 11 could be the Fast Saga’s equivalent to Avengers: Endgame, with all of the characters coming together to face Dante Reyes. Interestingly, Aimes was a double agent all along, meaning that a redemption arc is likely off the table for him too. Fast & Furious’ “redeemed villain” trope has become overused, but at least Dante Reyes feels like a definitive, irredeemable antagonist.