Warning: Spoilers for Fast X

While keeping Brian’s Furious 7 ending in place does cause some plot holes in Fast X, these issues are worth it to maintain Paul Walker's perfect exit. The actor's death in 2013 left the Fast and Furious franchise without one of its lead characters. Walker’s charismatic performance as Brian O’Connor was a large part of what made the early Fast and Furious movies work and his absence was keenly felt by fans of the series.

Fortunately, the creators of the Fast and Furious franchise were able to immortalize the memory of Walker’s character with a perfect exit in Furious 7. Though there were some expectations that Furious 7’s ending would feature Brian’s death, the movie instead used a combination of stand-ins and supplemental CGI to complete Paul Walker’s scenes as Brian O’Connor and the character departed the series with a smile. Brian retired to spend time with his family, with Furious 7 closing on an instantly iconic shot of his and Dom’s cars speeding off in opposing directions. While this ending was ideal and a far more fitting conclusion for the character’s story than killing off Brian, the exit did eventually cause some plot holes by Fast X’s release.

Fast X's Story Creates Brian Plot Holes

Custom image of Paul Walker as Brian in Furious 7 and Vin Diesel as Dom in Fast X.

Fast X mentions that Brian is still retired and living with his family since he needs to protect them. However, with everyone else returning, including Mia, the sequel doesn't fully explain why nearly everyone but Brian is getting involved when there is such a major threat. Half of Rome is destroyed in Fast X and the movie ends with Dom and his son both about to die, meaning Brian O’Connor’s Fast X return would be thoroughly justified in narrative . However, the fact that it makes logical sense for Walker’s character to return in-universe is not enough reason to undo the perfect ending that Furious 7 gave O’Connor.

Brian O’Connor is obviously accomplished at the same sort of action that the Fast and Furious team is famous for. As a result of his skills and Dom’s predicament, there is no good reason why Brian wouldn't return in Fast X. At the same time, even if viewers accept that Brian simply refuses to return, there is another issue with this plot: Fast X never explains how Brian is safe from Dante when no one else is, nor does the sequel for why he would not send Little Brian in Fast X there if that were the case.

Brian's Furious 7 Ending Is Too Perfect To Be Undone

Vin Diesel and Brian O'Conner in Fast & Furious's ending scene

The creators of Furious 7 did the best that they could to honor Walker’s character under very difficult circumstances, and his last moments are a fitting, emotional sendoff to the character. It is understandable that they've kept him alive in-universe, but this does create issues that are not helped by the franchise teasing things like his return at the very end of F9. The references to him in Fast X confused things further, but this approach at least keeps his original exit intact which is better than bringing him back again via Walker’s brothers/CGI. Fast X’s plot holes aren’t ideal, but they do preserve Furious 7’s perfect Walker tribute.