As someone who loves some good action and plot development, I decided to head to the theaters and watch Maze Runner: The Death Cure on the day of its release. The second film of the series, The Scorch Trials, was released in 2015, and ended on a rather bitter note, leaving the audience to wonder whether the final movie would be able to recover the series from a cliche ending. However, to both the relief of critics and myself, The Death Cure ended the beloved series with the justice it deserved.

     For those wanting a little more context about the film itself, here’s a quick synopsis of what happens: Thomas, after escaping the Maze and entering a world filled with Cranks, people infected with the Flare virus, seeks to save his friends and find answers to the questions they had since the start of the first movie. However, as he begins his adventure towards uncovering the truth, Thomas comes to realize that he must sacrifice things along the way, whether it be everything he believed in or the people he loved.

      Moving on and forward to the pros. All of the actors/actresses did an outstanding job in uniquely portraying their character in a way that infused their own personality with that of their character’s. In doing this, the actors/actresses were able to form friendships with one another that were genuine both on and off screen. In particular, the brothership among Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Ki Hong Lee is literally friendship goals. In the book itself, the three had stuck together since their days at the Glade, and maintained a strong bond that showed the reader that although none of them had true family, they could be family for each other. Seeing them reunite in The Death Cure after Minho’s unfortunate capture was enough to bring tears to anyone’s eyes, and while their reunion was scripted, their little group hug was still heartwarming nonetheless.

     Plot development was another plus of this movie. Every movie needs a plot; no matter how well the actors act or how well the producers produce, without a substantial plot, movies lack a spine. That was my primary critique for The Scorch Trials; while there was so much going on here and there, the movie lacked any real substance. It appeared almost as if the entire movie focused solely on Thomas, played by O’Brien, running away from Wicked, an organization originally formed to find a cure for the Flare, which, while important, didn’t need two hours of film time. In The Death Cure, the producer seemed to keep that aspect in mind; the third edition was filled with the same kind of anticipation and exhilaration, but, unlike its predecessor, it continued to move forward, building towards a climax that was missing in the previous movie.

     By far, the Maze Runner series has been most successful in playing with my emotions. Teresa Agnes, played by Kaya Scodelario, one of the two characters I absolutely loathed before watching The Death Cure, was an individual who showed complex development during not only the third film but throughout the entire series. She was initially presented as Thomas’ love interest, a traitor, and ultimately someone who stood up for what she believed in, no matter what others thought or tried to persuade her otherwise. Thomas too seemed to be conflicted with all the high stakes surrounding him. His determined, headstrong nature was made well-known since the first movie, but in The Death Cure, the audience sees him for the first time as someone who is more vulnerable and confused as to what to do. Particularly in the end, Thomas is no longer only seen as a leader; he is also seen as someone who understands the hidden message of death.

     Of the entire movie, my only con would be this: not sparing the deaths of certain individuals. I had read the series before, but even after mentally preparing myself for the worse, I was thoroughly shocked when specific characters that I hoped with all my might would somehow stay alive died. However, that’s the beauty of this movie and the producer: they respected the book the way it is and followed the key points that make the finale of Thomas’ story the way it is.

    If you thought that there were too many spoilers in the trailer and released clips as I had thought, be prepared to have your mind blown: there’s still so much that has yet to be revealed in the actual movie itself.