8 Things That Don’t Make Sense About Netflix’s ‘Carry-On’

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As a seasoned traveler and movie connoisseur who has seen more movies than I can count, let me tell you that *Carry-On* left me utterly confounded! This Netflix gem had me scratching my head from start to finish, but not in a good way, mind you.

The film, titled “Carry-On,” is an essential thriller filled with action, suspense, and numerous puzzling elements. Featuring Taron Egerton as the dedicated TSA agent Ethan Kopek, this movie unfolds during the hectic Christmas Eve airport rush. Initially, Ethan aims to impress his superior for a promotion, but he finds himself inexorably drawn into a lethal plot involving Jason Bateman’s character, The Traveler, and a mysteriously concerning luggage piece instead.

Despite being entertaining, the film presents some perplexing plot twists and questionable character actions that leave us puzzled. Consequently, we thought it would be interesting to discuss these points and find out if others have similar thoughts or can offer clarification.

8
How Were the Marks Chosen?

In the beginning of the film, it becomes clear that the Traveler intended to use Jason instead of Ethan for smuggling his luggage past security. Once Ethan occupies Jason’s seat, the Traveler requests alternate options from the Watcher. It turns out that Ethan was the ideal candidate, as another agent was a former military officer and all others were within sight of the LAXPD. This implies that the Traveler didn’t initially have this knowledge, suggesting that Jason was chosen specifically because he was Jason. However, this brings up the question: why?

Two Big Question Marks

It’s possible that Jason seemed appealing because of his family, which could potentially be vulnerable for kidnapping and exploitation. However, it’s not suggested that his family would have been any simpler to intimidate than those of the other Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers. Moreover, given that Jason was passionate about and excelled at his job, it seems likely he would have found a way to escape such a predicament, much like Ethan did. Interestingly, the Traveler states that Ethan’s presence makes his tasks more manageable, so one may wonder why the initial plan leaned on Jason instead?

As a cinephile, I can’t help but find myself baffled when it comes to the character of Mateo. His mysterious death only deepens the enigma surrounding him. You see, his husband disclosed that Mateo had two tickets from the kidnappers, implying he wasn’t supposed to board any plane in the first place. This fact alone doesn’t seem to explain why he was targeted. Moreover, Mateo appears to be an ordinary man without any extraordinary skills that would make it easier for him to bypass security checks.

7
Was Hiding Phil’s Death Really That Easy?

In situations where a bag check is unexpectedly ordered, Ethan ensures that Mateo’s name is included on the search list. The Voyager expresses displeasure over this, and he orders Ethan to assassinate his superior, Phil, who is portrayed by Dean Norris, instead of letting the officer carry out the search. However, when Ethan fails to carry out the order, Mateo impales Phil with a pen in his throat, resulting in blood splattering onto the floor. Shortly afterwards, another officer enters the room, but the body has mysteriously disappeared.

Awfully Convenient

It’s plausible that the hidden body would emit a strong odor and possibly continue leaking blood through the bags. Also, the cart usually too small for such a large object was used to wheel it out, which they later left in the baggage sorting section. Only one person appears to have noticed this seemingly abandoned cart.

It’s unclear if they tidied up the room before leaving, or even if they did, how they managed without drawing more notice. What makes this puzzling is that it was the busiest day of the year – Phil’s disappearance should have been noticed and reacted to sooner with more intensity. While not a major inconsistency, it certainly leaves one questioning.

6
Why Did the Detective Trust Nora?

Near the movie’s conclusion, Detective Elena Cole, played by Danielle Deadwyler, is in a desperate race against time to prevent the Traveler’s plane from taking off. However, Nora intervenes and informs her that they must allow the plane to depart. If they stop it, the Traveler will trigger a nerve agent, resulting in everyone on board perishing. Yet, if they let it fly, Ethan might have a chance to disarm it and turn the situation around.

Following further deliberation, the detective consents to Nora’s proposition; however, there are two significant concerns: initially, Nora’s strategy complicates matters significantly. Secondly, Elena lacks sufficient grounds for trust in her.

Shutting Down the Airport

Detective Cole is unfamiliar with Nora, and he’s yet to fully grasp Ethan’s role in the current events. Even if it turns out that Nora was Ethan’s girlfriend, this doesn’t significantly improve her credibility. Moreover, there’s a possibility that Nora might have been dishonest about her identity, especially if she had collaborated with the criminals. In such a scenario, she could have effortlessly fabricated her persona and backstory to enable the plane and Traveler to escape with the nerve agent. All these factors collectively give Detective Cole good reasons to be wary of trusting Nora.

Beyond Cole’s peculiar innocence, there’s also the puzzling matter of why the police didn’t secure the airport earlier. Granted, it was a bustling day like Christmas, and halting operations wouldn’t sit well. However, given that someone has been stabbed, two individuals have perished (though only one has been identified), and there’s an ongoing terrorist threat, one might expect immediate action. The police are visible at the main entrance, suggesting they may have sealed off certain zones already. Yet, some passengers continue to wander through the airport, and the Traveler’s plane appears ready for takeoff even after the cops show up to inspect.

5
Would the Russians Have Really Been Blamed?

Near the movie’s conclusion, it’s revealed that a politician named Grace Turner was on board the targeted plane and her death will be falsely pinned on the Russians. On one hand, this scenario seems plausible because she had proposed legislation aimed at safeguarding democracies, making her assassination serve as a stark reminder of why such laws are necessary. However, the only apparent link to Russia is the use of the nerve agent Novichok, which might have been produced by someone who wasn’t Russian.

A Different Spin

Initially, Mateo was supposed to be the one carrying the suitcase onto the plane. If the nerve agent had been traced back to him, it would have been found that he didn’t have any known ties with Russia. Furthermore, while the nerve agent was manufactured by Russians, they were killed and their bodies were burned in a fire, making it extremely unlikely that they played a part. Still, some might suspect them, but there is enough information available for conspiracy theorists and politicians to craft their own narratives around the situation.

4
Why Does No One Notice Anything?

In the film, Ethan frequently converses with someone through an earpiece, giving the impression that he’s conversing with himself. Additionally, he delays duties and abandons his post on numerous occasions, though there’s little response except for some murmurs. However, it’s clear that another TSA agent, Dunn, suspects something amiss, and Nora shows signs of concern as well. Remarkably, none of the countless travelers around him seem to notice or respond to his peculiar behavior.

The Watcher Shouldn’t Be the Only One Watching

Yes, indeed, the airport is bustling with activity, suggesting that someone should have observed what was unfolding, either it was Ethan or any other person around. However, there’s an unusual occurrence: A red dot appears on Nora’s forehead due to the Watcher preparing to shoot her, but only Ethan notices it. In another instance, the Traveler openly discusses with Ethan (in full view of many passengers) who murdered Lionel, yet only Ethan can hear him. It’s surprising that despite the travelers’ complaints about other issues, Ethan’s peculiar behavior wasn’t raised as a potential concern earlier.

3
Why Didn’t the Watcher Snipe Nora?

Earlier, when threatening Nora, the Watcher aimed a sniper rifle at her head, causing a red dot to appear and alarm Ethan. But later, he was told to kill her. Consequently, he searched for her in the airport and ended up stabbing one of its employees. Later, he pursued her to the parking lot, attempting to run her over with his car. Though thrilling to observe, it’s puzzling why he didn’t just attempt another snipe instead.

Needlessly Complicated

There could be two explanations for this scenario. Perhaps the Guardian struggled with accuracy or felt compelled to speak to you directly. Yet, he had no issues earlier, and being at the entrance should have made things simpler. On the other hand, the overall plan seemed overly complex, so maybe the Guardian’s actions were just part of the intricate nature of the scheme.

2
Why Such a Convoluted Scheme?

The Explorer portrays himself as a highly skilled professional who commands substantial compensation for executing challenging tasks. However, there were numerous potential pitfalls in his scheme, one of which actually materialized when Ethan and Jason exchanged roles, forcing the Explorer to adapt his strategy on the fly. If he’s truly an expert, why was his strategy so frail?

Working Against Himself

It appears that if the Traveler’s associates are capable of manufacturing replica firearms, bypassing surveillance systems, and recruiting Russian chemists, one might expect them to manage arranging an insider for airport access. However, the Traveler’s strategy centered around compelling two individuals unwillingly and trusting they would follow his instructions to a tee instead.

Mateo generally obeyed instructions, but Ethan was always at odds with the Traveler, and it didn’t make matters easier that the Traveler kept manipulating minds throughout. A more straightforward approach by the Traveler, such as maintaining peace and revealing minimal information, could potentially have made Ethan conform.

1
Why did the Stranger Tell Ethan the Truth?

As I watched Ethan let the enigmatic bag pass through the scanner, my heart skipped a beat. Dreading what could possibly unfold next, I found myself rushing to the restroom. To my shock, the Traveler trailed after me and confessed that the bag contained a lethal nerve agent destined to claim 250 lives on Grace’s flight. This revelation, though pivotal for the plot development, seemed unnecessary given the Traveler’s motives. After all, he was well aware of Ethan’s internal battles and attempts to thwart him, so why the honesty? It turned out that this information pushed Ethan past his limits, driving him towards decisive action.

Options Other Than the Truth

When the Voyager stepped into the restroom, he brandished a weapon at Ethan. At a later point, he instructed Mateo to fire upon him, hinting that perhaps Ethan was destined for death regardless. If this were true, it would have been more logical for the Voyager to eliminate him earlier, as he presented a significant threat throughout the remainder of the plan. However, it seems he didn’t kill Ethan because (supposedly) he had feelings for him, and it’s also plausible that he was merely tormenting him. Yet, if either of these are his motives, we must again ponder whether the Voyager is as skilled as he boasts to be.

Carry-On is now streaming on Netflix.

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2024-12-15 23:33