Fast & Furious Shattered Dom’s Family Man Image with New Brother Twist

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In the movie “F9,” the newcomer, Jakob Toretto played by John Cena, entered the Fast and Furious series. However, this introduction inadvertently dismantled the central essence of Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel). John Cena fits seamlessly into the franchise, which is renowned for featuring hulking stars such as Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. Jakob’s role in “F9” serves as a formidable adversary for Dom, pushing him to face some unsettling aspects of his past. Interestingly, Jakob transitions from being one of the Fast and Furious antagonists to a hero in the upcoming film “Fast X.

The Fast and Furious series has gained notoriety for blending its excessive, outrageous action scenes with narratives reminiscent of daytime soap operas. For instance, Letty develops amnesia and works for the antagonists in Fast and Furious 6, while Han miraculously resurrects in F9. The revelation of Jakob as a forgotten sibling fits the pattern of plot twists typical in the Fast and Furious series, but it also contradicts the fundamental values upheld by the franchise’s central character.

Dom Preaches “Family” But Never Mentioned Jakob

Dom’s Outlook On Family Now Feels Tainted

In every installment of the Fast and Furious series, Dominic Toretto’s character stands out for his unwavering emphasis on family being the greatest value. This isn’t limited to his biological family, such as Mia (Jordana Brewster), but also encompasses a wider circle of cherished loved ones and companions he has gathered throughout the movies. Considering how often he underscores that family is all that truly matters in the long run, it’s quite unusual that Dom never acknowledges his brother in any of the earlier films, which seems inconsistent with his character.

In the film F9, the flashback tries to explain Dom’s backstory, but it seems that the concept of Dom having a brother was never previously contemplated. Consequently, it isn’t surprising that there is some rewriting and discomfort due to this sudden appearance. It’s worth noting that other franchises, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Dawn and Despicable Me with Dru, have also unexpectedly introduced a sibling who was never mentioned before.

From my perspective as a fan, the unexpected arrival of Jakob stirs a bit of dissonance within me because he’s Dom’s brother. It’s tough to swallow that Dom would so abruptly sever ties with his sole sibling in such an absolute manner. This instant doubt casts a shadow over every word Dom speaks about family. All of a sudden, it seems like his family-centric ideals might not be as sincerely held or consistently practiced as we’ve been led to believe. Given how crucial this aspect is to Dom’s character and the fact that it’s the central motif throughout the series, it’s a jarring twist that leaves me questioning the depth of his convictions.

Does F9 Do A Good Job Of Explaining Why Dom Ignored Jakob For So Long?

F9 Ruined Its Chance To Make Jakob’s Relationship With Dom Work

From a cinephile’s perspective, I must admit, the sudden introduction of Jakob as a character in F9 felt a bit jarring at first. However, it became evident that the filmmakers were keenly aware that they needed a compelling reason for why Dom had kept his distance from his brother all these years. Admittedly, this was a challenging task to tackle, but they managed to deliver a reasonably convincing explanation.

A flashback in F9 sheds light on the past, revealing that Dom harbored resentment towards Jakob due to a tragic event – the death of their father. The belief was that Jakob had tampered with their father’s car, leading to an accident that took his life. This revelation certainly adds depth and complexity to the brotherly relationship in the Fast & Furious saga.

Jakob’s role in killing Dom’s father might explain why they are estranged, but it seems Dom hasn’t fully severed ties because he still harbors some affection for his brother. However, the movie F9 chose not to portray Jakob as a full-blown villain. Instead, it was necessary to unveil another truth about their father’s wishes and his involvement in the race.

This version aims to maintain the original context while making it more accessible and easy to read for a broader audience.

As a movie critic, I found that the revelation serves to mend the relationship between Dom and Jakob, but it casts a darker shadow on Dom’s character. Instead of being portrayed as the reasonable man who cut ties with his brother for taking their father’s life, he is depicted as the hasty judge, wrongfully accusing his sibling of a horrific crime and effectively exiling him during a time when they both were grieving the loss of our patriarch. This twist suggests that Dom’s precipitous decision has adversely impacted Jakob’s life, contradicting the values of family unity that Dom upholds.

If Jakob had been portrayed as the one responsible for killing their father instead of being merely implicated in the act, he could have made a more impactful character, even excelling as one of the top villains in the Fast and Furious series. His redemption in the storyline seems hollow because Dom doesn’t address Jakob’s actions, and Jakob’s selfless death in Fast X is swiftly handled without allowing for Dom to properly grieve over his newly reconnected brother. Despite the Fast and Furious films maintaining that Dom values family above all else, this sentiment feels less convincing now.

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2025-06-02 17:47