Tom Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt for Mission: Impossible II, and its climactic ending wraps up the film’s Chimera Virus outbreak plot in a satisfying way. The 2000 John Woo-directed sequel brings Ethan back into the field years after Mission: Impossible‘s ending after former agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) creates a threat of a new deadly virus spreading across the world. Working with civilian criminal and Ambrose’s ex-girlfriend, Nyah Norndoff-Hall (Thandiwe Newton), Ethan races against time to stop Ambrose from obtaining the virus and its cure, Bellerophon.
The climax of Mission: Impossible II is entirely set in Australia, as Ambrose has a final meeting with Biocyte CEO John C. McCloy (Brendan Gleeson). However, Ethan ambushes the encounter, swapping places with henchman Hugh Stamp (Richard Roxburgh) with a clever use of IMF’s masks, and steals Bellarophon to save Nyah, who injected herself with Chimera. A deadly chase across Australia begins as Ethan kills several members of Ambrose’s team in pursuit. Mission: Impossible II‘s ending culminates with Ethan and Ambrose fighting on the beach as Nyah’s fate hangs in the balance.
Why Ethan Didn’t Kill Sean Ambrose At First In Mission: Impossible 2’s Ending
Ethan Prioritizes Saving Lives, Not Ending Them
The major showdown in Mission: Impossible II‘s ending comes down to Ethan Hunt and Sean Ambrose, and for a moment, the heroic IMF agent spares the rogue villain. This nearly backfires as Sean picks up a nearby gun and prepares to shoot Ethan, taunting him by saying, “You should’ve killed me.” While Ethan does kill him right after this, that could leave viewers wondering why he didn’t eliminate his foe earlier. There’s a solid explanation why, though, depending on how you want to interpret Ethan’s actions.
There are essentially two different reasons to rationalize Ethan not killing Ambrose prior. One could argue that Ethan believed he had already killed the villain, as his head hit a rock on the beach. He was not moving and lying there as if he were lifeless. It could be as simple as Ethan thinking he had already won the showdown. As for why he wouldn’t double-check to know with absolute certainty that Ambrose wouldn’t be a problem anymore, that could connect to the other explanation.
Notably, Luther (Ving Rhames) and Billy (John Polson) arrive at Ethan and Sean’s fight at exactly this moment. Their helicopter has Nyah in it, and she’s quickly running out of time before the Chimera Virus fully kicks in. The other reading of the finale is that Ethan knowingly leaves Ambrose alive to prioritize saving Nyah’s life. Ethan may not fully care if his foe is alive or dead so long as Nyah lives. This is the one I think makes the most sense, as it connects to Ethan’s usual characterization as someone who always fights to save someone’s life.
Sean Ambrose’s Chimera Virus Plan Explained
His Scheme Takes An Unexpected Turn
Sean Ambrose may be defeated in Mission: Impossible II‘s ending, but his plan for the Chimera Virus is mostly sound. He is utilized by the IMF to help bring Dr. Nekhorivch and the Chimera Virus to safety in the United States. However, he’s already formulated a plot to turn on the IMF at this point. Ambrose poses as one of Ethan’s cover identities, kills Nekhorivch, and steals Bellerophon. After crashing the plane to cover up his involvement and what really happened, he planned to wait and sell Bellerophon to the highest bidder.
His plan evolved as he and Hugh began to suspect Nyah’s treachery. This led them to meet with McCloy, knowing Ethan would interrogate him afterward and break into Biocyte for them to get the last remnants of the Chimera Virus. At first, this plan actually works in Ambrose’s favor. He’s ahead of Ethan and the IMF and uses Ethan’s care for Nyah against him. Ethan destroys two of the three containers of Chimera, and Ambrose would’ve obtained the third if Nyah hadn’t injected herself with it.
This throws another wrench in Ambrose’s plan, but he again switches up his tactics. With Nyah now infected with Chimera, the villain plots to set her free in the middle of Sydney, Australia so an outbreak can start. Knowing that Bellerophon will suddenly become the most in-demand medicine in the world, Ambrose reconfigures his deal with McCloy to get shares in Biocyte instead of $30 million cash, which would allow him to profit more off the vaccine and eventually take control of the company. He’s ultimately foiled by Ethan sneaking into the meeting and stealing Bellerophon.
Why Nyah Injected Herself With The Chimera Virus
She Becomes The Vessel For The Potential Outbreak
One of the biggest moments from Mission: Impossible II happens when Nyah decides to inject herself with the Chimera Virus in the Biocyte lab. She’s meant to retrieve the tube and give it to Ambrose, but she defies his order and puts the deadly virus in herself instead. It’s a bold move on Nyah’s part, as she suddenly has 20 hours before the full effects begin. However, it’s a smart decision in the moment.
It’s ultimately a very selfless decision for Nyah as she puts the fate of the world above herself
It guarantees that she’ll make it out of the lab alive after Ambrose learned of her real motives. Since her ex-lover knew that she wasn’t back for him, he probably would’ve killed her himself at some point after getting the virus. That’s delayed by this decision. In addition to postponing Ambrose from getting the virus, Nyah also ensures Ethan’s escape so he can fight to save her and the world. It’s ultimately a very selfless decision for Nyah as she puts the fate of the world above herself and proves just how much she trusts Ethan to save them all.
Was The Chimera Virus Completely Destroyed?
Is There Any Of It Left?
The status of the Chimera Virus is one thing that Mission: Impossible II‘s ending clarifies, if Ethan is to be believed. He is directly ordered by the IMF to bring back a living sample of the virus, but Director Swanbeck (Anthony Hopkins) confirms that this didn’t happen. Ethan claims that it was destroyed by a fire. But, the movie clearly shows him having the vial of Nyah’s infected blood that he stole from Ambrose during the final moments on the beach.
The fact that Mission: Impossible II doesn’t show Ethan destroying the Chimera Virus means there is some wiggle room for it to not be completely destroyed. It would make the most sense for Ethan to defy the IMF and destroy it, as this ensures the virus never falls into the wrong hands. However, if Ethan stashed away the virus for some reason, that could also conceivably have happened. Considering the plot thread has not factored into the franchise’s future, it is safe to believe that Ethan did destroy the virus.
What Happened To Nyah After Mission: Impossible 2?
Thandiwe Newton’s Character Gets A Happy Ending
Nyah is cured of the Chimera Virus in the closing moments of the movie, and she’s given a seemingly happy final scene with Ethan. They’re shown reuniting, embracing, and kissing as they vacation together in Sydney. The development of their relationship is crucial to Mission: Impossible II, and Woo’s film sets up Nyah to be a recurring love interest for Ethan. Her criminal record is wiped clean, and given the skills she displays here, it could’ve made sense for her to join the IMF even.
Yet, the franchise has never brought her back. Her return was considered for Mission: Impossible III, indicating that the franchise was planning on building on where Mission: Impossible II left her and Ethan’s relationship. Thandiwe Newton has confirmed she turned down returning for the sequel, and she later expressed frustrations with working with Cruise on the 2000 film. That has kept the franchise from properly explaining what happened to Nyah after Mission: Impossible II.
How Mission: Impossible 2 Sets Up The Franchise’s Future
More Missions Are To Come
As the second installment in a franchise, Mission: Impossible II traditionally would be an entry that would make sure it set up what could come next. While six more movies came after it in the series, the direction of the franchise in a narrative sense is not really set up here. Ethan and Luther are the only characters from Mission: Impossible II who returned for another film. That makes the development of their relationship in this movie the most clear way it helps shape the franchise. It established Luther as someone Ethan continues to work with.
Beyond the narrative and characters, it could be said that Mission: Impossible II set up the franchise’s future in another way. Brian De Palma opted not to return to direct the sequel, allowing John Woo to step in and bring his distinct style to the franchise. That laid the groundwork for each Mission: Impossible movie to feel different from the others and lean into the unique perspectives of individual filmmakers. This may not have happened if another director had come aboard and directed Mission: Impossible II.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
