The following contains spoilers for Paris Has Fallen, now streaming on HuluParis Has Fallen’sharsh view on world politics takes on an even darker tone when considering problems with real world governments.Paris Has Fallenis an expansion of the “Has Fallen” franchise, which began withOlympus Has Fallen. The 2013 film starred Gerard Butler as Mike Banning, a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the President of the United States. The film is an explosive action-movie that uses the United States government more as a backdrop for high-intensity shoot-outs than anything else.
By contrast,Paris Has Fallen’s charactersare in more of a political thriller than a straight action story. The show focuses on an embittered former soldier who seeks revenge for the way his government has betrayed him. This givesParis Has Fallenand its grim endinga more darkly cynical worldview than the films that inspired it. In fact, some elements of the vendetta Pearce has with the state of the world are reflections of real world events, giving the show more thematic weight.
Why Jacob Pearce Is Out For Revenge In Paris Has Fallen
Paris Has Fallen’s Main Villain Wants Vengance Against A Corrupt System
Paris Has Fallen’s harsh views on politicians and corruption reflect real-life scandals and controversies, giving the show’s political thriller elements extra thematic weight. The main villain ofParis Has Fallenis Jacob Pearce, a former member of the French Foreign Legion who was left for dead while serving overseas. Pearce is eventually revealed to have been the target of a conspiracy after his unit captured a corrupt Afghan minister. This caused problems for the corrupt alliance between defense contractor CEO Pascal Moulin, French Defense Minister Philippe Bardin, and MI:6 Station Chief Rowan Alexnader.
Paris Has Fallen Dropped A Major Hint About Where Season 2 Could Take Place
Paris Has Fallen season 2 has yet to be confirmed, though the season one finale offers a big clue about where the next series could be set.
As a result, they arrange for Pearce’s unit to be fed incorrect information on a subsequent mission. This got his unit killed and Pearce captured, until he was saved by a local woman named Amina. Tragically, French President Juliette Levesque arranged for an assassination attempt on Pearce to avoid any scandals caused by exposure of the conspiracy. This failed to kill Pearce but did slay Amina and her children.This paintsthe government inParis Has Fallenas corrupt to the very core. Even those who aren’t directly involved in corruption are willing to kill innocents to cover their tracks.
Paris Has Fallen Has Connections To Real-Life Events
The Sheer Scale Of Corruption In Afghanistan FromParis Has FallenHas Some Real Life Inspiration
One of Pearce’s biggest accusations against those in power inParis Has Fallenstems from the discovery that corruption carried by international figures interfered with attempts to further establish democracy in places like Afghanistan, emboldening groups like the Taliban. Pearce’s attempt to bring those crimes to light got his team killed, Pearce framed as a Taliban-aligned arms dealer, and plenty more bloodshed.The existene of corrupt officials in Afghanistan has some connection to real life, as the nation has been accused of severe corruption in recent years.
Paris Has Fallen’s grim view on politicians striving to retain their power under any circumstances takes on an even darker tone given recent events in France.
Some experts believe the widespread corruption played a part in the resurgence of the Taliban in 2021, and the country earned a 20 out of 100 onTransparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index.Paris Has Fallentakes things further by revealing Moulin and Bardin are actively corrupt, having sold weapons to the Taliban and earning large amounts of money for their willingness to extend and amplify the conflict.Paris Has Fallen’s grim view on politicians striving to retain their power under any circumstances takes on an even darker tonegiven recent events in France.
France’s Current Political Turmoil Highlights Paris Has Fallen’s Cynical Themes
France’s Current Turmoil Highlights The Public’s Low Perception Of Governments
Paris Has Fallenhas a dark view on politicians, with even supposedly committed leaders like Levesque ultimately willing to sacrifice innocent lives to maintain power. This recalls the controversies that have surrounded military action in Middle East countries, especially due to the civilian casualties these attacks often accrue. This could be seen as a grim perspective on politicians as a whole, but feels especially relevant due to recent turmoil in France. As reported byAxios, the French government has found itself in a state of turmoil after the French parliament voted to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his cabinet.
The government in-fighting has led to wide-spread fears about the state of the French economy, even while the government elite compete among themselves to retain power. Public confidence across the nation has dropped, thanks to harsh views on the politicians running the country. While no one has been accused of the ruthless tactics employed inParis Has Fallen,the show’s views on politicians as self-serving figures feels particularly relevant in light of governmental collapse and corruption scandalsacross the world. This givesParis Has Fallen’s cynical view of world leaders a darkly prescient element.
Paris Has Fallen
Cast
Paris Has Fallen follows a protection officer and an MI6 operative as they join forces in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Suspecting a mole, they race against time to uncover a larger conspiracy that threatens the safety of Paris.
