WARNING: Major spoilers ahead for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Summary

  • Furiosa's backstory in Furiosa explains her motivation and skills, but a major plot hole undermines her escape from Dementus.
  • The movie shows Furiosa losing her arm in a chase, but her unlikely escape from captivity and theft of a motorcycle seems impossible.
  • The unexplained plot hole in Furiosa's escape detracts from the film's storyline and leaves a major gap in her character development.

One of the most pivotal scenes in The fifth Mad Max movie set in the post-apocalyptic Wasteland of Australia, the events of Furiosa take place across more than a decade, with a majority of the action happening roughly 15 years before Mad Max: Fury Road. Anya Taylor-Joy plays a young Furiosa as her backstory is revealed, including how she acquired her skills, motivation, and physical appearance.

Furiosa does an irable job answering many questions about the character that were left unanswered by Fury Road, especially when it comes to what drives her. The tragic history depicted in Furiosa perfectly explains why Charlize Theron's version of the character is so driven to reach The Green Place, and why she is so devastated when she finds it gone. Furiosa also explains how she became 'Imperator' Furiosa, and why she is such a talented driver and road warrior. However, one aspect of her physical appearance led to a huge plot hole that doesn't have a ready explanation.

Furiosa Escaping From Dementus & Losing Her Arm Is A Massive Plot Hole

There was no reasonable way for her to escape the way she did

Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) building her prosthetic arm in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Image via Warner Bros.

Furiosa shows with brutal clarity the ill-fated Praetorian Jack flee the Bullet Farm after causing considerable damage, they are chased by Dementus in a monster truck. In the pursuit, Furiosa's arm is pinned between the hood of her car and the wheel of Dementus' truck, causing severe damage. Furiosa and Jack are caught by Dementus, and he strings her up by her injured arm so that she can watch Jack's dragged-out murder.

Therein lies the plot hole: Furiosa somehow ripped her own arm off, disabled Dementus' truck and stole a motorcycle from one of Dementus' marauders, all without anyone noticing. Dementus' truck, which she is tied to, is literally encircled by motorcycles, one of which is dragging Jack until he dies. While it's not clear how much time ed with Dementus relaxing (and perhaps meditating in his own twisted way) and looking away from Furiosa, he and his marauders supposedly didn't notice anything that she did to escape.

The motorcycles are still encircling Dementus' truck when he calls them to a stop, making it incredibly hard to comprehend how Furiosa would have not only cut herself free and rigged the truck unnoticed, but also stolen a motorcycle from one of the marauders. She would have had to rig the truck and steal a motorcycle with just one arm, and assumedly near-delirious with pain. While the entire incident can be dismissed by anyone who chooses to suspend disbelief for the sake of enjoying the movie, it is a distractingly significant plot hole for the discerning moviegoer.

Even The Movie Knows Furiosa's Escape Doesn't Make Sense

It makes no attempt to explain it

Why Furiosa's Plot Hole Is So Frustrating

It glosses over a major moment in her character's development

Anya Taylor Joy looking down at the camera in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga