"a fitting end to the series, the world feels lived in and the struggle to survive is real"

Every story has an end and The Maze Runner Saga has been building to this ever since the first entry hit our screens and delighted audiences back in 2014, and whilst the series has definitely had it’s highs and lows (with a lot of lows coming from The Scorch Trials), this is a definite high for the series, Wes Ball and his team go out on top with The Death Cure.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure sees Thomas and his band of escaped Gladers as they embark on their final and most dangerous mission yet.

So we open on a daring train heist, where our heroes from the last film are attempting to break survivors free, and looking for one in particular; Minho (Ki Hong Lee). When they find that he isn’t on the train, they embark on a quest to the last city, a WCKD stronghold to rescue him.

The strength of Maze Runner: The Death Cure lays in the characterisations and the interactions between them with stand outs being the relationship between Dylan O'Brien’s Thomas and Thomas Brodie-Sangster’s Newt, the bond between them is palpable leading to a thoughtful and well earned conclusion.

The action sequences in Maze Runner: The Death Cure are great, showing a real sense of urgency and displaying that the stakes are real in a film that has plenty of mystery and things to like, however Katherine McNamara’s Sonya has little to do, as I have not read the books, I don’t know what her role is but I’d have liked to have seen her talent utilised more.

Kaya Scodelario’s Teresa and Patricia Clarkson’s Ava Paige work well together, their motivations are clear and they play their antagonistic roles well, with plenty of heart and desire to find a cure no matter the cost.

In contrast however Rosa Salazar’s Brenda has a lot to do with key sequences hinging on her, further showing her to a capable performer, with the addition of Walton Goggins as Lawrence being criminally underused.

Whilst it helps to have seen the previous entries in the franchise, The Death Cure stands alone, giving plenty of hat tips to what came before, so don’t worry if you have never seen a Maze Runner film, you won’t be lost or bored.

Kudos to Wes Ball for sticking with the series, he made his trilogy, I can’t think of any other director of a YA adaptation that has stayed with the series since day 1.

In closing, Maze Runner: The Death Cure is a fitting end to the series, the world feels lived in and the struggle to survive is real. Story points are wrapped and has a clear message of building a better tomorrow.