Quick Links
TheFast & Furiousfranchise made its debut more than two decades ago, in June 2001. In the many years since the debut of its first film,The Fast & the Furious,the franchise has grown into a global phenomenon, comprising 10 mainline films and a spinoff titledFast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,which was released in 2019. Throughout the years, the films have introduced audiences not only to fast cars, explosive action, and a heavy emphasis on family bonds but also to a plethora of characters, including the most dynamic villains who were crucial to the excitement and thrill of the films.
Some of the most noteworthy villains the franchise has brought its viewers include Charlize Theron’s Cipher, Jason Momoa’s Dante Reyes, John Cena’s Jakob, and Luke Evans' Owen Shaw. However, out of the lot, the most memorable villain the films have had is, arguably, Owen Shaw’s brother, Deckard Shaw. Played by the talentedJason Statham, Deckard was first introduced in theend credits scene ofFast & Furious 6.Driven by the need for vengeance and possessing lethal skills, Deckard proved himself to be a powerful enemy to the protagonist of the film. These same reasons, as well as the transformative character arc that the villain had, are also why Deckard Shaw is the most memorable villain of theFast & Furiousfranchise.
Jason Statham’s Villain Is Fueled by Personal Motivations in ‘Fast & Furious’
Villains in most action movies similar to theFast & Furiousfilms are more often than not driven by their greed for money or need for power and global dominance. Standing in contrast,Deckard Shaw’s character did not yearn for either power or wealth. Instead, his need for vengeance was a personal mission driven bythe love he had for his sibling, Owen Shaw. Deckard’s brother is severely wounded and left in a coma by Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew at the end ofFast & Furious 6, propelling Deckard into villainy.
In the end credits scene of the same movie, where Deckard Shaw is introduced, he stands over his brother’s hospital bed and vows to take revenge on the people who put him there. Thus, Deckard begins on his warpath, making himself a relentless force that shakes Dominic Toretto and his team.
‘Fast and Furious’ Has Been Missing Its Key Ingredient for a Long Time (and It Can’t Get It Back)
The Fast and Furious films are still fun. But a key part of the family is sorely missing.
The emotional complexity that is layered onto Deckard’s villainy, even as he causes the worst type of destruction, is one factor that contributes to the character’s reputation as the franchise’s most memorable villain. His revenge mission is not ad hoc. Instead, the villain himself has a code that he lives by, and the code has to do with family. With theFast & Furiousfilms having the theme of family embedded at its core, the antagonist himself being motivated by the love he has for his family and the need to avenge the pain that was caused makes him glaringly similar to the franchise’s protagonist, Dominic Toretto.
Deckard Shaw’s Backstory Lends Credibility to His Actions
Deckard Shaw’s character comes with history. Deckard is not only the older brother of Owen Shaw.He is also a former British Special Forces officer and MI6 agent who became a mercenary. This backstory corroborates the precision and lethality that Deckard displays throughout his revenge mission. While most of the franchise’s previous villains relied on guns and firepower to execute their aims, Deckard’s character is chillingly methodical and sophisticated. He is calm, stealthy, and calculating, meticulously going about his mission and time and time again depicting his masterfulhand-to-hand combatskills.
Deckard Shaw’s force-of-nature character is further reinforced by Jason Statham’s reputation in the action film genre. Statham is one of the most well-known action heroes of the 21st century, having made his mark as a force to be reckoned with through films such asThe TransporterandCrank.While physical prowess and skill in action sequences are some of Statham’s strong suits, the actor is also known for the dry humor and wit he interjects into his roles. He does the same with the character of Deckard Shaw, crafting a personality that precisely complements the character’s revenge mission.Statham is able to add an edge to Deckard’s character, using wit, humor, and confidence to make the character appear truly menacing. Speaking of his character toEntertainment Weekly, Statham cautioned, “But you don’t need to get on the wrong side of him. He’s very resourceful, and he’s quite an intense character.”
Jason Statham’s Transformative Character Arc in ‘Fast & Furious’
Deckard Shaw is introduced into theFast & Furiousfranchise as a villain. Similarly to the plethora of other action blockbusters, one would expect Deckard to stick to his villain persona, exacting his revenge and then possibly meeting his fate at the hands of Toretto. However, displaying the complexity attached to his character,Deckard redeems himself as the franchise progresses. The villain who vowed death on the man who harmed his brother ends up helping the said man and even protecting and safeguarding his son.
Roger Ebert Liked Jason Statham’s 2002 Sports Comedy Film, Even if Most Critics Hated It
Jason Statham’s ‘Mean Machine’ was not received well by critics. However, Roger Ebert had a different opinion.
In his villain persona, Deckard leaves a trail of destruction in his path, even causing death. However, the one-man wrecking crew gradually reveals another side of him.By the timeThe Fate of the Furiousrolls around, Deckard sides with Toretto’s team, helping them bring down Cipher. It is also revealed that Cipher hired Owen Shaw, although her first preference was Deckard. This insinuates that Deckard turned down Cipher, making it evident that he did not believe in the villainy that his brother did and only chose the path to avenge Owen. Commenting on Deckard Shaw’s role as a villain, Statham expressed that he believesthe character was misunderstood.
“I think Shaw was sort of misunderstood when he first came on to the screen in the early Fast & Furiouses, and as we start to unravel what he’s all about, we come to understand that he really isn’t a villain.”
The journey that Deckard takes from being one of the franchise’s primary antagonists to a reluctant ally and then eventual antihero is intriguing and one of the best parts of the action franchise.This redemption arc, together with the character’s family-oriented motivation, which ties into the core of theFast & Furiousfilms, and lethal skills contribute to making Deckard Shaw the most memorable villain of theFast & Furiousfranchise. His character stands as a testament to some of the franchise’s core values, nodding to the fact that even villains may redeem themselves and that family is always worth fighting for.Furious 7is streaming for free onTubi.
