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The easiest way to describe the Mission: Impossible series in regards to its women characters is this: Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) loves brunettes and will put his life on the line to protect them, and blonde women or those with lighter colored hair are always villains. Think about it: Thandiwe Newton, Michelle Monaghan, Maggie Q, Paula Patton, Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell – all on Ethan’s side. Meanwhile, Emmanuelle Béart (whose hair is kind of brownish in the film but is usually blonde), Léa Seydoux, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the most beautiful blonde of them all, are some of the series’ iconic baddies. (French women are almost always evil, as it turns out.) 

There are obviously exceptions to this very loose rule, but the point is, women! – they’re everywhere. I’m of the opinion that the Mission franchise is the greatest action series of our time, and it has continued to get better over time with the inclusion of a stacked cast of impressive women. The most recent film – Dead Reckoning Part One – is the best example of this trend, and includes the most incredible group of women the series has ever seen. Rebecca Ferguson and Vannessa Kirby return to the franchise and are joined by newcomers Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff. (Angela Bassett wasn’t able to reprise her role in this one but her line reading of “That’s The Job” is constantly playing in my head.) 

I know I’m not the only lesbian who’s positively obsessed with Hayley Atwell due to her incredible (gay) turn as Agent Carter, and this may actually be her best film role to date. This multi-million dollar movie franchise certainly does not need my help in promoting it, but I’m here to inform you about all the moments in the film that will make you clasp your hands and say women. Sure, there are no canonically gay characters in this franchise, but I’m claiming these moments for the lesbians. There are no major spoilers ahead, but there are plenty of gay takes on a “straight” movie. ...