This article contains spoilers for Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver. If you're not caught up yet, you can check out our review. Fair warning: we didn't enjoy this chapter either.
It’s that time again - there’s a new Zach Snyder movie on Netflix, and that means we’ve got some explaining to do. With all the action and adventure of the first Rebel Moon in the bag, the sequel begins pretty much back where we started, only now with way more cast members. Estranged adopted daughter of intergalactic conqueror Balisarius and current farm hand Kora has rallied a group of fighters to defend her new rural home. Yet, as they left the villainous Commander Noble for dead at the end of the last film, the group believes the threat he posed has passed.
But, oh, gentle viewer, we know that Noble was actually resurrected at the last minute, and he is now well on his way to becoming Darth Va - ahem, sorry - “Balisarius’s second-in-command.” In order to do that, he for some reason needs to kill Kora dead - very dead. Long story short, Kora and her crew still have plenty to worry about, and we’ve got about two hours of exposition and explosions to sift through. With a space fascist who’s got a bone to pick with us closing in, we’re here to explain exactly what happens in Rebel Moon: Part Two - The Scargiver.
Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver Ending Explained
After all the hubbub of Rebel Moon: Part One, our merry group of warriors return to Veldt. Three cheers for our returning heroes, but the dread Commander Noble is bearing down fast. Not only are these farmers going to mount a strategic defense, they’re also going to go full Seven Samarai and learn to fight in a couple of days. That’s right; you get a montage, you get a montage, everyone gets a montage.
Kora’s “ragtag crew of intergalactic antiheroes” (nobleman turned blacksmith, Tarak! Intergalactic swordsperson, Nemesis! Disgraced former general, Titus! Rebel soldier, Millius!) exchange traumatic backstories to give us a glimpse at why they are each willing to lay their lives on the line to defend this random village. Meanwhile, Kora and country bumpkin Gunnar have opted to have an epic love story in their downtime. While in bed with her humble farm man, Kora finally shares that it was she herself who killed Princess Issa.
If you missed the first chapter, Issa is the daughter of an intergalactic King and Queen who were ambushed and murdered by the traitorous Balisarius. This happened essentially because, after centuries of war and colonization, their daughter urged them to wreak slightly less havoc across the cosmos. These two royal hippies agreed to chill out a bit, but Balisarius hated the idea of “less war,” because he sucks. And so, he arranged an assassination, forcing Kora to gun down a child she’d once protected. Shockingly, he was not willing to take the fall for this, so he framed Kora for the entire ordeal, and that’s how she ended up on Veldt.
Meanwhile, Noble has a single scar on his chest for his near-death experience. When his second-in-command offers to have the surgeons “remove it,” Noble refuses because he thinks it’s cool. The dreadnoughts arrive, and Noble gives Kora the chance to surrender herself to save the people of Veldt. Despite what she knows about these guys and their penchant for cruelty and betrayal, she actually tries to take this deal, but Gunnar refuses. All heck breaks loose, and our pals square off against an army. Nemesis dies a heroic death, Jimmy the robot (remember him?) finally gets involved after taking his sweet time about it, and, slowly, the tide turns against the invading army. But it takes a whole lot of explosions to make it happen.
Kora and Gunnar hop on Noble’s escaping ship to prevent him from annihilating the villagers from space like an absolute child. Action sequences abound, but, long story short, Kora blows up the ship, Noble nearly kills her but Gunnar saves the day, Noble finally actually dies, and everyone cheers. Oh, and Gunnar also dies a heroic death. Thanks for all your humble observations on life along the way, Gunnar, you were a real one. The film ends with Kora remembering that Balisarius still exists and promising to take the fight to him in the next movie.
What Does Rebel Moon's Ending Mean for the Future of the Rebel Moon-iverse?
Though panned by many critics (ourselves included), the first Rebel Moon drew significant viewership. Indeed, via an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, Snyder quipped that more people “probably” watched Rebel Moon at home than saw Greta Gerwig’s smash hit Barbie in the theaters. We’re still waiting to see the numbers on that, Zach, but what we do know is that the film was #1 on Netflix during the week of its release. For a flick that is basically just six or seven classic movies edited together with some admittedly amazing VFX on top, that ain’t bad.
While it was once assumed that this sequel would wrap up the tale of Kora and the humble farmers of Veldt, it - doesn’t. With the closing scene all but promising a third film to come, one guesses that there could very well be more Rebel Moon on the way. As of this second, the potential threequel has yet to be greenlit, but Snyder has encouraged fans to click that double thumbs up button to give Netflix a nudge in that direction.
Meanwhile, remember that extended Rebel Moon “Snyder cut” release he was already teasing before the first film even debuted? In an interview with Collider, Snyder noted that they should be on the way in late summer, promising edgier, R-rated content. This should come as great news for whoever was asking for that.
