The early 2010s were largely dominated by science fiction. Novels from Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, and James Dashner were adapted into films within five years of their publication. Like any series, no matter how action-packed and innovative, it is difficult to adapt an evolving series into a set number of films. This often results in some films being more or less popular than others in the series.
Sci-fi series like The Hunger Games and Divergent contain films that viewers favor over some of its others, and the same can be said for The Maze Runner. Its trilogy is adapted from the first three books from Dashner's series by the same title and contains a strong cast to bring his plot to life. Over the course of the trilogy, The Maze Runner acquires talent from a cast consisting of Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Will Poulter, Kayla Scodelario, Patricia Clarkson, Aidan Gillen, Giancarlo Espositio, and many others.
Traditionally, the first film in a series is given the difficult task of introducing the characters for the first time, the problem at hand, and circumstances that have led to this. The Maze Runner sticks with this direction for its first film and uses elements of it for its next two films. All three films were directed by Wes Ball, granting The Maze Runner the ability to reuse the same structure for all three films. The Maze Runner, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, and Maze Runner: The Death Cure, all utilize the same formula, and it works best in relation to its first film.
New Characters, New Environment
In The Maze Runner's introductory film, it introduces the ominous grassy plain known as The Glade to viewers and its focal character, Thomas (O'Brien). Through Thomas' own acclimation to The Glade, the inner workings of the established community become clear. The Glade's leader is Alby (Aml Ameen) who relies on the help of the Keepers to help keep the various boys in check and their jobs running smoothly. Thomas befriends many of the Keepers including Minho (Lee), Frypan (Dexter Darden), Winston (Alexander Flores), and Clint (Randal D. Cunningham). He becomes particularly close with Alby's second-in-command, Newt (Brodie-Sangster), who becomes one of Thomas' most trusted confidants.
Through these characters, Thomas learns that there is a specific routine that is followed after a new arrival. Among these include a celebration, job placement, and the hope that the new arrival will remember their name before long. Thomas must also familiarize himself with the rules of The Glade, including its most important: anyone who is not a Runner, stays out of the Maze. With it comes the warning that if someone is made a Runner, they must make sure they are back before the doors close or they will be trapped inside with the Grievers overnight.
The Scorch Trials isn't much different than this, by introducing the surviving Gladers to a W.C.K.D. facility where they learn that they haven't really been rescued. Here, they meet a number of other characters including Aris (Jacob Lofland). They escape the facility and are introduced to the Scorch, a vastly dangerous desert terrain. Along the way, they meet Brenda (Rosa Salazar) and Jorge (Esposito) who help them navigate the new terrain and escape the newfound danger that follows them.
Ominous Danger
In each installment of The Maze Runner, a new form of danger is introduced. In the first film, it is the Grievers, which are housed by the ominous Maze. Thomas successfully kills a Griever once he, Minho, and Alby become trapped inside overnight. Soon after they make a discovery about the Grievers, the Maze's doors fail to shut at night. Once they infiltrate The Glade, these robotic monsters claim the lives of some of the most beloved characters, including Alby.
The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure force the Gladers to confront the frightening disease known as the Flare. If infected, the disease eventually turns its host into a vicious, violent creature who has no recollection of who they are. The navigation of this unfamiliar terrain while attempting to escape the clutches of W.C.K.D., makes it difficult for the dwindling group of survivors to know who to trust and where to turn.
A Surprise Twist
Over the course of the trilogy, there are quite a few twists that take place. For the Gladers, Teresa's (Scodelario) arrival in The Maze Runner is a huge twist. She is not only the first girl to enter The Glade, but she arrives shortly after Thomas (which is unprecedented given that the box is only meant to arrive once a month) with a note that says she will be the last new arrival ever.
Later twists include the knowledge of the Flare disease and its capabilities, betrayals amongst the Gladers, or an unfortunate loss. Perhaps one of the trilogy's biggest surprises occurs in The Death Cure, as Gally (Poulter) is revealed to have survived being impaled by a spear in the first film. With this comes the saddening news that Newt has become infected with the Flare and that the group remains without a cure to save him. In the previous film, The Scorch Trials, Brenda becomes infected with the Flare, but Mary (a former W.C.K.D. scientist) is able to save her using an enzyme extracted from a body that was immune to the virus.
Shortly after Mary saves Brenda, Teresa tells W.C.K.D. where they are located, which leads the group to appear and ambush the group. Ava Paige (Clarkson) and Janson (Gillen) take those that are known to be immune to the Flare, which includes Minho and Aris. This is a clear betrayal to Thomas and the rest of the group, as Teresa put her own feelings toward W.C.K.D. and her belief of what they are doing ahead of the group's wellbeing. Janson kills Mary, meaning that once Newt becomes sick, there is no one available to help him manage the disease or save him.
This formula works best for The Maze Runner because the plot of the first film lends itself to work well within these confines. The Glade is a contained environment with a set number of characters who already know how to function in the community they have built. In the films that follow, no one is sure of how to survive, and the threats they face become much larger than one tangible villain in the Grievers. Therefore, the latter films needed to focus more on continuing the bonds between characters and concentrating on the revelation about the Flare. Tossing in the additional elements of various groups, allegiances, and subplots, begins to muddle the huge issue they are meant to be overcoming. The Maze Runner only has one huge force they are trying to overcome, which is escaping the Maze. The latter films provide too much to be solved within the formula used in the first film, muddling its main story. The Maze Runner is the only film within the trilogy that introduces and completes the story it sets out to accomplish in a way that is comprehensible and meaningful.