'The Purge' Season 2 finale sees Ethan Hawke reprise his role from the first film to remind us how faulty the NFFA's security is

We already know violence rates aren't going down unlike the research the NFFA tries shoving down its people's throats, and now the security issue is clear too
Ethan Hawke in 'The Purge' season 2 finale (USA Network)
Ethan Hawke in 'The Purge' season 2 finale (USA Network)

This article contains spoilers for the Season 2 finale - episode 10: '7:01 AM'.

It's the big Season 2 finale of 'The Purge' and who better to light it up than one of the big shots gracing the leading roles in the first movie of the franchise!

Ethan Hawke returns to the purge on tonight's Episode 10 titled '7:01 AM'. And while the name itself is ominous enough to hint that maybe some last-minute screw up like Tommy's will sabotage everything, it is the flashback Hawke can be seen in that proves just how big of a farce the NFFA's system and promises can be.

Hawke reprises his role as James — the family man who worked with the NFFA in the 2013 movie 'The Purge', and ended up dying in the end from fatal gunshot wounds from his neighbors, who much like Marcus' in Season 2, wanted to purge him.

In the finale, we see a flashback to the first-ever annual purge, particularly a week before the dreaded night of violence, where NFFA officials are out to test security systems within their office premises.

The official asks another security personnel to open the security system controlled automated door to a room of communications which is their own way to overwatch the public developments for the night, but things clearly falter.

The security personnel is for some reason unable to enter the communication room — presumably the same surveillance arena within the NFFA where Esme and Vivian worked.

Through the course of their preliminary interaction, the security guys asks the official if the purge is actually real as most people are still under the idea that it's all a publicity stunt where nobody will actually go out and engage in violence.

The official very sternly addresses his concern and informs him that the NFFA's research has never shown higher numbers for people ready to indulge — something that clearly worries and causes major concern to the security guy, as he begins fumbling with the door to the surveillance room.

Ethan Hawke as James in the first film from the franchise - 'The Purge' (2013) (USA Network)

The fumbling doesn't go unnoticed by the official who doesn't shy away from reminding the security guy that if he isn't well versed with the process, the NFFA would be more than ready to replace him.

This is when the security person calls up his partner in the process — James, who first tries to calm him down saying it could be a manual error where the security guy could have forgotten to swipe his card after exiting the room.

James also assures him that its a fully functioning system with nothing to worry about as that's the same system he uses to lock down his own house,  and we all know how that fares for him in the movies. 

Despite being on lockdown, we see James' neighbors being able to attack their way into his house and even fatally wound him at the end of the film.

So if this is the security system the NFFA has relied on, it's no wonder why even the best of lockdowns aren't able to withstand the violence that comes their way on the ominous night.

Really speaks volumes about the rest of the promises made by the NFFA to its manipulated and conditioned masses.

We already knew the NFFA's promises of doing this for the greater good is utter crap considering how violence rates are spiking the rest of the year even with an annual purge as opposed to their research, and this whole security finally nails the coffin.

'The Purge' Season 2 finale aired on Tuesday, December 17, at 9 pm only on USA Network.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Malik has no idea Hondo knows his secret, and Adain Bradley says their story is far from over.
2026-10-17T20:45:16.000Z
Jo’s resignation raises questions about her future as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ begins a new era in Season 23
2026-10-17T18:23:30.000Z
‘Tulsa King’ Season 4, starring Sylvester Stallone, streams every Friday on Paramount+
2026-10-17T10:36:40.000Z
Pavi and her long-lost twin Nisha hunt for their origins as the Havens cheer the last Avatar’s death
2026-10-17T08:37:00.000Z
Season 2 of the HBO Stephen King prequel jumps back to 1935 and a gang of bank robbers
2026-10-17T06:52:24.000Z
‘Fire Country’ season 5 episode 2 reveals Jake’s fate after the shooting as the team uncovers the attacker’s motive
2026-10-17T06:41:28.000Z
Wes ends ‘Sheriff Country’ Season 2 Episode 2 in the hands of Stoyanovs after exposing bakery bug
2026-10-17T05:35:47.000Z
Chad Lowe is the executive producer on ‘9-1-1: Nashville’ and has also directed many episodes
2026-10-17T05:07:28.000Z
Issa López returns as showrunner for a Jamaica Bay story with ties to ’Night Country’
2026-10-17T03:12:59.000Z
Oklahoma’s governor and Dwight’s love interest board a private jet in the first episode of Season 4
2026-10-16T09:30:07.000Z