In Jurassic World Dominion, One Dinosaur Stands Above The Rest

Contains spoilers for "Jurassic World Dominion"

Well, after five previous films in the franchise and an array of colorful and catastrophic deaths at the hands (well, teeth) of a variety of prehistoric wildlife, "Jurassic World Dominion" has proved that dinosaurs will rule the world after all, and we're just going to have to deal with it. The closing chapter to the trilogy from director Colin Trevorrow sees shady organization Biosyn brought down from the inside and that pesky locust problem getting put to bed, with the rest of its millennia-old occupants left to roam free on its grounds.

Regardless of where you stand on the film, there's no denying that this installment has the widest selection of scaled (and surprisingly, feathered) beasties on show. Causing carnage over the land, sea, and air worldwide, "Dominion" opens the gates to plenty of terrifying new players in the franchise, from the heavily clawed Therizinosaurus to one of the biggest predators ever to walk the Earth, Giganotosaurus. Even with these new dinos in "Dominion," one legendary beast is still at the top of the list, refusing to budge as the main attraction, and is finally given something they've never had before: an actual storyline, of sorts.

Since our first unforgettable visit to Jurassic Park, one dino has remained the franchise's big star, appearing in all but two chapters of the series so far. The Tyrannosaurus rex, or Rexy, as she's been lovingly referred to by fans and in Michael Crichton's book the first film is based on, has continued to tear through the franchise, going up against any new set of teeth that dares glint in her direction. "Dominion" is no exception, and the film's finale sees her square off against the Giganotosaurus as our heroes flee the scene.

Like every time Rexy has brawled with another giant beast in the past, the first round goes to the opposition before she makes a comeback. Here, history unashamedly repeats itself as the Giganotosaurus throws Rexy to the ground, seemingly putting her down for the count. Instead, the franchise mascot comes back for more, making a team-up of titans and going to work on the Giganotosaurus with the help of Therizinosaurus. What's pretty wild about the whole encounter is that it was 65 million years in the making and actually gives Rexy the chance to settle some unfinished business.

For die-hard fans who have had their dino-seeking eye on any news related to "Jurassic World Dominion," you may have come across the five-minute prologue that was released online last November. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the prologue shows the world as it was back when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, specifically the Giganotosaurus, which victoriously takes on a T. rex. At the end of the segment set in the Cretaceous period, a mosquito is shown feeding off the spoils of the deceased dinosaur.

Clearly hinting — but not confirming — that that particular bug contained the DNA that would be extracted millions of years later for Rexy, "Dominion" provides an unofficial rematch between the two reptiles. Thankfully, history doesn't repeat itself, and with the help of the Therizinosaurus, Rexy reigns supreme once again. You really can't keep this old and fierce girl down — and we're happy for it to stay that way.