The Continental: Exploring the Intriguing World of John Wick - A Riveting Review

Summary

Peacock's The Continental struggles to replicate the appeal of the John Wick movies, despite offering a deeper look at the assassin's world.

The three-episode season delves into the grimy and seedy landscape of 1970s New York City, introducing fresh characters. However, the excessive abundance of storylines and characters feels superfluous and overwhelming. Despite focusing on Winston's narrative, The Continental series often sidelines his development and is lacking the distinctive style and elegance that sets the John Wick movies apart, giving the impression of a wasted potential.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn't exist.

The John Wick film franchise has seen remarkable success, leading to the development of spinoffs. John Wick: Chapter 4, released this year, was expected to create one or two offshoots, and next year, we can look forward to the arrival of the Ana de Armas-led Ballerina. However, before that, Peacock's highly anticipated event series, The Continental: From the World of John Wick, will test how invested audiences are in this universe without the presence of Keanu Reeves, the series' formidable leading actor. With familiar characters portrayed by new faces, numerous references to the movies, and an iconic location, the three-episode season had the potential for great success right from the start. Nevertheless, despite its in-depth exploration of the assassin's world, The Continental struggles to replicate the enticing qualities that make the John Wick movies so appealing.

In The Continental: From the World of John Wick, the eponymous establishment, named after the hotel for assassins managed by Ian McShane's Winston Scott, plays a significant role. Set in the 1970s, The Continental is under the reign of brutal crime lord Cormac (controversially portrayed by Mel Gibson), who faces treachery from his trusted subordinate Frankie (portrayed by Ben Robson) as he pilfers a crucial item holding immense value to both Cormac and the notorious High Table. This theft ignites a widespread pursuit throughout the city, even reaching London, where Frankie's younger brother Winston (now embodied by Colin Woodell) leads a luxurious life as a clever swindler. Pulled into Frankie's chaos as he is transported to New York City by Cormac's henchmen, Winston finds himself presented with a new objective: overthrow Cormac and seize control of The Continental.

The story of Winston and Charon in the John Wick movies is well-known to anyone who has seen them. However, before reaching its inevitable conclusion, The Continental takes three extended episodes to delve into the gritty underworld of 1970s New York and introduce new characters. While The Continental is marketed as the origin story of the hotel and Winston, there is much more happening. Winston's quest for control of The Continental is the main plot, but there are also side stories involving Miles and Lou, Frankie's associates trying to preserve their father's dojo, and detective KD's pursuit of Frankie for unknown reasons. Alongside these narratives, there are several other characters of varying importance.

The length of The Continental's episodes, ranging from an hour to an hour and a half, is justified by the multitude of plots and characters. However, the sheer number of storylines and activities can feel excessive. The John Wick franchise excels at expanding its world while keeping the focus on John himself, but The Continental diverges from this strength. Winston's character development takes a backseat as the show shifts its attention elsewhere, diminishing the impact of his journey. KD's storyline, in particular, feels unnecessarily extraneous, and even when it finally intersects with Winston's in episode 3, it remains inconsequential. While The Continental succeeds in depicting the crime-infested world of New York City, it often strays from its purpose as an expansion of the familiar John Wick universe and its beloved characters.

Mel Gibson and Katie McGrath star in The Continental: From the World of John Wick.

Regrettably, The Continental lacks the stylish finesse that distinguishes the John Wick movies on the big screen. Although the fight scenes are well-orchestrated, there isn't a standout action sequence. The potential of The Continental as a captivating backdrop is somewhat frustratingly underutilized until episode 3. Undoubtedly, Winston's ruthless takeover of the hotel is satisfying. However, the preceding journey is burdened with unnecessary detours, contributing to The Continental feeling excessively bloated. The series boasts an assortment of intriguing characters, although not all are on equal footing. While Miles and Lou's sibling dynamics are compelling, Cormac (played by Gibson) fails to reach the menacing level his character should convey. He is undeniably brutal, yet teeters on the edge of caricature. In contrast, McGrath's portrayal of Adjudicator is far more chilling, even with a significantly smaller amount of screen time (a fair warning to those eagerly awaiting her appearance – she only appears in a handful of scenes throughout the entire season). Another noteworthy performance is delivered by Nhung Kate as Frankie's wife, Yen. Although her character lacks depth, she manages to deliver some striking action sequences.

Despite the abundance of unnecessary characters and plotlines, The Continental is ultimately Winston's story, and Woodell portrays the commanding presence established by McShane exceptionally well. Woodell's Winston is fiercely intelligent and cunning, still developing but captivating enough to follow until the end. Delving into his past is a highlight of the series, with each episode beginning with childhood flashbacks. The growing friendship between Winston and Charon is also a joy to watch, although The Continental disappoints by delaying its exploration until the third episode. Adegun's portrayal of Charon is commendable, especially in the heartfelt aspects of his backstory. While The Continental doesn't need to replicate the John Wick formula perfectly to succeed, it falters in justifying every storyline and lacks the necessary flair in its action sequences, resulting in an unsatisfying prequel. While there are enjoyable aspects, overall, it feels like a missed opportunity.

The Continental: From the World of John Wick premieres on Friday, September 22. It consists of three episodes, with each episode releasing weekly.