The Continental vs John Wick's Movies: Unvealing the Truth Behind the Reviews

Summary

The Continental

disappoints critics and breaks the

John Wick

Rotten Tomatoes streak, lacking the same high ratings and stylish tone.

The show is lacking in terms of action, worldbuilding, visually striking elements, and compelling characters compared to the impressive streak of Rotten Tomatoes.

John Wick

movies.

The Continental

's social commentary is deemed lazy, dialogue is not as sharp, and it relies heavily on clichéd prequel tropes, leading to a mixed reception.

The Continental, the TV show that expands the John Wick universe, has received poor reviews, marking a low point for the franchise. Set in the 1970s, the series follows Winston as he becomes the manager of the New York Continental Hotel and incorporates real-life events like the Winter of Discontent and the rise of the Mafia in New York. Despite the potential of these concepts, The Continental fails to maintain the stylish and visually stunning tone of the John Wick movies. This departure from the successful formula is evident in its Rotten Tomatoes score of 53%, which is in stark contrast to the fresh ratings received by every John Wick movie. As the first of many planned spinoffs, The Continental's disappointing reception could be a foreshadowing of future endeavors. Critics have expressed their disappointment for various reasons.

10 The Continental Doesn't Have Keanu Reeves' John Wick

The absence of Keanu Reeves as John Wick is the obvious reason why The Continental isn't as highly acclaimed as the movie series. According to Nick Allen (via Roger Ebert), "Check your expectations at the door: this Peacock three-part prequel event series lacks the presence of Keanu Reeves and the same all-encompassing genre ambition found in the movie franchise that serves as its inspiration." Considering the '70s backdrop of the show, it would require a significant leap in time for John Wick to make an appearance in The Continental. Nevertheless, the viewers can still feel his absence in the series, even if it would be nonsensical for the Baba Yaga to appear.

9 The Continental's Action Is Underwhelming For John Wick's Franchise

Colin Woodell stars in The Continental: From the World of John Wick, where the action is unrivaled. However, few films can come close to the heart-pounding action sequences and the influential gun-fu showcased in the John Wick movies. In John Wick: Chapter 4 alone, viewers are treated to breathtaking top-down dragon-breath scenes, the hilariously absurd 222 steps, and the awe-inspiring Champs-Élysées moment. Regrettably, The Continental falls short when it comes to matching the intensity of the franchise's action. According to Tom Jorgensen (via IGN Movies), "While The Continental captures the essence of the John Wick films, its disjointed narrative, forgettable characters, and inconsistent action hinder its success at every turn."

8 The Continental Lacks John Wick's Worldbuilding

7 The Continental Isn't As Visually Striking & Stylish As John Wick

The John Wick movies continued to improve with each new release due to the gradual development of the world they are set in. These films effectively provide audiences with enough information about this world and its functioning, while still leaving certain aspects shrouded in mystery. The purpose of the show, The Continental, is to further expand on this world by exploring its history before the events of John Wick. However, it ultimately falls short of the mark set by the original films, lacking the same stylistic elements and world-building that made them so successful.

What sets the John Wick series apart from all other action movies — apart from the jaw-dropping action sequences — is the striking visual aesthetics. Director Chad Stahelski dedicated substantial effort to ensuring each John Wick film possesses a distinctive look, from mesmerizing cinematography and stylish locations to intricate and extravagant costume designs. With its '70s backdrop, one would expect The Continental to effortlessly continue this legacy, but unfortunately, the series falls short. As Rohan Nahaar pointed out (via The Indian Express), "It nonchalantly disregards both the essence of the original movies in terms of plot and visual style."

6 The Continental's Characters Are Less Compelling Than The Movies

5 The Continental Doesn't Have The John Wick Movies' Charm

The characters in The Continental have been widely criticized as lacking depth and substance. According to Nick Schager from The Daily Beast, the three-part prequel fails to deliver a captivating lead, intriguing violence, or compelling characters and mythology to engage viewers for an extended period of time. Colin Woodell's portrayal of Winston, although captivating and mysterious in the John Wick movies, is reduced to a clichéd representation of a gentleman in the series. Additionally, the supporting characters surrounding Winston lack the same level of interest and complexity.

Receiving a mixed reception on Rotten Tomatoes with a 53% score, The Continental still manages to capture the approval of over half of the critics. However, Ross McIndoe, a critic from Slant Magazine, expresses a scathing opinion of the show. McIndoe describes it as akin to a budget hotel: lacking in appeal, character, and originality. The captivating charm exuded by the characters and their interactions in the John Wick movies seems to be absent in this TV prequel series. Such negative feedback undermines the likelihood of a second season for The Continental and raises doubts about the potential success of other spinoffs and sequels.

4 The Continental's Social Commentary Is Lazy

Roxana Hadadi criticized The Continental's social commentary, stating that it pales in comparison to the franchise's established eccentricity. The commitment to real historical events, sexism, racism, and the wealth disparity in New York City is seen as mundane. Unlike the John Wick movies, which avoided social commentary, The Continental raises these issues but quickly disregards them. Despite the ongoing problems of sexism and racism, there seems to be no purpose in addressing them within the context of The Continental.

3 The Continental's Dialogue Isn't As Sharp As The John Wick Movies

According to Diego Batlle from Otros Cines, The Continental's dialogue lacks justification or the ability to surpass basic and even clumsy exchanges. While the John Wick movies aren't renowned for their flawless dialogue, a significant part of John's lines consist of the word "yeah." Despite this, everything John Wick (as well as every other character) utters still carries significance and weight. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for The Continental, as it appears that the series doesn't devote nearly as much consideration to its dialogue.

2 The Continental Relies Too Much On Cliched Prequel Tropes

It's a challenge for prequels to avoid falling into the trap of clichéd tropes. These tropes often involve delving into the origin stories of random objects, like the dice in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and attempting to convince the audience that new characters will survive. The Continental makes use of all these prequel tropes. Fred Topel explained (via UPI), "Nobody was curious about how the High Table presses their coins or how Winston ascended to the position of manager. The Continental fails to provide a compelling reason for the appeal of either of these backstories." The coin pressing is also a prime example of constructing the world in the wrong manner.

1 The Continental's 1970s Soundtrack Can't Beat John Wick's Modern Music

While The Continental's 1970s soundtrack is undeniably enjoyable, it pales in comparison to the pulsating beats of EDM blasting through a club as John Wick mercilessly dispatches his enemies. Even in John Wick: Chapter 4, older music is employed in a more innovative manner than The Continental, exemplified by the use of "Nowhere to Run" before the epic manhunt in France. Brian Truitt suggested that The Continental's reliance on its soundtrack may be an attempt to compensate for its shortcomings. In his words, "If you have an affinity for '70s hits, brace yourself for an array of your favorite tracks. But, as a crucial addition to the Wick series, The Continental falls short."

Source: Roger Ebert, IGN Movies, The Upcoming, The Indian Express, The Daily Beast, Slant Magazine, Vulture, Otros Cines, UPI, USA Today