The Ultimate Guide to Unveiling 11 Mind-Blowing John Wick Easter Eggs & References in The Continental Episode 1!

Warning: Major spoilers for The Continental episode 1 "Brothers In Arms - Night 1" below!

Summary

The inaugural episode of The Continental, a prequel series to John Wick, is replete with hidden treasures and nods to the film franchise.

It unveils fresh characters and delves into the intricacies of the assassin realm's gold coin economy.

The action-packed episode showcases intense fight scenes, firearms, and martial arts, staying true to the iconic John Wick style.

The prequel series, The Continental, offers numerous easter eggs and references to the movies for viewers to uncover in its first episode. With the presumed demise of John Wick in the finale of Chapter 4, at least for now, it is an opportune moment to examine whether the franchise can thrive without Keanu Reeves' renowned assassin. Alongside the upcoming movie spinoff, Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, The Continental serves as the first true test of a Wick-less venture, airing on Peacock TV.

Set in the 1970s, this prequel explores the journey of young Winston (played by Colin Woodell) as he rises to become the manager of the famous assassins' hotel. It caters to both loyal fans of the John Wick franchise and newcomers, offering a great introduction. The renowned hotel itself takes on a prominent role, featuring familiar characters like a teenage Charon (Ayomide Adegun) and including hidden references, such as a specific car model, for audiences to discover.

11 The Continental's Gold Coin Currency

The story begins with Winston's estranged brother, Frankie (played by Ben Robson), serving as a substitute for John Wick in the first episode. Frankie steals a highly valuable gold coin press from the hotel's vault, putting the manager Cormac (played by Mel Gibson) in a difficult situation. A High Table Adjudicator (played by Katie McGrath) is brought in to unravel the chaos caused by the theft. In the world of John Wick, the Continental is a place where killers find refuge and everything, including drinks, is paid for with these gold coins.

Moreover, the prequel uncovers what happens when someone tries to pay with cash at the hotel. Enter K.D. (played by Mishel Prada), a detective who is hot on Frankie's trail. Unaware of the hotel's true purpose, K.D. enters and orders a drink. However, her payment in cash rather than a coin raises suspicion from the bartender. Despite this, she is still permitted to purchase the drink, possibly to ease the tension.

10 "Guns, Lots Of Guns"

9 Winston's Martini Order

In the original Matrix film, Neo (Keanu Reeves) famously asks for "Guns. Lots of guns." when organizing a rescue mission for Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). This iconic phrase resurfaces in John Wick: Chapter 3, where John also requests "lots" of firearms to defend against a High Table siege. The line makes another appearance towards the end of the first episode of The Continental, after Winston narrowly escapes an assassination attempt. He returns to Frankie's gunrunner associates and states that he requires "Guns. Lots of Guns." for the upcoming confrontation with Cormac.

As episode 1 commences, Winston finds himself in London, endeavoring to secure an investment for a car park project during a business lunch. The potential investor, who exudes an air of cynicism (brought to life by Patrick Bergin of Sleeping with the Enemy fame), appears unimpressed. This prompts a jittery Winston to promptly order himself another "dirty martini." Devoted followers of the series will readily recall that this is also the preferred libation of the elder Winston (portrayed by Ian McShane).

8 Uncle Charlie's Mustang

After losing his wife in the original film, John Wick finds solace in one of life's few joys: racing his sleek 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1. However, tragedy strikes again when his new puppy Daisy is killed in a home invasion and his beloved Mustang is stolen. This fuels John's vengeful rampage, unleashing his fury.

In the debut episode of The Continental, the same model Mustang takes center stage. Winston, played by Peter Greene, asks Uncle Charlie for a car and reluctantly receives "Maria," Charlie's prized Mustang and the love of his life. While Winston is urged not to scratch it, "Maria" ultimately becomes embroiled in an intense car chase, showcasing her true capabilities.

7 Gun Fu

Part of what made the initial John Wick film so exhilarating was the unique blend of martial arts and gunplay showcased in its action scenes. The subsequent installments further refined this distinct style, which also found its way into other movies like Atomic Blonde and Kate. At the beginning of The Continental, an exciting sequence unfolds as Frankie defends himself against a relentless onslaught of assassins while escaping with the invaluable gold coin press. In a display reminiscent of Wick's iconic technique, he seamlessly combines the use of firearms and martial arts to overcome his adversaries.

6 The Adjudicator

In John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Asia Kate Dillon's character, The Adjudicator, was introduced as an agent of the High Table. Their mission was to deal with John Wick and punish those who helped him. Similarly, in The Continental, a new Adjudicator is introduced to retrieve the stolen coin press, deliver punishment to the thieves, and potentially remove Cormac as the manager for allowing the theft to occur. As seen in Chapter 3, McGrath's Adjudicator prefers not to get directly involved and delegates violence to others on her behalf.

5 Bulletproof Suits

4 "Come Out And Play"

The introduction of bulletproof suits in John Wick: Chapter 2, featuring Kevlar sewn throughout, proved to be a lifesaver for Wick on multiple occasions. During intense shootouts, he would strategically shield his face with his jacket, which became his signature move. The prequel quickly showcases a bulletproof suit, highlighting its popularity as a hot new item in the criminal underworld during the '70s, as the Seamstress introduces Cormac to this revolutionary concept.

In addition to paying homage to John Wick, the series also acknowledges iconic films such as Taxi Driver and The Warriors as it portrays the gritty atmosphere of 1970s New York. During one scene, a glimpse of graffiti catches the eye with the words "Come out and play," (source: Slashfilm), a direct nod to David Patrick Kelly's notorious antagonist in The Warriors.

The content goes a few layers deep, as the thrilling conclusion of Chapter 4 - where John finds himself pursued by the criminal underworld of Paris, under the command of a female DJ broadcasting over the airwaves - draws direct inspiration from the iconic film, The Warriors. Interestingly, David Patrick Kelly, known for his portrayal of the villainous Luther in The Warriors, also made a noteworthy appearance in the first John Wick movie as Charlie, the meticulous cleaner.

3 Headshots. Lots Of Headshots

Wick's preferred method of execution is by delivering a shot directly to the head, a technique he consistently employs throughout every movie. The prequel series upholds this established practice right from its very first scene, with Frankie relentlessly targeting his adversaries' heads. Even as the show reaches its gripping finale, there are additional instances of headshots, sadly leading to the demise of one of the main characters.

2 No Killing On Continental Grounds

In the movies, the Continental strictly prohibits any acts of violence on its premises. In the original, Ms Perkins (played by Adrianne Palicki) is executed for breaking this rule, and in Chapter 2, Wick himself is declared excommunicado for killing Santino D'Antonio (played by Riccardo Scamarcio). This rule has been in place since the '70s, which frustrates Cormac when he decides to punish henchman Mr. Avery (played by Peter Fancsikai) for his failure to locate Frankie and the coin press.

However, Cormac demonstrates that there is some flexibility to this rule. Instead of killing Avery, he informs him that he will be made excommunicado for his failure, placing his life and the lives of his wife and children at risk. Alternatively, Cormac suggests that Avery could end his own life by jumping out of the hotel's window. Eventually, Avery chooses to follow the manager's advice.

1 The Opening Credits

The first episode of The Continental opens and closes with visually appealing credits that incorporate artwork. These credits include numerous images that are relevant to the story, and there is even a significant spoiler cleverly hidden within them, although viewers will only discover it at the end of the episode. Additionally, some of the artistic elements in these credits pay tribute to the iconic posters of the John Wick series, featuring elements such as skulls and a diverse range of firearms.