The Unforgettable Debut of John Wick's Ultimate Spinoff: Unlocking the Secrets Behind the Franchise's Phenomenal Success

Warning: Major spoilers for The Continental episode 2 "Loyalty to the Master" below!

Summary

The absence of the signature action sequences, which have become synonymous with the John Wick franchise, in The Continental episode 2 leads to a lackluster and disappointing experience. Rather than prioritizing thrilling action, the episode instead emphasizes team assembly and introduces various subplots, resulting in a lack of urgency and excitement.

The absence of John Wick in the series diminishes its allure and enigma, relegating the protagonist Winston to a secondary role.

While The Continental episode 2 progresses towards the climax of the miniseries, it disregards the crucial element upon which the franchise is founded. Peacock's prequel offers viewers a more extensive glimpse into the inner workings of the renowned assassin hotel. Featuring Colin Woodell as a young Winston Scott seeking vengeance against the hotel's manager Cormac (portrayed by Mel Gibson) in the late '70s, the show is noteworthy for being the first installment in the John Wick franchise to not feature Keanu Reeves' iconic assassin.

The upcoming movie spinoff Ballerina, which stars Ana de Armas, can proudly feature Reeves' Wick as a guest appearance. However, the series stands on its own as it explores the world in a more detailed manner through the three episodes of The Continental. Despite this, the lukewarm reviews indicate that many critics are not impressed with the new elements it introduces to the lore. In "Loyalty to the Master," the pace slows down even further as Winston assembles a diverse team to assist with the hotel raid.

The Continental Episode 2 Forgot To Add John Wick's Great Action

This results in countless conversations, enjoyable soundtrack choices, and hidden references to the franchise. With a different creative team leading the prequel, it is expected that they would bring their own unique style to the show, distinguishing it from the previous films. Nevertheless, it is quite perplexing that episode 2 of The Continental lacks any substantial action sequences. Action, whether it be intense one-on-one fights or exhilarating shootouts, is a signature element of the John Wick franchise, yet these scenes are noticeably absent in "Loyalty to the Master."

The first fight occurs early on when Yen (played by Nhung Kate), who is grieving, takes on a couple of Cormac's henchmen. However, this encounter is brief and unremarkable. The other significant battle takes place when Lou (portrayed by Jessica Allain) engages in a thrilling brawl in Chinatown, which admittedly provides some entertainment. Creating action scenes proves challenging with a limited TV budget, but even the first episode succeeded in delivering the intense stairwell battle at the start.

The Continental Overestimates How Interesting Its Story & Lore Is

In essence, "The Continental" episode 2 takes on an Ocean's 11-style approach in assembling the team. However, "Loyalty to the Master" feels more like filler material before reaching the actual finale. Various subplots are thrown into the mix, such as KD's investigation into the Scott brothers and Miles and Yen pulling off a heist. However, there's a lack of urgency or excitement throughout.

The showrunners are relying on the overall intriguing story to compensate for this. Without a central figure like John Wick to guide audiences, the show loses some of its compelling nature. While Winston is a charming character portrayed well by Woodell, capturing the essence of Ian McShane's older version, he remains more of a supporting player than a true protagonist. Unfortunately, the second episode of "The Continental" needed some action to enhance the story, but it regrettably lacks this crucial ingredient.