Unveiling the Mind-Blowing John Wick 2 Twist You Never Saw Coming!

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

Summary

In The Continental episode 2, it is revealed that Cormac is the first character to violate the hotel's no killing policy. This act of taking the life of the cellist not only jeopardizes his status as excommunicado but also leaves him exposed to potential retaliation from his previous adversaries.

Content The dynamics of John Wick 2's dark ending are altered by the fact that Cormac isn't immediately punished for his killing.

The dark twist ending of John Wick: Chapter 2 undergoes a complete transformation due to a pivotal scene featured in The Continental episode 2. The prequel series from Peacock showcases a different aspect compared to the usual John Wick offerings - the absence of the titular assassin portrayed by Keanu Reeves in all three episodes of The Continental. With Wick's apparent demise in Chapter 4, the franchise finds itself at a captivating crossroads. The Continental and the upcoming movie spinoff, Ballerina, serve as endeavors to gauge audience interest in the franchise beyond Wick, although Reeves will make a special appearance in the latter.

Brought to life by Colin Woodell, The Continental introduces viewers to the early days of Winston Scott, as he takes charge of the iconic assassin hotel. Each episode is of feature-length, allowing for an immersive exploration of the intricate criminal underworld that defines this franchise. Set in the 1970s, the series unveils the strict rule of no killing at the hotel, which is tested by its manager, Cormac (played by Mel Gibson), in the thrilling first episode. John Wick fans may recall that Wick himself broke this rule in Chapter 2's climax, when he dispatched the film's main antagonist, Santino D'Antonio, portrayed by Riccardo Scamarcio.

Mel Gibson's Cormac Was The First John Wick Character Confirmed To Break The Continental's No Killing Rule

The conclusion of John Wick: Chapter 2, in which Wick kills D'Antonio, was considered extremely unacceptable, as if no unauthorized killing had ever occurred at a Continental before. To be fair, Adrianne Palicki's character, Ms. Perkins, had already violated this rule in the franchise by killing Harry (played by Clarke Peters). However, Perkins met her demise at the hands of Winston's (played by Ian McShane) assassins. In the second episode of The Continental, it is revealed that Mel Gibson's character, Cormac, is the first person to definitively break this rule.

The ruthless manager of the New York Continental is having a difficult week, and in the same episode, The Adjudicator (played by Katie McGrath) gives him three days to clean up his mess. When the hotel's cellist announces his plan to leave and take a position in Ireland, Cormac initially supports the decision in an odd manner. However, when the musician innocently mentions that he tried to persuade the concierge, Charon (played by Ayomide Adegun), to come with him, Cormac's mood drastically changes.

Why Cormac Risks Being Excommunicado By Killing The Hotel's Musician

Cormac requests that the cellist perform a musical piece for him, but tragically resorts to savagely bludgeoning the cellist with a golf club. This regrettable display of his unrestrained anger and violation of the hotel's most fundamental rule exposes Cormac's declining grip on power, which consequently paves the way for Winston to soon assume his position.

The killing of the cellist is not only a cruel and spiteful act; it also puts Cormac at risk of being excommunicado by the High Table. This would leave him vulnerable to retaliation from past enemies, as all High Table services would become unavailable to him. This act, driven by frustration over the theft of the gold coin press from "his" hotel, highlights his own men's inability to recover it.

Cormac Not Being Deemed Excommunicado Changes John Wick 2's Brutal Ending

Cormac's perception of the cellist, who had developed a close friendship with Charon, was tainted by the belief that the cellist was attempting to "steal" Charon away from him. Despite Charon rejecting the cellist's offer, Cormac viewed this as a profound disrespect. While this act may have momentarily boosted his ego, it ultimately undermines his authority in the eyes of the High Table.

The moment John Wick eliminated D'Antonio in the New York Continental, it sparked an immediate scandal. In a blink of an eye, he was branded excommunicado, while the powerful High Table unleashed a generous bounty on his life. This pivotal act of violence at the conclusion of John Wick: Chapter 2 triggered a chain of events that left Wick entangled in a web of chaos of his own making. Despite Wick's legendary status within the criminal underworld, consistently demonstrating his unparalleled prowess, the council afforded him no special considerations regarding his actions.

The fact that The Adjudicator chooses to keep quiet about Cormac's killing on hotel grounds adds to the strangeness of the situation. She believes that Cormac's rule will naturally come to an end without her intervention, and a violent confrontation would only lead to the potential recovery of the coin press. While a previous death on The Continental's property helps explain how Winston and Charon would react to Wick's actions, it is interesting that Cormac is not immediately punished for the same offense. However, it is important to consider that many things have changed in the underworld of the franchise in the years between these events.