John Wick has become a household name in the action genre, captivating audiences with its intense fight sequences and mysterious underworld. However, the success of the franchise is not solely attributed to its leading man. The universe created in the John Wick films, populated by elite assassins and governed by arcane rules, has been just as captivating for fans. This is why Peacock’s The Continental: From the World of John Wick, set decades before Keanu Reeves’ character emerges, is an intriguing concept. While the series acts as a test of this concept rather than a complete saga, it manages to be tentatively successful, although it does have one major flaw that may ruin the experience for many viewers.
The Continental, developed by Greg Coolidge, Kirk Ward, and Shawn Simmons, expands upon the established lore of the titular hotel. Set in the 1970s, the series follows Winston Scott, played by Colin Woodell, a younger version of the suave hotelier portrayed by Ian McShane. Woodell does an excellent job of capturing McShane’s mannerisms and gravelly voice, making the character his own. The story revolves around Winston’s involvement in a deadly dispute between his brother Frankie, played by Ben Robson, and the gangster Cormac, portrayed by Mel Gibson. As Winston is pulled back into the New York crime scene, he embarks on a bloody quest to capture the assassins-only hotel that serves as Cormac’s base of power.
Although the action in The Continental may not reach the same level as the John Wick movies, it still delivers above-average fight sequences with intricate choreography, athletic stunt work, and fluid camerawork. The series doesn’t shy away from the violence that fans have come to expect, with blood sprays and gory visuals that add to its gleefully violent nature.
The setting of The Continental is visually captivating, with a grimy New York City lined with trash and condemned structures. The hotel itself exudes old-fashioned opulence juxtaposed with flamboyant weirdness. Characters like the masked Adjudicator and sadistic twins add a touch of silliness to the show, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that is both entertaining and detached from reality.
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Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks to The Continental. The format of the series, consisting of three heavily serialized episodes of approximately 90 minutes each, falls into a frustrating middle ground between a long movie and a short TV season. While it allows for a feature-length premiere and finale, there isn’t enough time to fully develop the promising ensemble cast and explore their backstories. The chemistry between characters like Winston and Lou, as well as Winston and Charon, shows potential for compelling relationships, but these dynamics are not given enough attention due to time constraints.
One of the biggest red flags for The Continental is the casting choice of Mel Gibson as the villain, Cormac. In a vacuum, Gibson may be a reasonable choice for a household name, but his history of racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, and abusive behavior cannot be ignored. In the context of today’s social climate, Gibson’s presence in the series may be intolerable to many viewers. The decision to cast him seems to contradict the purpose of appealing to a broad audience.
Overall, The Continental is a decent start to expanding the John Wick universe. The series successfully builds upon the established lore of the franchise and introduces compelling new characters. However, its format and the questionable casting choice may hinder its success. Whether The Continental can sustain itself without the presence of John Wick remains to be seen. But as long as the universe continues to captivate viewers with its intriguing world and intense action, there is potential for future installments to refine and improve upon this tentative start.
