The Continental: From the World of John Wick

Woof. This was rough. Sadly it falls into the category of pointless spinoff from major franchises, and what makes it worse is how not only was it completely unnecessary but it was also just a bad show.

I feel like this show proves just how magical the John Wick movies are. They have pitch perfect action and blend it together with a fairly basic story, but technically the films are operating at such a high level, it’s hard not to like.

This show was just missing all of the spark that makes the movies special. For one, the story is just so…boring. It’s drawn out so egregiously that the three episodes feel like they’re out staying their welcome. For a show to lack so much content that three episodes feels like a struggle, is a real sign the show probably isn’t telling the right story.

The main story is interesting enough, but there’s a multitude of side characters who we spend so much time with but they all are very surface level, if you’re going to give time to these characters at least give them something other than the stereotype you’ve cast them as.

I really didn’t care for anyone in the show. The plot is also paper thin, why did this have to be so drawn out. It’s more infuriating as it’s a prequel so you know where this ends up. This is often where side characters who you don’t know could become interesting but they’re just so plain. Most interesting aspect is definitely the world building with the high table, but it’s a small aspect of the show.

Now you would think this being in the John Wick franchise they would at least have good action but it was serviceable, and honestly no where near the level of the films. One single scene sticks in my head, but the rest of the action scenes are not as gripping or shot as good as they could’ve been.

So I love the evolution of the franchise and the tone, I love how high camp they are yet are still able to balance it with a serious tone. This show was tonally awful. Serious sometimes and then weird jokes in the same scene, I was infuriated by a character who was written like a bad MCU character only giving quips, it was just so jarring and far from the magic of the films