If you’re a fan of the John Wick series, you’re going to be disappointed with this prequel to the saga where we’re supposed to learn more about the history of The Continental hotel for assassins.
This 3-episode series is in the 1970s during the middle of a labor strike that leaves New York City overflowing with garbage–an apt metaphor for these shallow and sordid 90-minute duds. The Continental starts with story of how a young Winston Scott (Colin Woodell) winds up fighting for his life after his brother Frankie (Ben Robson) steals something valuable from assassin hotel.
Despite featuring some High Table villains like the masked Adjudicator (Katie McGrath) and eerie sharpshooters Hansel (Mark Musashi) and Gretel (Marina Mazepa), The Continental’s big villain is the disappointing Mel Gibson as Cormac, the New York hotel’s manager. Sure, the body count is high, but this series just doesn’t have class of the institution it’s supposed to be about. GRADE: C-
Why so many movies and TV shows about secret brotherhoods or sisterhoods of assassins? JOHN WICK, ASSASSINS CREED, HITMAN, WANTED, AVA, COLOMBIANA, PROUD MARY . . . ? There’s probably a Master’s thesis in pop culture (or mass psychopathology) waiting to be written. Has any actor crashed as dramatically as Mel Gibson?
Fred, series like JOHN WICK and HITMAN perpetuate the myth of honor among assassins and killers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mel Gibson’s career crashed and burned years ago and THE CONTINENTAL will NOT resurrect it.
No Peacock, but I wouldn’t have watched it anyway. Besides, the Continental without Lance Reddick is just not the same.
Jeff, no Lance Riddick, no Ian McShane, no Keanu Reeves. THE CONTINENTAL is an empty vessel.
Yes, but, sadly, Lance Reddick is not at liberty any longer. At least the other two will probably be available after the strike is settled.
Yes, but, sadly, Lance Reddick is not at liberty any longer. At least the other two will probably be available after the strike is settled.
I think that duplication might’ve been my computer’s weirdness…the “You’ve Already Said That” refusal didn’t come up, however!
Thanks for the heads-up on the triviality of the pendant series. The JOHN WICK series of films has been Just Good Enough as it is…
Todd, THE CONTINENTAL barely qualifies as a JOHN WICK prequel.