Chris Connor reviews the second episode of The Continental…
After a promising opening episode that introduced us to the world of the John Wick universe in the 1970s, the second episode of The Continental steps things up a notch as young Winston Scott and his associates prepare a full-out conflict with The Continental and the man pulling the strings, Cormac. The show has by this stage found more of its own groove and Colin Woodell, while not Ian McShane, is doing a dependable job as a younger Winston.
One of the biggest assets of this episode and the show more widely is the younger Charon, exploring how he came to work in the hotel in the first place and the control Cormac has over him as Winston attempts to break it. We find out that he has fled his country and that his father is a renowned violinist. Ayomide Adegun does commendable work showing his split loyalty and vulnerability, a far cry from the more withdrawn and straight-faced work Lance Reddick does in the main films.
Mel Gibson is given a more prominent role in this episode, showing the fear his character instils and the control he has over those around him. His role acts best as a mirror to the Winston we know and the hotel we know in the films, showing two sides of the same coin and the poise and grace with which older Winston operates is a far cry from the more brutish and out of control temperament of Cormac.
Once again the show offers plenty of reminders that it is set in the 70s with many of the action sequences and shifts between scenes telegraphed by 70s pop staples and more deep cuts with the likes of James Brown, Harry Nilsson, Gerry Rafferty and many more featuring in this episode. While it might grow tedious after a while, the use of the songs is generally welcome and adds a sense of atmosphere and time to the show, also further distancing itself from the films that it is spun off.
Away from the central conflict with The Continental this episode does a fine job hinting at racial tensions in New York, especially between Chinese American and African American communities, something that seems set to come to a head in the climatic episode. The episode sets things up for a grandstand finish, that seems set to answer questions fans may have had coming into the series.
Chris Connor
Originally published September 30, 2023. Updated October 6, 2023.
