Season 1 of The Continental: From the World of John Wick is a riveting and intriguing exploration of the greasy underworld of New York City in the 1970s, where we discover the genesis of the world-renown hotel-de-meurtres and seed of the John Wick story-line. The series is a crime drama with elements of noir, as well as a character piece, covering the transformation of the troubled but nonetheless lovable young man described in the films into the cold and dead-eyed man that Winston Scott has become. The atmosphere of the show is constant tension, threat, and moral doubt, reflecting that time of chaos and corruption and following threads of loyalty and power in the plot and redemption. The elegantly developed environment around it, with hard streets and dark nightclubs, and retro clothing, compels the viewers, to live in one world where violence and sophistication are interconnected in a very fragile balance.
Acting is effective, the young Winston is particularity convincing and grow and mature on stage with a complex presentation that has power. A web of intricate characters, cold-blooded killers, greedy competitors, backstabbing friends come alive in the cast who give rich colour to the elaborate conspiracy behind the play. The show alternately strikes a balance between large-scale action scenes and intense conversations and moments that rely on character, generating a narrative that is tense and exciting to watch. Direction and cinematography complement each other perfectly to get involved in the raw, primal power of the era, using stylish colors to emphasize the underground, shadowy, risky world that Winston has to go through.
The most powerful thing was the way in which the cost of power and how far we can go in search of survival and legacy are discussed in The Continental. It is a noir, dark, atmospheric prequel, which broadens the world of John Wick and provides not only fans but the first-time viewers with an interesting story about a great guy rising to the surface in the course of chaos. Suspense, characterization, and world-building that are skillfully combined in the show create an exciting experience and make people want to understand how the story of Winston can further develop.
