The “John Wick” film franchise has gained a huge following, thanks in large part to its high-impact fight choreography and the antiheroic character of John Wick himself, played by Keanu Reeves.

Since the first film came out in 2014, the franchise has widened its universe, digging deeper into Wick’s history and the staggeringly complicated world of killers. One of the things that strike me about how this chapter follows the earlier adventures of John Wick forward is how the character of John Wick himself has transformed into something else over time, such as in John Wick: Chapter 2, which sees him forced to honor a blood oath – in many ways a rare example of Wick wandering down the path of a hired assassin.

The Return to the Underworld

“John Wick: Chapter 2” is set not long after the first film ends. John, having exacted revenge for his beloved dog’s death, wants to settle into mild retirement. But his plans are interrupted when Santino D’Antonio, an Italian crime lord, approaches him with a “marker,” a blood oath that forces John to kill Santino’s sister, Gianna D’Antonio. This mission pulls John back into the deadly world he so wants to escape.

A Glimpse into John’s Past

This chapter presents an alternative to John’s working history as a hitman. If the first film was about personal revenge, the sequel is concerned with the obligations and debts that bind people in the assassin’s universe. The “marker” is a violation of actions that must be heeded in a network of complex codes of honor surrounding this underground society. By acknowledging Santino’s marker, John is portrayed as an agent of fulfilling a professional contract, rather than being drawn by personal motivation, as per the previous films.

From Professional to Personal

While John agrees to undertake the mission out of professional obligation, the events escalate the situation into a personal vendetta before long. Having executed Gianna, Santino betrays John by putting out a bounty on his life, attempting to cover his trail. As John is forced back into the kill game—contracting for Santino—the stakes of the wagerare held hostage in a wager on his own hitlist, challenging what a contract to kill means when its object turns to revenge instead.

The Evolution of John Wick

This simple premise quickly spirals into increasingly extravagant mayhem as John Wick is forced to deal with a number of enemies from his past, leading to the series’ becoming one of Dead Man’s Shoes (2004) by way of The Expendables (2010). His journey is a war between the desire for a regular life and an inevitable connection to the past. In “John Wick: Chapter 2,” John is forced out of retirement, while other characters in this universe exhibit a fascination with the old world, creating conflict due to this tension.

Expanding the Franchise

Franchise expansion: The success of the John Wick series has led to all kinds of spin-offs and expansions Projects such as “The Continental” and “Ballerina” look to further explore the universe through different characters and plots. Such expansions are sure to be exciting and provide viewers further insight into the complexities of John Wick’s world.

Conclusion

“John Wick: Chapter 2” stands as a turning point in the franchise: it marks the first (and, so far, only) time John works under a professional contract, entailed by a blood oath. This chapter further explores his character complexities, the obligations of his past, and the murky waters between personal and professional motivations. Through the progression of the series, the audience discover more about the person behind the assassin, which ultimately allows John Wick to be one of the most interesting and three-dimensional characters in contemporary film.

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