Rotten Tomatoes Critics Deem The Continental The John Wick Franchise's First Misfire

It's one thing to replace Keanu Reeves, Hollywood's sweetheart, with the infamously intolerant Mel Gibson. But "The Continental" doesn't do star Colin Woodell any favors by measuring him up against the great Ian McShane. Reviewing "The Continental" for Looper, Alistair Ryder wrote, "It's just a shame Winston himself isn't as interesting in 'The Continental' as McShane's portrayal is in the 'John Wick' films."

Fundamentally, critics found the show unsure of its role in the "John Wick" universe. On one hand, "The Continental" rests on its "John Wick" laurels. "'The Continental' seems to exist on the assumption that 'John Wick' fans will gobble up anything even tangentially related to the adventures of a man who just loved his dog," wrote Alan Sepinwall for Rolling Stone. At the same time, the series lacks the visual flair of the films, and its story is comparatively ham-fisted and exposition-heavy.

Incidentally, all of that exposition takes away from what hooked many "John Wick" fans in the first place: the fight scenes, lovingly crafted by former stunt actor-turned-director, Chad Stahelski. "What 'The Continental' lacks in fight scenes," continues the aforementioned Looper review, "it more than makes up for in a plodding revenge narrative."

Some critics concede that "The Continental" has flashes of Wickian brilliance, like fun needle drops and a stylized take on '70s New York. Still, it's telling that Chad Stahelski's involvement is limited to an executive producer credit and that he doesn't direct any episodes. Perhaps he'll have a bigger role in the upcoming spin-off, "The Ballerina."