The Continental: From the World of John Wick: Brothers in Arms

September 23, 2023 12:30 PM - Season 1, Episode 1

1970s New York City. After being separated for 20 years, brothers Winston and Frankie Scott are about to be violently reunited. Frankie's just stolen a priceless object from Cormac Fitzpatrick, the Continental Hotel's present hotel manager and a ruthless mobster from the brothers' past.
posted by porpoise (4 comments total)

Was so excited when I first heard about this then that Human-Turd-in the-Swimming-Pool Mel Gibson was announced and all my interest vanished.

Every review I've read of this, states he is the worst thing about the entire show
posted by Faintdreams at 1:41 PM on September 23, 2023 [7 favorites]

Count me among the folks who are so put off by Mel Gibson's inclusion that I'm not going to give it a try. It's very strange to take well-known, widely liked IP and put a well-known, widely disliked guy at the center of it. It makes me think this show just exists to further rehabilitate Gibon's image. Very bizarre.
posted by grandiloquiet at 4:47 PM on September 23, 2023 [5 favorites]

Yeah, this seems like it should have been my jam, but I'm not going to pay for the privilege of watching Mel Gibson exist. I already know he exists, I don't need to see it.
posted by Mr. Excellent at 7:45 AM on September 26, 2023

Well, as someone who has watched the first two episodes, but without (ahem) paying for them, for the reasons provided above by others, I have a few observations:

• The production design and photography is of a far higher quality than I expected, and the evocation of a (semi-mythologized) 1970's New York excellent.
• Gibson's character is played rather close to home: a repellent, crude, hard-line Catholic. I find it interesting that he can't escape being typecast as a villain now.
• The organization of the High Table and the Continental feels somewhat anarchistic compared to strict regimented formalism shown in John Wick, which feels appropriate.
• I really like the movie-length format of each episode, providing the opportunity for extended characterization.

posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 6:55 PM on September 29, 2023 [2 favorites]