Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn't exist.

With how successful the John Wick film franchise has become, it's no surprise it has started to expand with spinoffs. This year's John Wick: Chapter 4 seemed primed to produce an offshoot or two, and next year will see the arrival of the Ana de Armas-led Ballerina. Before that, though, Peacock's high-profile event series The Continental: From the World of John Wick will test the waters to see how invested audiences are in this universe without the formidable leading presence of Keanu Reeves. Armed with two familiar characters (albeit played by new faces), a number of callbacks to the movies, and one iconic location, the three-episode season was certainly set up for success right from the get-go. And yet, despite that, The Continental struggles to replicate what makes the John Wick movies so appealing, even as it offers a deeper look at the assassin's world.

The Continental, of course, is named after the hotel for hired killers run by Ian McShane's Winston Scott, and said establishment plays a large role in this new show. Back in the 1970s, when the series takes place, The Continental is run by ruthless crime boss Cormac (Mel Gibson, a controversial casting decision that perhaps didn't need to be made) who, in the opening minutes, is betrayed by his trusted lackey Frankie (Ben Robson). Frankie has stolen an important item that holds great significance to both Cormac and the infamous High Table, and his theft kicks off a city-wide manhunt that extends to London, where Frankie's younger brother Winston (yes, that Winston, now played by Colin Woodell) has a cushy lifestyle as a slick conman. Dragged into Frankie's mess when he's brought to New York City by Cormac's men, Winston is soon given a new goal: Unseat Cormac and take The Continental for himself.

Anyone who has seen even a single John Wick movie will know how Winston's story goes, as well as that of Cormac's right-hand man, the quietly dignified Charon (played by the late Lance Reddick in the films, and Ayomide Adegun here). Before that inevitable conclusion can arrive, though, The Continental will spend its three super-sized episodes exploring the dirty, gritty world that is '70s New York and introducing a slew of new characters. The Continental is largely being marketed as the origin story of both the eponymous hotel and Winston himself. On some level, this is true, but there's also a great deal more going on, for better or worse. In addition to the main plot of Winston seeking control of The Continental, there's the story of siblings Miles (Hubert Point-Du Jour) and Lou (Jessica Allain), associates of Frankie's struggling to keep their late father's dojo up, and a subplot surrounding dogged detective KD (Mishel Prada), who is hunting Frankie for mysterious reasons. On top of those threads are several other characters of varying significance.

With all this going on, it's little wonder The Continental's three episodes all stretch towards or over an hour and a half. Arguably, that much space is necessary for all the plots and characters, but it's also safe to say the sheer number of activity going on in this series isn't necessary at all. One of the strengths of the John Wick franchise is its ability to expand the world while keeping the focus on John himself. That strength doesn't extend here. Winston's arc is frequently sidelined as The Continental shifts focus in other directions, thus lessening the impact of its main character's journey. KD's plot in particular feels frustratingly extraneous; even when it finally connects with Winston in episode 3, it remains true that one could remove KD entirely, and nothing would change. As a close-up look at the crime-riddled world of New York City, The Continental finds some success, but as an expansion of the John Wick world and the characters audiences already know, it frequently loses its way.

It doesn't help that The Continental lacks the style and grace that help the John Wick movies stand out on the big screen. The fight scenes are well-choreographed, but there isn't a standout action sequence. The Continental could make for a great set piece, which is why it's somewhat frustrating that the series doesn't spend much time there until episode 3. To be sure, Winston's brutal takeover of the hotel is satisfying. It's just that the journey beforehand is filled with diversions that, when left unchecked, give The Continental a bloated feeling. The characters who populate the series are fairly interesting, but not all are created equal. While Miles and Lou provide an interesting sibling dynamic, Gibson's Cormac never reaches the level of menace he should. He's brutal, yes, but borderline cartoonish. Katie McGrath's Adjudicator is far more chilling in significantly less screen time (fair warning to those watching for her - she only has a handful of scenes across the entire season). Another highlight is Nhung Kate as Frankie's wife Yen; while her character doesn't get much depth, she does score some impressive action moments.

Despite all the extraneous characters and plotlines, though, The Continental is Winston's story, and Woodell makes for a great version of the towering persona established by McShane. Fiercely intelligent and cunning, Woodell's Winston is still in the making, but he's the kind of character you want to follow to the end. Getting to see more of his past is one of the best parts of the series, with each episode starting with flashbacks to his childhood. It's also a delight to watch his friendship with Charon grow, though The Continental shortchanges itself a bit by waiting until episode 3 to really dig into it. Adegun does well as Charon, particularly when dealing with the more heartfelt aspects of his backstory. The Continental didn't need to perfectly replicate the John Wick formula to be a success, but in its inability to justify every storyline and the general lack of flair with its action, it falls short as a satisfying prequel. There are things to enjoy here, but overall, it feels like a missed opportunity.

The Continental: From the World of John Wick premieres Friday, September 22. It is comprised of three episodes, each of which release weekly.