This Forgotten Scene in ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ Secretly Reveals the Franchise’s Most Important Lore

Given the glowing response that John Wickearned when it became such a word-of-mouth sensation, the expectations for a sequel had grown exponentially. The first John Wick film had taken viewers by surprise given its lack of marketing, but John Wick: Chapter 2had to prove itself worthy of continuing that legacy. Although it did not have the same inciting incident that had made the first film such an excellent revenge thriller, John Wick: Chapter 2 expanded the worldbuilding of the saga in exciting ways. The opening scene of John Wick: Chapter 2 ties into an important piece of backstory and shows that John (Keanu Reeves) is trying to find peace as he avoids the other assassins from the High Table.

‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ Homaged an Important Line From the First Film

Despite the mayhem he caused at the end of the first film, John had completed his revenge mission by killing the men that had attacked his home and murdered his dog. Although John has sought peace, he also announced himself to the High Table and must find a way to dissuade other assassins from coming after him. In the first film, Viggo (Michael Nyqvist) mentions that John had been able to dispatch with his enemies by using a pencil, proving that he could turn anything into a weapon if he had to. John Wick: Chapter 2 opens with John using a pencil to dispatch with several criminalswhen he attacks the smuggling compound owned by Viggo’s brother, Abram Tarasov (Peter Stormare). This not only proves that Viggo was not exaggerating when he told the story but shows that John has become aware of how his tactics have turned into legend in the world of assassins.

John proves that he is just as fearsome as the stories that have been told about him and uses this particular technique to remind the other assassins what he is capable of. However, John only attacks the compound because they threatened him and is trying to impress danger upon them so that they will cease their attacks. John subsequently leaves Abram alive; in addition to the guilt he may have felt after killing multiple members of the same family, John hopes that Abram will spread the story, striking fear into the hearts of other assassins that would consider trying to take him down. Unfortunately, John’s resurgence only makes him more viable for potential employers, as he is subsequently visited by the crime boss Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio), who wants to hire him to carry out an assassination. After John breaks the rules of the High Table at the end of the film, a manhunt for him begins that lasts throughout John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4.

The ‘John Wick’ Franchise Explores Legacy and Legend

John Wick: Chapter 2 shows how John’s skills have become mythologized by the other members of the High Table, as his ruthlessness has made him many enemies. However, it was important for the series to indicate that John isn’t a mindless killer; while he initially thinks that showing his legendary skills will dissuade other assassins from challenging him, it ends up sparking the interest of more accomplished members of the High Table, including Cassian (Common). John may have been a changed man due to his marriage, but he is still in the shadow of his past. Nonetheless, using this particular move does indicate that John is considerate in the techniques that he uses, as the strategic thinking that he employs is one of the reasons why he is such a compelling action hero.

The ridiculousness of the “pencil kill” adds a dark sense of humor to John Wick: Chapter 2, which became a core component of the series going forward; each sequel gets more over-the-top and absurd compared to its predecessor, and John Wick: Chapter 2 was tasked with expanding the world that was only hinted at in the first film. The fact that the viewer is well aware of the fact that Reeves is doing his own stunts only makes this sequence more effective, as the franchise’s dedication to practical choreography is what differentiates it from other franchises. It would be unfair to dismiss John Wick: Chapter 2 as just mindless fun, as the subtlety of the reference shows the attention to detail that makes Chad Stahelski’s direction so terrific.