John Wick 5: Exploring The Implausibility Of John Wick's Comeback

Luna Greco

5 min read

Post on May 12, 2025

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The Unending Supply of Enemies

Escalating Stakes and Unrealistic Enemy Numbers

The John Wick franchise is built on escalating action sequences and ever-increasing enemy counts. Each film features a seemingly endless supply of adversaries, raising questions about the plausibility of such continuous escalation. How does one man, even one as skilled as John Wick, continue to attract such a vast network of enemies?

• Key Organizations and Individuals: Wick's enemies range from the Russian mafia (Vory v Zakone) in John Wick, the High Table in John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and various individual assassins throughout the series.
• Logistical Challenges: Maintaining such a vast network of enemies requires significant resources, organization, and communication – resources that seem implausible given the clandestine nature of the assassin underworld. How are these organizations consistently able to track and target him?
• Comparison to Other Franchises: While many action franchises feature recurring villains, few maintain the same level of exponentially growing enemy numbers as John Wick. This unique aspect adds to the spectacle but also strains believability.

The High Body Count and its Implications

The sheer number of kills attributed to John Wick and his opponents throughout the films is staggering. The narrative largely ignores the logistical and societal repercussions of such widespread violence. Where do all these bodies go? How does such consistent death and destruction go largely unpunished?

• Improbable Lack of Consequences: The near-absence of significant consequences for the immense violence perpetrated in each film stretches the boundaries of realism. The High Table's power is immense, yet seemingly ineffectual in stopping Wick repeatedly.
• Body Count Comparison: Comparing John Wick's body count to other action films reveals an unusually high number of kills, particularly concerning the sustained nature of the violence across multiple films.

The Physical Impossibility of John Wick's Survival

Accumulated Injuries and Lack of Healing Time

John Wick consistently sustains brutal injuries, from gunshot wounds and stabbings to broken bones and blunt force trauma. Yet, he recovers remarkably quickly, defying the typical healing process for such injuries. This rapid recovery strains believability and ignores the long-term effects of such trauma.

• Significant Injuries: Each film features a litany of significant injuries; from near-fatal gunshot wounds to severe beatings leaving him barely alive.
• Lack of Realistic Healing Time: The films often lack any portrayal of realistic healing processes, showing Wick back in action within impossibly short periods.
• Comparison to Other Action Films: Other action films often acknowledge and address the physical consequences of injuries, showcasing a more realistic recovery period.

Age and Physical Limitations

Keanu Reeves's age is a factor to consider. While his performance remains remarkable, the physical demands placed on his character are immense, and the increasing physical limitations associated with age are largely ignored.

• Impact of Age on Physical Performance: Realistically, the physical capabilities of a man in Keanu Reeves's age range would be significantly different than those portrayed in the films.
• Realistic Limitations of Aging on Combat Prowess: The sustained, high-level combat showcased in the films ignores the realistic limitations placed on aging combatants.

Narrative Suspension of Disbelief and the Limits of the Franchise

The Importance of Believability in Action Cinema

While action films rely on a degree of suspension of disbelief, maintaining a believable narrative is crucial for audience engagement. The increasing implausibility of John Wick's survival could potentially affect the franchise's long-term success.

• Balance Between Spectacle and Storytelling: The John Wick films skillfully blend action spectacle with a compelling narrative. However, the increasing implausibility threatens to upset this balance.
• Impact of Implausibility on Immersion: Excessive implausibility risks breaking the audience's immersion, diminishing the overall impact of the action sequences.

The Future of the Franchise and the Need for a More Plausible Narrative

The continued success of the John Wick franchise relies on striking a balance between over-the-top action and a believable narrative. Maintaining the current level of implausibility might ultimately hinder its long-term prospects.

• Addressing Implausibility: Future installments could benefit from addressing the accumulating improbabilities, perhaps by introducing elements that explain Wick's resilience, or by scaling back the sheer volume of enemies and the extent of the violence.
• Potential Narrative Directions: Exploring alternative narrative approaches, focusing on strategic challenges or psychological aspects, rather than pure physical combat, could enhance the plausibility and longevity of the franchise.

Conclusion

John Wick's continued survival, while undeniably entertaining, is increasingly improbable. The sheer number of enemies, the unrealistic recovery from injuries, and the lack of consequences for widespread violence challenge the believability of the narrative. Maintaining this level of implausibility risks diminishing audience engagement and the franchise's long-term success. What are your thoughts on the escalating implausibility of John Wick's continued survival? Share your opinions on the limits of even the Baba Yaga's resilience in the comments below! Is John Wick's comeback truly sustainable, or has the franchise reached its limits?