John Wick 3: Parabellum: Ending Explained + Spoiler Talk Review

John Wick Chapter 3 Parabellum is finally here and the brand new film in the franchise has a hell of a lot to unpack from it.

Throughout this, I’ll be breaking down everything that you need to know about the movie as well giving my thoughts on it.

This is full spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t seen the film yet and don’t want to have anything about it ruined then I highly suggest that you turn off now.

John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum Plot Recap

The third film in the franchise picks up immediately after John Wick 2, with the titular character trying to escape the streets of New York after gunning down a member of the High Table. Wick has been made Ex-communicado and to make matters worse he now has a $14 million bounty on his head.

Instantly this feels like a huge step up from the prior films with the world’s top ranked assassins now after the character and he truly feels like he’s met his match throughout. After escaping New York through a reconnection to his past and trading in a ticket for safe passage to Casablanca, Wick sets off on a journey to gain penance from the one who sits above the high table, known simply as the Elder.

John Wick: The High Table

Meanwhile, in New York, an Adjudicator of the table has been revisiting those that helped Wick in the prior films and has instructed all of them to vacate their positions within one week. Amongst these are Winston played by Ian McShane and The Bowery King played by Laurence Fishburne, both of whom refuse initially and are later scorned which plays heavily into the ending of the film.

This is because the Adjudicator has hired a man known as Zero, who sees himself as an equal to John, to deal out punishment and this puts the two at odds with The High Table.

Back in Casablanca, Wick meets up with Sofia, played by Halle Berry who owes the character a marker after he successfully managed to get her daughter away from the dangerous life that they lead. Together the two discover the location of the elder in what is probably the best ever dog fight put to the film and another clear indicator that in this universe you definitely shouldn’t hurt animals.

War On Winston

After meeting with the Elder, John is told that his ex-communicado status will be lifted if he returns to the Continental and kills Winston. However, he will have to remain a hitman and will be unable to return to a life without death. Upon arriving at the continental, John agrees to join Winston in a war against the High Table and the Continental devolves into a warzone after it is deconsecrated and no longer listed as a business zone.

This finale is outstanding and I was blown away seeing some of my favourite characters from The Raid franchise getting their own fight scenes against Wick in what is some phenomenal kung fu action.

Eventually, Wick defeats all of The Adjudicators forces including Zero and a parle is called in light of the destruction that has been caused.

John Wick Chapter 4

Now going into this film, I’m, as I’m sure many just assumed that this was the last in the franchise with this being the closing chapter of the story that would in it’s wake leave room for the new TV The Continental to take it’s place.

However, the movie takes a swift turn in the last ten minutes and sets up another film. In light of the parle, Winston is told by the adjudicator that his powers and continental ownership will be reinstated if he stops the war. This is a pretty attractive deal for Winston who simply doesn’t have the numbers to fight wave after wave of High Table forces and thus he accepts. There’s still one loose end though that comes in the form of John and Winston realises that he has to kill the character, or at the very least appear to.

Winston shoots Wick off the Continental which seemingly kills him. You can’t keep this guy down though and after his body cannot be found we cut to Wick being wheeled to the Bowery King who still sits on top of his throne. The character is covered in the cuts that the high table dished out and it’s clear he wants revenge.

Together the two make a pact to take down the High Table once and for all and it’s an amazing set up for the next film in the franchise which will no doubt see Neo and Morpheus teaming up again to take down the High Table.

The Continental TV Series Tie In?

Now, throughout the film you get the feeling that Winston was trying to manipulate the odds in his favour and that he had some control over Wicks fate and likely guessed that he would survive the fall. Similar to Wick he really wants to get rid of the High Table as do many characters in the film including The Director who raised Wick as a child.

With New York joined together as a force they would provide an army that could actually stand against the high table and there are dropped lines throughout the film about how New York would go to war with the group so I can definitely see this happening.

The Continental TV in my eyes would be the perfect vehicle to recruit and introduce all the gangs and whilst Ian McShane has stated that he won’t be appearing in the show, Reeves himself has agreed to be a part of it. Thus this could allow time for us to learn about all the aspects of the city as well as see the army slowly being built that will take down the table.

I really can’t wait to see what they dish up and hopefully, this is the direction that they take as I can see for it making a brilliant show if that’s the route they travel down.

My Review

John Wick just keeps getting better and Chapter 3 is another outstanding action movie from start to finish. This really packs the delectable death humour that you’ve come to expect from the franchise and there were several times I laughed out loud at just how over the top the action was. The choreography on display here is outstanding and every moment feels like ballet playing out with guns.

Every character does a great job with lacing each line of dialogue with subtext and beat for beat this is probably the best film in the franchise if not a close second.

Now, if you didn’t like the first two films you’re not going to like this, but, what the hell is wrong with you? These are some of the best action movies of our generation and Chapter 3 ties the bow on what is an amazing trilogy from start to finish.