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Warning: The following article contains spoilers for John Wick: Chapter 4. John Wick: Chapter 4 director Chad Stahelski explains how the film’s dog scene brings the franchise full circle. During the film’s climax, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) and Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson) are at odds with each other, with Mr. Nobody accepting a contract from the Marquis de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård) to kill Wick for $40 million. However, Wick saves Mr. Nobody’s dog from Chidi (Marko Zaror), who was on the verge of killing it. Because of this, Mr. Nobody gives up on his quest to kill Wick, and orders his dog to kill Chidi instead.
In an interview with The Wrap, Stahelski explains why this particular John Wick: Chapter 4 scene was important. After discussing how the first film killing Wick’s dog served as a catalyst for subsequent events in the franchise, Stahelski states that Wick saving Mr. Nobody’s dog brings the franchise to a full circle arc, because John redeems himself in front of the character and shows his humanity. Check out what he says on the matter below:
We thought it was a genius idea to get inside a character by using the puppy. It’s much like looking at a love interest or a child or a newborn or anything that projects innocence and purity. That’s how you get a reflection of who the guy really is. If we didn’t put a puppy in the first one, he’s just a killing machine. Yes, it’s a bummer that his wife died of natural causes. But there is no one out there that questions the catharsis or the catalyst that starts that rage when the puppy dies. It’s not about keeping the dog gag alive in “John Wick.” If I don’t do that dog gag with him saving the dog with Shamier [Anderson, who plays a mysterious figure known as The Tracker] looking on… That one moment let you know who John is, who Shamier is, what their relationship is. It’s so much more than just a dog gang. It’s like, “You were my f–ing brother. And if nothing else, you’re a f–ing dog lover and f–k this guy that hurt this dog.” When Chidi dies, you f–ing cheer. The entire movie is meant for that one moment. All three films build up to that moment, when John chooses to save a dog. That’s redemption over four films right there. That’s why.
Dogs Are An Important Part Of The John Wick Franchise
Since the first John Wick, Stahelski has greatly emphasized dogs, making them an integral part of the franchise. The first film starts with the killing of Wick’s dog, which brings him back to the world he left behind after marrying his wife. His dog was his wife’s dying wish. To avenge his pet’s death, Wick went on a killing rampage and got on the High Table’s radar, which also set up the events of John Wick: Chapter 2.
In John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Wick reunites with Sofia Al-Azwar (Halle Berry), who has her own army of dogs that attack under her command. The film has an action set piece where Wick and Sofia fight alongside each other, with her dogs integral to the action. Inadvertently, this scene sets up the character of Mr. Nobody in John Wick: Chapter 4, since he is a tracker who uses his dog to track Wick and to attack people who stand in his way.
Wick has always appreciated the company of dogs, whether it was Daisy in the original or Mr. Nobody’s dog in John Wick: Chapter 4. He knows firsthand how important they are to people, as he experienced it with his own dog until she was taken from him. That’s why it was vital for him to save Mr. Nobody’s dog, which in turn earned him the trust of the tracker leading up to the duel between Wick and de Gramont, making it a truly impactful plot point after all.
Source: The Wrap
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