There’s a theory going around on Reddit among fans of the John Wick movies that suggests each film in the series represents one of the stages people go through when they’re dealing with grief, due to the loss of a loved one.
John Wick and the first stage: Denial
During the first movie, we see John not really addressing his wife’s death. He isn’t cleaning up his wife’s belongings, like the bracelet we see on her nightstand. John hasn’t accepted his wife’s death yet and tries to go about his life as if nothing has happened. He plays a video of her on the beach repeatedly as if she is still with him that way. We see very little expression of emotion from him, even when he drives his car recklessly at the empty airport.
![John Wick phone video Denial Grief](https://johnwickfanclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/John-wife-wife-300x169.jpg)
John Wick 2 and the second stage: Anger
When you think of John Wick, you think of a calm, cool, and collected hitman, right? That’s why it was so out of character for him to shoot Santino D’Antonio in the Continental blatantly. Anger got the best of John. Although Santino’s actions, like forcing John to kill his friend Gianna D’Antonio, Santino’s sister, and even destroying his home, might have provoked it, it still led to him being excommunicado and facing a world of misery.
![John Wick Santino D'Antonio Grief Anger](https://johnwickfanclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Santino-300x169.jpg)
John Wick 3 and the third stage: Bargaining
In the third movie, we witness the next stage of grief: Bargaining. John reaches out to his former acquaintances in the shadowy underworld for help. He calls upon Sofia, invoking his marker with her. John seeks assistance from Berruda in locating the Elder. Ultimately, he goes to great lengths, even cutting off his finger, to strike a deal with the Elder to save his life.
![John Wick Elder Grief Bargaining](https://johnwickfanclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Elder-John-Wick-300x189.png)
John Wick 4 and the fourth stage: Depression
“In the fourth movie, we see John addressing his wife’s death for the first time. He seeks out a church and takes time to reflect. His conversation with Caine is certainly interesting, to say the least:”
The conversation between Caine and John in the church:
“Caine: Saying goodbyes?
John: Saying hello.
Caine: You think your wife can hear you?
John: No.
Caine: Then why bother?
John: Maybe I’m wrong.
Caine: The dead are gone. Only the living matter.
….
Caine: We are damned you and I.
John: On that we agree.”
The conversation feels quite gloomy. John has never been a ray of sunshine, but there’s so much left unsaid in this scene. He must be thinking about death, feeling helpless, maybe even hopeless. These are all signs of depression. And speaking of hopelessness, imagine trying to climb the ladder in Sacred Coeur, only to be knocked right back down each time you ascend a few more stairs.
![John Wick Grief Depression Sacre Coeur](https://johnwickfanclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JW-sacre-coeur.webp)
John Wick 5 and the final stage: Acceptance
The fifth movie isn’t out yet, but we can make an educated guess about its theme. It’s likely to explore the final stage of grief: acceptance. John is coming to terms with his wife’s death, embracing his destiny as an assassin. He acknowledges that his old life is gone, and he can never get it back. John fully accepts the life of violence and chaos he plays a major role in. He accepts his role as the Baba Yaga. And so John Wick completes all 5 stages of grief.
Want to read more?
There is so much to unpack about the John Wick universe. In fact, that’s why the John Wick Fanclub got started in the first place. For instance, aren’t you curious about the original title of John Wick 4?