Why a brief scene in John Wick: Chapter 2 holds the key to the whole saga

In the John Wick universe, John is not just a man – he is a walking terror, a phantasmagoria that emanated in whispers across shady bars and was dreaded across every sphere of crime. Although this moment is predominant in John Wick: Chapter 2 during a seemingly trivial scene, it is, for the very first time, that the phantasmagoria morphs into reality.

In John Wick (2014), this moment is the reward for a story first told by Viggo Tarasov, who narrates with a mix of awe and horror that John once killed three men in a bar, one of them with a pencil. The pure brutality and absurdity add a scream-like quality to the violence-poster mythology. But in Chapter 2, the legend is no longer legend — it’s canonized in action.

When John is attacked in the Roman catacombs after completing D’Antonio’s task, he grabs a pencil and kills two of the henchmen with it. This moment is precise, harsh, deeply surprising, and savage. Relying on gunfire or martial arts choreography would have been much easier for the filmmakers. But the choice of a pencil portrays a statement by Chad Stahelski, the director: this is the man people have been speaking about. For the first time, the talk is not about John being a legend – it is about us finally witnessing it.

A scene that turns the myth into reality

Though the length of this scene is just a few seconds, the message that it carries is far-reaching throughout the entire movie series. The “Boogeyman,” perhaps, was nothing more than an intimidating story that frightened gangsters used to underline the threats that John was capable of.

Now, the pencil story has become a reality and therefore confirms the credibility of each word in all the gossiped stories and exaggerations.

His turning point is the proof that John has not only come back but that (somehow) he is the myth.

A clear example of this lies in the essence of the John Wick films — they are constructing a whole universe. It’s in the bullets with vivid light and well-coordinated battles that we take notice the filmmakers are rewarding fans who follow the storyline closely.

By sowing the first and reaping the fruit in later movies, Stahelski and writer Derek Kolstad are creating a story that is not only legible but also carries deeper meaning — even in the tiniest lines of dialogue. The pencil kill is not just a good thing to watch. The pencil kill is the changeless story that begins, continues, and ends in the same state.

The moment John can’t turn back from

What is special about the pencil scene is that it depicts not only a great combat moment but also John's decision to return to the lifestyle he abandoned.

When John executes the blood marker Santino requested, he thinks he is doing it because it will ultimately buy his freedom. But as soon as the marker is signed off and he is deceived, the reward on his head commences a fierce attack from every hitman in the world.

No longer in charge of his decisions, John Wick is forced back into a world that does not want to let him go. In this sense, the pencil scene is the embodiment of the shift — John is no longer just someone who improvises. Instead, he has become that persistent and powerful force that the syndicate respects and fears.

There is no turning back to a peaceful life anymore. After the myth takes control, John Wick, the man, starts to lose his identity, and Baba Yaga really steps into his place.

A kill that echoes through the rest of the series

From this scene, it is clear that every other act in the saga is, in some way, influenced by the fate of John. As John embarks on Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the struggle for his life becomes more and more intense. Now John is not only escaping his pursuers, but he is also fleeing the world where his history turned into legend.

By the time he gets to Chapter 4, John is not just faced with assassins but also the High Table — the very core of the power structure. Without the pencil scene placing John in the role of something much more than a regular human, none of this would have been accepted or convincing.

It's a kill that is not a feature film, but the whole idea is so powerful that it's actually a confirmation. The message to the public is that the legends are indeed true. The Boogeyman really does exist. And the pencil is still with him.

Conclusion: A throwaway moment with franchise-defining power

A scene such as John Wick's pencil scene would be just a simple trick in other action franchises. But in John Wick, it is not just a well-planned and crucial moment. It is the link that transfers the first film's calm wrath to the second film's rich myth. This confirms that the reputation John has is completely deserved and also shows exactly when things went totally wrong.

So, when the audience is raving about the specific reason for which John Wick is so extraordinary, the suits, the guns, the stunts, or the dogs might be what they talk about. Yet, the pencil? That is exactly where the story concludes — and the legend begins.