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Mon: Hello and welcome to a new episode of Stereo Geeks! Today, we’re discussing the Netflix sequel, The Old Guard 2. I’m Mon. 

Ron: And I’m Ron. This is going to be a spoiler-filled review. So, if you haven’t watched the film yet, check it out, and then come back for the review. 

Mon: Before we start our episode, we would like to acknowledge that the land we are recording on is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Ron: While we are making this land acknowledgement, we understand that this is not enough and that positive action is required by the people of Canada to make substantive change for the Indigenous nations and communities whose lands we now reside on.

[Music]

Mon: It’s been a long wait, but The Old Guard 2 is finally here. 

Ron: Can you believe the first film came out in 2020?

Mon: I mean, where have these 5 years gone? 

Ron: I know right. At least we got this film! It wasn’t looking good for a bit. The Old Guard is adapted from the Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández comic book series.

Ron: The film stars Charlize Theron as Andromache, or Andy, largely believed to be the oldest immortal on Earth. Andy, that is, not Theron. Also returning is Kiki Layne as the newest immortal, Nile Freeman, former soldier. Among the returning cast are Matthias Schoenaerts as Booker, Marwan Kenzari as Joe, and Luca Marinelli as Joe’s partner Nicky. Veronica Ngo is back as Andy’s long-lost love, Quynh. Chiwetel Ejiofor also returns as non-immortal Copley. 

Mon: Joining the cast are Henry Golding as Tuah, based on the legendary Malaysian folk hero, Hang Tuah. And the new villain, Discord, is played by Uma Thurman.

Ron: We do have some changes behind the scenes unfortunately. Gina Prince-Bythewood didn’t return to direct the sequel. Instead, Victoria Mahoney takes the reins. She’s done a fair amount of TV work and that skill transfers well into this film, giving us a lot of time to explore character dynamics. Sarah L Walker also joins the writing team this time around. 

Mon: The Old Guard 2 sees Andy and her team face a new adversary who’s out to destroy all immortals. Andy will need to bring in an old friend to take down this new foe, all while trying to survive as a new mortal. There’ll be distrust, redemption, and unexpected revelations along the way. 

Mon: I really enjoyed watching this film. I know I was dying to see these characters again, so maybe I’m biased. But I had so much fun. What did you like about the film?

Ron: I have to start with the action scenes in Old Guard 2. They were engrossing. I thought the first film had very slow action sequences. That was the style for that film and it worked for where the characters were at that time. This film is much more energetic and frenetic. But at no point did I feel lost during the fight scenes.

Mon: Absolutely agreed. I really struggled with the action scenes in the first film – the pacing was really off. But this time around, the fights and the edits had a purpose to them. 

Ron: There’s also a oner, or a one-shot take, that I’m still thinking about. 

Mon: Oh, that oner! I didn’t know I needed that in a film. So touching. 

Ron: We’re talking about the scene in Rome where Andy is going to see Quynh after 5 centuries. As she’s walking to the square, she travels back through the eras she’s lived and recalls her memories with the team. I loved that scene and I want more of it. The reason why this scene worked was because Andy is walking to the reason for her unending guilt but she’s actually remembering all the people she’s found along the way. Loved it!

Mon: Well put. 

Ron: We have to talk about the set decoration in this film. That opening sequence? I know the set decorators had a ball putting that mansion together. Every single piece of art, sculpture, topiary was more outrageous than the last. It was so much fun to see. 

Mon: I love that we kick off with a cool action scene, but the personality of the film comes through from this absolutely outrageous art. I really think that’s what got us so hooked and immersed in the film. Yes, we were already invested, but when you spend a good ten minutes laughing about the set decoration being so gaudy, you know you’re in for an authentically silly ride. 

Ron: I think you’re right. From the neon pink garden statues to the purple horses and that blindingly blue room. How can you not want to see more of that world?

Mon: Exactly. And the set decor wonders didn’t end there. Tuah’s library. I could hide there. It looked so warm and cozy. 

Ron: So peaceful! And yet, high tech. I enjoyed that mix of ancient and modern.

Mon: I would have loved even more scenes in there. It reminded me of being in the Turkish Basilica Cistern. I loved that place. 

Ron: Can we also talk about how this film ends on a cliffhanger? I didn’t expect that. I was coasting through and then suddenly, end credits!

Mon: I thought the film would conclude the story as well. I was surprised to see it end with the entire team, sans Andy, taken hostage by Discord. Now it’s just Andy, once again immortal, and Quynh, who’s become mortal again. 

Ron: Quynh losing her immortality was so sad! 

Mon: I know. But that last scene between Andy and Quynh? The chemistry was popping! I can’t wait to see these two fight alongside each other. 

Ron: Yeah! The queer chemistry in The Old Guard 2 is undeniable.

Ron: Having said that, we didn’t get enough of all the characters this time around. Mainly because of the shorter runtime but also because the film was focused on Andy. 

Mon: We did not. And I 100% blame the shorter runtime. It’s very obvious that this was only half the movie. I don’t quite get the thinking behind that.

Ron: Ok wait. What do you mean by that? 

Mon: Well, this is my theory, anyway. I think the creative team wanted to guarantee a third film, so they sort of only gave us half the story. 

Ron: Go on.

Mon: Listen, I don’t mind the focus on Andy and Quynh. But why only focus on them, when the first film fleshed out all our heroes? Surely the creative team knew how much the fans loved the whole team. But there’s no development for the rest of the team here. And we didn’t get much of Discord either. 

Ron: We got the crux of her mission though.

Mon: Yeah, and she makes a compelling, if selfish, argument. But is that it for her? I don’t think so. 

Ron: Now, you say that. But we don’t know if the source material is like that. Maybe that’s why the story is thin for the rest of the characters, and for Discord.

Mon: That’s a fair point. But, as much as I really loved this film, I do feel like we didn’t get the full product. Nile was like a passenger in this film. And all the lads, they sort of disappear for swathes of the story. I really missed that ensemble, team-feeling of the first film. 

Ron: Yeah, the balance is off. We get a lot of story for Andy and Quynh, and the film builds up the lore and plot. But the rest of the cast are simply pieces in a puzzle. I really felt Nile’s absence, especially since she was the driving force of the first film.  

Mon: Yes. Which kinda sucks, because I had so much fun watching this film!

Ron: Oh, totally. This film was incredibly fun even without the focus on the entire cast. But, at least Booker got an arc.

Mon: I know. I’m so glad. I wanna rewatch both films to really appreciate his arc. 

Ron: Yes. At first I didn’t trust him but he won me over. He and Andy have a strong bond and I liked that he gave up his immortality to her. She’s the leader and the oldest. And he betrayed them. It was the right thing to do.

Mon: Yes, sadly he couldn’t enjoy his mortality for long. But his sacrifice was for a good cause. 

Ron: While this film is implicitly queer, I wanted some more romantic moments. It’s a bit hard with Andy and Quynh being on opposing sides, of course. 

Mon: That’s what I thought as well. They’re so stabby throughout most of the film.

Ron: We do get some lovely dialogue between Joe and Nicky when they’re planning to head to the nuclear facility, and possible death. But there isn’t anything like that impassioned scene in the first film where Joe yells at those guards about how important Nicky is to him.

Mon: We’re biased though. We really wanted more of Joe and Nicky. They did steal all our hearts the first time around. Obviously, we were expecting more of that in this film. 

Ron: So true. 

Mon: I have another quibble. I did not like Charlize Theron’s wig in this film. It did not look right. 

Ron: The wig wasn’t a problem. The makeup was. Theron already looks ageless. Why was there so much foundation on her?

Mon: I noticed that too. She couldn’t emote that well with so much foundation. 

Ron: I was wondering whether they CGI-ed her face but there is no need. Let the woman have a couple of lines on her face. 

Mon: For some scenes, there was definitely CGI. Something was up. 

Ron: Now. One of the criticisms I’m seeing from other critics is that the final boss fight between Andy and Discord wasn’t as epic. That it was too short. 

Mon: No. You’re kidding. 

Ron: That’s what I’ve been seeing. And, I have to disagree with it because that’s the whole point of a film that’s going into a sequel. This wasn’t the final showdown. It was merely a teaser for what will come next when Andy and Discord meet again! Don’t people understand how stories work anymore?

Mon: Ok, that’s just a frustrating critique. I liked that duel. The film has issues, but a surprise mini boss fight isn’t it. Andy’s panicking about her team; Discord is reeling from being thrown out of a chopper–obviously they’re not at their best. It’s a stop-gap fight. Not the story-ending fight. That’s for part 3.

Mon: Which brings me to… we had better get a third installment. I don’t care what anyone says, we can’t end the story like this. The whole team has been captured. They’re going to be killed. Will Andy get them back? What will happen to her and Quynh? Will we feel sorry for Discord? There’s so much we need to know. 

Ron: So many questions. But I absolutely loved this film. I loved being back in this world. I adore these characters, and the new ones are excellent additions. It feels like they were always here. This was so immersive. We kept talking to the characters onscreen. I only wish it had more. More story. More character moments. A longer runtime. But that’s because I wanted to spend more time with the Old Guard. Dare I hope we get a trilogy? Especially with that cliffhanger!

Mon: Netflix loves incomplete stories, but I’m really hoping The Old Guard 2 isn’t one of them.