Although the firstJohn Wickfilm was a straightforward revenge film, it has inspired an epic franchise that has developed its own unique universe filled with assassins, codes, secret organizations, and oaths of chivalry. Within five films, including the latest spinoff,From the World of John Wick: Ballerina,the franchise has established a powerful council known as “the High Table,” which keeps all the other criminal factions in check.The Ruska Roma is a ruthless, secretive criminal organization in Germanyandis responsible for the training of both John Wick(Keanu Reeves) and Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas).
The Ruska Roma in the World of John Wick Connects John and Eve
The Ruska Roma has initiated some of the most powerful characters in the franchise, including Winston (Ian McShane) and Katia Jovonovich (Natalia Tena). Although none of the characters in the franchise couldbe easily classified as “heroes,”the Ruska Roma was able to save both John and Eve when they were orphans and gave them the opportunity to learn skills so they could defend themselves. John eventually switched his allegiance to the Tarasov Mob once he started taking more active assignments, buthe was forced to rely upon the Ruska Roma once more when he was at his most vulnerable.John returns to meet with members of the Ruska Roma at the Tarkovsky Theater inJohn Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellumwhen he is trying to flee New York City after being declared “excommunicado” by the High Table. Although The Director (Anjelica Huston) does provide John with the help that he needs, it is only after he is branded with a painful iron rod, which indicates that he is no longer protected by the Ruska Roma.
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The fortune sure does favor the bold… and John Wick.
The Ruska Roma’s training process isexpanded upon in more detail inBallerina, as it shows how Eve finds solace within the group after her entire family is killed by the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), a high-ranking member of a different criminal group known as “The Cult.” It’s only after working on several missions for the Director that Eve discovers another assassin that bears a tattoo indicating his allegiance to “The Cult,” who have formed a truce with the Ruska Roma. Infuriated,Eve decides to break from the Ruska Roma to carry out her own revenge mission,which forces the Director to intervene; she hires John to track down Eve, even though he has technically been exiled. Although John’s assignment was to kill Eve and prevent a war, he ends up sympathizing with her causeafter realizing that they share a tragic background.
Where Does the Ruska Roma Stand With the High Table?
The war between the Cult and the Ruska Roma is prevented, as John agrees to help Eve until midnight, when he would be forced to fulfill the contract placed on her head. Since Eve is able to kill the Chancellor in time, and John subdues the other cultists,the Director is able to rest easy knowing that a war has been prevented.Nonetheless, she cannot forgive Eve for her betrayal, and once again puts a bounty on her head. However, the Ruska Roma are ultimately drawn back into another conflict during the events ofJohn Wick: Chapter 4, in which Vincent Bisset de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård) orders the death of its new agent, Pytor. Since John is only able to challenge Vincent if he is backed by an official faction,he seeks to be admitted back into the Ruska Roma by connecting with Pytor’s daughter, Katia.
Katia accepts John back into the Ruska Roma after he kills Killa Harkan (Scott Adkins), the German nightclub owner that Vincent had sent to kill Pytor.John is redeemed in the eyes of the Ruska Romaand given a new brand on his arm that shows that he has been re-accepted; the Ruska Roma serves as the family that John officially represents when he duels Vincent in Paris. It’s yet to be revealed how the Ruska Roma will be changed under the new structure of the High Table, but ifBallerinaends up being a big enough successat the box office to inspire a sequel, it’s likely that the group’s further exploits and feud with Eve will be explored in more detail.
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
A young female assassin seeks revenge against the people who killed her family.
