For fans awaiting the return of Charlize Theron’s immortal warriors, The Old guard 2, now streaming on Netflix, arrives with significant anticipation. Following up the surprise hit of 2020, this sequel brings back the beloved ensemble, including KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, and Luca Marinelli, and introduces powerhouse Uma Thurman as a formidable new threat. However, despite the star power and inherent potential, the film struggles under the weight of “sequel syndrome,” delivering what feels less like a complete story and more like a setup for future installments. This makes for a frustrating viewing experience, especially for audiences conditioned by streaming services to expect resolution or clear continuation points.
The original Old Guard offered a refreshing blend of gritty action and poignant character moments, serving as a welcome escape during its release. It successfully introduced Andy (Theron) and her ancient team, along with the newcomer Nile (Layne), leaving just enough threads dangling to hint at future adventures. The sequel, helmed by Victoria Mahoney, taking over directing duties from Gina Prince-Bythewood, attempts to build on this foundation but falters significantly in its execution.
A Story Cut Short: The Frustrating Non-Ending
Perhaps the most striking and widely criticized aspect of The Old Guard 2 is its baffling lack of a proper conclusion. Approximately eighty minutes into the roughly 105-minute runtime, as plotlines involving fractured teams, facing extinction, and a looming confrontation with the villain Discord converge, the movie abruptly ends. This isn’t a traditional cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more from a satisfying standalone film; it feels like the narrative simply stops mid-climax, promising a resolution that may or may not ever arrive.
In an era dominated by franchise filmmaking and multi-part stories, audiences are accustomed to sagas like Mission: Impossible or Dune that clearly signal their multi-film nature. You know resolution is coming later. The Old Guard 2 offers no such clarity, leaving viewers surprised and potentially angered that they’ve just watched what amounts to a feature-length prologue. This decision feels particularly jarring on a platform like Netflix, where viewers are used to seamless transitions to the next episode or film. The movie’s greatest failing is this unresolved ending, which actively undermines any enjoyment derived from the preceding scenes. It’s a gamble that leaves the audience feeling cheated rather than excited for what’s next.
Sequel Syndrome and Narrative Inertia
Beyond the ending, The Old Guard 2 suffers from a pervasive sense of narrative inertia. The film feels stretched thin, more concerned with laying groundwork for a potential third movie than telling a cohesive story in its own right. While the opening sequence is a lively, well-staged action set piece – featuring a classic James Bond-esque car chase for the charismatic duo Nicky (Marinelli) and Joe (Kenzari) alongside hand-to-hand combat for Andy, Nile, and Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) – this initial energy quickly dissipates.
The plot delves into Andy’s newfound mortality, the supposed “science” behind losing her powers (which critics found convoluted), and the return of Quynh (Vân Veronica Ngô), Andy’s former comrade who endured centuries of imprisonment underwater. Quynh, understandably filled with resentment, aligns with Discord and represents a significant emotional threat to Andy. However, the film gets bogged down in increasingly tedious explorations of time, death, and convoluted lore drops. Instead of focusing on the compelling character dynamics or delivering consistent action, the middle section drags, turning the movie into something you might easily tune in and out of. Subplots feel like “artificial bloat,” disrupting the already uneven pace and highlighting the film’s preoccupation with “aggressive sequel baiting.”
Disappointing Action and Character Potential
A key draw of the Old Guard franchise is its action. While the opening sequence provides a promising start, the subsequent fight choreography and execution are disappointing. Even anticipated confrontations, such as the potential clash between Theron’s Andy and Thurman’s Discord (likened by some to a “Bride” vs. “Furiosa” showdown) or the emotionally charged reunion battle between Andy and Quynh, fail to land with impact. Critics noted issues like jittery editing and disjointed camera work diminishing the spectacle of immortal-versus-immortal combat. These technical flaws prevent the fights from becoming the operatic set pieces they should be, sometimes even exhibiting continuity problems.
Uma Thurman as Discord is presented as the main antagonist, claiming to be the very first immortal and possessing knowledge that could shatter the team’s existence. While Thurman has a menacing screen presence and delivers a “mighty good scowl,” the movie seems to be saving her “big moment” for a later installment. This relegates her role, and the anticipated conflict with Andy, to feeling like an “undercard” compared to the more compelling, emotionally charged tension between Andy and Quynh. The dynamic between Andy and Quynh, fueled by centuries of “festering fury and unresolved emotional damage,” is arguably the film’s emotional core, rooted in themes of betrayal, silence, and longing. Yet, even this promising arc is hampered by the film’s larger structural issues and desire to set up future events.
Standouts and Missed Opportunities
Amidst the film’s shortcomings, some elements do stand out. Matthias Schoenaerts returns as Booker, the immortal exiled at the end of the first film, and critics singled him out for bringing “some real pathos” to the proceedings. The dynamic between the openly gay couple Nicky and Joe remains a highlight, providing moments of warmth and unwavering loyalty, though even their subplot is sometimes viewed as contributing to the film’s unevenness.
However, the film misses opportunities to fully explore the rich themes it introduces, such as Andy’s struggle with mortality, the weight of centuries, guilt, and redemption. Instead of deep diving into these concepts, the narrative often feels shallow, glossing over potential emotional depth in favor of plot mechanics designed purely to advance the franchise.
Overall Assessment and Rating
The Old Guard 2 is a frustratingly incomplete sequel. While it boasts a talented cast and a concept ripe with potential, its decision to end abruptly mid-climax is a significant misstep that leaves the audience feeling unsatisfied. Combined with uneven pacing, disappointing action sequences after the opening, and a focus on sequel setup over cohesive storytelling, the film feels like a step down from its predecessor.
It functions more as a “middling bridge” or a “feature-length prologue” to a trilogy that hasn’t yet justified its existence. Despite glimpses of strong ideas and performances (particularly Schoenaerts), the film dissolves into a “background movie” that fails to be a fully realized or emotionally satisfying experience on its own.
The Old Guard 2, a Netflix release, is rated R for sequences of graphic violence and some language. It has a running time of 105 minutes. Based on its significant flaws and lack of resolution, it earns a rating of 2 out of 4 stars. Audiences in 2025 deserved a complete movie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are reviews calling The Old Guard 2 “half a movie”?
Many reviews describe The Old Guard 2 as feeling incomplete because it ends very abruptly near its climax. Instead of providing resolution to its main plot threads or a clear setup for the next chapter, the film simply stops, leaving the audience feeling like they have only watched the first part of a larger story without prior warning or the satisfaction of a concluded narrative arc for this specific film.
How does The Old Guard 2 compare to the first film?
Most reviews indicate that The Old Guard 2 is a step down in quality compared to the first movie. While the original was praised for its action and character dynamics, the sequel is criticized for uneven pacing after a strong opening, disappointing action sequences, a tedious middle section, and its fundamental issue of lacking a complete ending.
Who is Uma Thurman’s character Discord in The Old Guard 2?
Uma Thurman plays the character named Discord, who is introduced as the primary antagonist in The Old Guard 2. She claims to be the very first immortal, preceding Andy and the others, and possesses knowledge that could potentially dismantle the team’s existence and purpose. However, her major confrontation with Andy is largely deferred, leaving her role feeling somewhat limited in this particular film.
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