Five years after The Old Guard (2020) captivated audiences with its fresh take on the superhero genre, The Old Guard 2 arrived on Netflix on July 2, 2025, reigniting the saga of immortal warriors led by Andromache “Andy” of Scythia (Charlize Theron). Directed by Victoria Mahoney and based on Greg Rucka’s comic series, the sequel builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor, expanding the lore, introducing new characters, and grappling with the emotional and philosophical complexities of immortality. While the first film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, stood out for its soulful action and groundbreaking queer representation, The Old Guard 2 shifts gears with a darker, more introspective tone, though it struggles to match the original’s emotional resonance. This article analyzes how The Old Guard 2 connects to and diverges from the first film, exploring its narrative, character arcs, and the controversial cliffhanger ending that sets the stage for a potential third installment.

The Legacy of The Old Guard (2020)

The Old Guard (2020) was a revelation when it debuted on Netflix, becoming one of the platform’s most popular original films, with 78 million households streaming it in its first four weeks. Adapted from Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández’s comic series, it introduced a team of immortal mercenaries led by Andy, a 6,000-year-old warrior who, alongside Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicky (Luca Marinelli), Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), and later Nile (KiKi Layne), fought to protect humanity. The film’s strength lay in its blend of gritty action, emotional depth, and a unique mythology: these immortals could heal from any injury but could lose their immortality at any moment, a twist revealed when Andy stops healing.

The first film’s narrative centered on the team’s discovery by ex-CIA operative James Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who exposed them to a pharmaceutical tycoon, Merrick (Harry Melling), intent on exploiting their immortality. The team’s fight to remain hidden was complicated by Booker’s betrayal, driven by his desire to end his eternal suffering, and the revelation that Quynh (Veronica Ngô), Andy’s ancient companion, was trapped in an iron maiden at the bottom of the sea, drowning and reviving for 500 years. The film ended with two pivotal cliffhangers: Booker’s exile for 100 years as punishment for his betrayal, and Quynh’s unexpected appearance in Paris, setting up her return. These threads—Andy’s mortality, Booker’s exile, and Quynh’s survival—form the backbone of The Old Guard 2, shaping its plot and character dynamics.

The Old Guard 2: Plot and Connections to the First Film

The Old Guard 2 picks up six months after the events of the first film, with Andy, now mortal, leading Joe, Nicky, Nile, and Copley on a mission in Split, Croatia, to retrieve a weapons cache from a garish villa owned by arms smuggler Konrad (Slavko Sobin). The opening sequence, with its neon-lit aesthetic and swift editing, contrasts with the first film’s more grounded settings, signaling a shift in tone under Mahoney’s direction. The mission is a success, but the team faces new challenges: Andy’s struggle with her newfound mortality, Nile’s dreams of a mysterious woman named Discord (Uma Thurman), and the re-emergence of Quynh, who has been freed from her underwater prison by Discord, an ancient immortal with a vendetta against humanity.

The sequel directly ties to the first film’s epilogue, where Quynh’s return hinted at unresolved tensions with Andy. In The Old Guard 2, Quynh’s 500 years of torment have turned her into a vengeful force, aligning with Discord to challenge Andy’s team. This mirrors the comic’s second volume, The Old Guard: Force Multiplied, where Quynh (named Noriko in the comics) returns with a shifted allegiance, though the film introduces Discord as a new character exclusive to its continuity. Another key connection is Booker’s arc. Exiled for his betrayal in the first film, he is abducted by Quynh in Paris, setting up a redemption storyline that culminates in a sacrificial act.

The introduction of Tuah (Henry Golding), an immortal archivist who has cataloged the history of their kind, deepens the lore established in the first film. Tuah’s revelation that the last immortal (Nile) can strip others of their immortality by wounding them adds a new layer to the mythology, validating Booker’s sacrifice to restore Andy’s immortality. This plot point echoes the first film’s theme of unpredictable immortality, where Andy’s loss of powers was a shock, and sets up the sequel’s climactic confrontation at an Indonesian nuclear facility, where Discord aims to purge immortals.

Character Dynamics: Evolution and Challenges

Andy and Quynh: A Fractured Bond

The emotional core of The Old Guard 2 lies in the fractured relationship between Andy and Quynh, a dynamic teased in the first film’s flashbacks. Their centuries-long companionship, hinted at as romantic in the comics and subtly in the first film, is explored through a poignant scene where Andy walks through alleys that transform into ancient Rome, leading to a choreographed fight that speaks volumes about their shared pain. However, critics note that the film doesn’t fully delve into their bond’s complexity, leaving their potential romantic history “Hays Code-level homoerotic” rather than explicit, a step back from the first film’s groundbreaking queer representation with Joe and Nicky.

Andy’s mortality, established at the end of the first film, remains a central struggle. Charlize Theron delivers a commanding performance, balancing Andy’s angst with her physical prowess, though the script doesn’t give her enough psychological depth to explore her human vulnerabilities. Quynh’s anger at being abandoned, despite Andy’s centuries-long search, drives their conflict, culminating in a moment of tentative reconciliation when Quynh chooses not to detonate Discord’s bomb. This sets up a potential alliance in a third film, mirroring the comics’ focus on their evolving relationship.

Nile and Discord: A New Dynamic

Nile, introduced as a new immortal in the first film, takes a backseat in The Old Guard 2, a disappointment given KiKi Layne’s compelling performance in 2020. Her dreams of Discord, who reveals that she and Nile are the first and last immortals, tie her to the sequel’s expanded lore. Discord’s plan to use Nile to strip the team’s immortality introduces a fresh antagonist, but Uma Thurman’s limited screen time feels like a missed opportunity, with critics describing her role as “akin to a cameo.” The first film established Nile as a moral anchor, but the sequel relegates her to a reactive role, lacking the growth seen in her initial arc.

Joe and Nicky: Underutilized Heart

Joe and Nicky, the first film’s beloved queer couple, were a highlight for their heartfelt romance, a rarity in action films. Their “he’s not my boyfriend, he’s all and he’s more” scene resonated deeply with audiences. In The Old Guard 2, their dynamic is sidelined, with only one significant scene showcasing their bond. Critics lament the sequel’s near-excision of their queerness, a stark contrast to the first film’s bold representation. Their darkly comedic moments, like recovering from grisly injuries, add levity, but their underuse is a notable flaw.

Booker and Copley: Redemption and Support

Booker’s arc is one of the sequel’s strengths, building on his betrayal and exile in the first film. His reconnection with the team and eventual sacrifice to restore Andy’s immortality provide emotional weight, with Matthias Schoenaerts delivering a soulful performance. Copley, who transitioned from antagonist to ally in the first film, remains a supportive figure but is underutilized, with Chiwetel Ejiofor’s talent largely wasted.

Action and Direction: A Shift in Tone

The first film’s action, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, was celebrated for its stylish flair and emotional grounding, with sequences in deserts and cramped planes showcasing the immortals’ resilience. The Old Guard 2, under Victoria Mahoney, opts for a zippier, more straightforward approach, with a neon-lit heist opening and a standout Andy-Quynh fight. However, Mahoney’s reliance on shaky-cam aesthetics and less polished choreography diminishes the impact compared to the first film’s elegance. Theron’s stunt work, including a helicopter sequence, raises the bar, but the action feels “decent but unremarkable.”

The sequel’s pacing, at 97 minutes (excluding credits), is notably shorter than the 125-minute original, leading to a rushed narrative that critics call a “panicked rush to wrap things up.” This contrasts with the first film’s patient, atmospheric storytelling, which lingered on emotional details. The shift from Prince-Bythewood’s soulful direction to Mahoney’s broader style reflects a trade-off: The Old Guard 2 gains energy but loses the original’s depth.

Lore Expansion and Cliffhanger Controversy

The Old Guard 2 deepens the mythology introduced in the first film, particularly through Tuah’s library and the revelation about Nile’s potential to strip immortality. The first film hinted at a vast history through flashbacks of Andy and Quynh, and the sequel builds on this by exploring Discord’s ancient grudge and the mechanics of immortality transfer. However, the introduction of new characters like Discord and Tuah feels underdeveloped, with critics noting that the script juggles too much without fully exploring these elements.

The film’s cliffhanger ending, where Discord escapes with Nile and the team, leaving Andy and Quynh to plan a rescue, has sparked debate. Unlike the first film’s setup for Quynh’s return, this cliffhanger feels “heinous” and “shoddily unfinished,” with no confirmed third film to resolve it. Producer Marc Evans hinted at a trilogy in 2023, but Netflix’s lack of confirmation leaves fans frustrated, drawing comparisons to the incomplete Divergent series. Posts on X reflect mixed sentiment, with some praising the expanded lore and others decrying the unresolved plot.

Critical Reception and Franchise Future

The Old Guard 2 has received mixed reviews, with a 23% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 83 critics, a sharp decline from the first film’s 80%. Despite this, it topped Netflix’s global charts with 37.5 million views in its first week, indicating strong audience interest. Critics praise Theron’s commanding presence and moments like the Andy-Quynh fight but criticize the rushed pacing, underdeveloped characters, and cliffhanger. Some, like What’s On Netflix, call it “surprisingly brilliant” for its ambition, while others, like The Guardian, label it a “franchise-killer.”

The first film’s cultural impact was fleeting but significant, offering a fresh take on superheroes with its queer romance and existential themes. The Old Guard 2 struggles to maintain this, with a less cohesive narrative and a reliance on setting up a third film that may never materialize. Posts on X highlight fans’ desire for more historical glimpses of the immortals, a strength of the first film that the sequel only briefly delivers.

Conclusion: A Flawed but Ambitious Sequel

The Old Guard 2 builds on the first film’s foundation by deepening the lore and exploring Andy’s mortality and Quynh’s return, but it falls short of the original’s emotional and stylistic heights. The connections—Booker’s redemption, Quynh’s vengeance, and the immortality transfer—tie the films together, but the sequel’s rushed pacing and cliffhanger ending frustrate viewers. Theron remains the heart of the franchise, with standout moments like the Andy-Quynh fight echoing the first film’s emotional depth. While The Old Guard (2020) was a beacon in a pandemic-era summer, The Old Guard 2 is a mixed bag, balancing ambition with flaws. Its future hinges on Netflix’s decision to greenlight a third film, but for now, it leaves fans longing for resolution and the soulful spark of the original. 🌟⚔️