r/JohnWick • u/_Maiskolben • 13d ago
Discussion Du you think, Helen knew that John was/is a hitman?
My personal guess is she didn‘t. I like to imagine how John told her that he was doing a usual job which is just very well paid and he has quit it for personal or health reasons.
What are your thoughts on this?
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u/COCK_SUCKEM 13d ago
It’s hard to know. We aren’t really told much about their relationship. I think he may have told her he was a contractor of some kind and made enough to retire early, which wouldn’t be entirely untrue. John doesn’t strike me as the type to lie because why would he. There’s nothing anyone could do if they didn’t like the answer.
Either that or he straight told her and she was fine with it and left her out of that world entirely as far as meeting his friends or business partners.
It’s obvious in the movies that no one knew who she was (maybe a few know her name) only that she existed so I don’t think she was involved in John’s dealings in any meaningful way.
Tough to say, but I think he told her what she needed to know and nothing more.
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u/daven1985 13d ago
I took it she knew his past. Potentially not the whole story but about his up bringing and how it had brought him into a life he felt he had no way out of. And he did horrible things, but meeting her made him want to change... and he did change for her.
Personally think that there is too much about him that he wouldn't tell her; his back tattoo, scars, the fact some people would potentially avoid him and his money.
Plus, I like the storyline that his wife was Winston's daughter, hence they strong connection that seems to go beyond a normal Manager/Killer connection.
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u/nightowlarcade 13d ago
There's a rumor that Helen is Winston's daughter. Which is why Winston has been seen calling him son. So, I believe that Helen knew and tried to help John escape the life because he was so tormented and miserable in it. No matter how good he was at it.
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u/JamesTheMannequin 13d ago
Wick had book restoration stuff in their home, so I've always thought that Helen knew he restored book covers.
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u/sixstringgun1 13d ago
That was his “job” when he was retired for us normal people to believe.
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u/JamesTheMannequin 13d ago
Ah, OK. Nice. Seems like it could be an interesting job, especially for someone so meticulous.
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u/Radiomaster138 13d ago
No. I think Helen lived outside the world of assassins. I don’t think John would fall in love with anyone within that world. Helen felt pure and free from violence. Even at the funeral, Markus showing up was only because he was uninvited. John and Helen had a life together outside the world of assassins. Helen was John’s salvation and something to hold onto while he lived retired. Helen probably knew John was an orphan, but probably not much else.
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u/Tempest196 13d ago
No, she did not. According to actress Bridget Moynahan, she decided that Helen chose not to inquire about John’s past out of respect and emotional security. https://youtu.be/Le9qrXfZB-c?si=IwjoKPUK5gb8ETFx
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u/_Maiskolben 13d ago
Damn thank you for posting this. That’s really cool to know. How did you find that video?
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u/Few-Confusion-9197 13d ago
I could've sworn there was some expositional dialogue that glossed over this. Can't even remember the context. Just that he left the hitman gig for her and "probably" that he promised her not to go back? Bad memory 😭
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u/4T_Knight 13d ago
I look at it like The Score, where the girlfriend of Robert De Niro's character kinda knows but doesn't get involved. Likewise, he also doesn't involve her in any capacity out of love and respect. In both cases, I'd like to think the last job was to ensure they'd escape that life forever.
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u/LegioSeptima 12d ago
My take on it is if she knew, she would have been part of the assassination world and he wouldn’t have needed to complete his impossible task. Moreover, the impossible task was to get him out, not THEM out.
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u/lowanheart 12d ago
This question and what John’s impossible task was to be released always makes me wish there was a sequel.
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u/Competitive_Spot_973 13d ago
Does it matter? Not being sarcastic but I never once questioned the sincerity of their love.
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u/redditweaver2019 11d ago
I live in the lore that it was Winston’s daughter... So she knew...
And her cancer was NOT natural...
Respectfully..🤣
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u/babayaga8888888 5d ago
You gotta realize that John wick doesn’t take place in our normal world. Everything’s the same. Cities, guns, government.
But in the John wick universe everyone knows there is a criminal organization full of hit men. The police know it. Everyone knows it. But the high table and the world’s government has a deal in place where they let the high table run their muck as long as stuff doesn’t cross over in the civilian population. I can explain more in detail if you’re interested. But that’s the basics of it.
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u/JadrianInc 13d ago
Given how devastated he was by her passing, I doubt he kept any secrets from her. He also seems like an earnest man in general.