Michael Finch clearly lays out the explanations for each side dealing with off towards one another: “Caine is there for his daughter — to avoid wasting his daughter, John Wick has to die. John is there to attempt to work out easy methods to free himself of John Wick.” 

The quiet intimacy of the scene, happening towards the backdrop of the imposing church structure, is a fast break from the motion to mirror on the morality of those characters, and provides an opportunity for “these two guys … to sit down down for a second and never should be combating,” Finch explains. He elaborates that the interplay “simply speaks to how this whole franchise exists in a grey space with deep shadows.” 

Identical to the secrecy of the fantastical underworld, “nothing is because it seems” and the characters’ causes for his or her violence is “not so simple as you suppose it’s.” These two assassins make use of brutal strategies, however their strict honor code and love for his or her households makes them endearing and provides them a heroic depth — a crucial step for including weight to their battle, and establishing the emotional payoff that happens through the ensuing duel.