You know the work of Guy Ritchie when you see it. With flashy opening titles, intercuts, notes and captions written on screen, unorthodox dialogue delivery by eccentric characters, and generally fun storytelling, it’s a discernible vibe. The Gentlemen, a follow-up to Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name, checks all those familiar boxes, and currently has the top spot on Netflix as a result.
While the show follows the same general premise of the film, a crime family using the estates of impoverished British aristocrats to house a marijuana empire, the series introduces an entirely new cast of characters, led by the charming Eddie Horniman (Theo James, The White Lotus). Following the death of his father, Eddie leapfrogs his older brother Freddy (Daniel Ings, The Marvels), to become the new Duke of Halstead, discovering his home is in use by the dangerous Glass family and that getting out from under them won’t be easy.
When first introduced to Eddie, we find him cool headed, de-escalating situations while serving his country, an interesting juxtaposition of who he evolves into by show’s end. While he had no intention of becoming wrapped up in the events that unfold, he’s clearly built to handle them, and watching him slowly embrace this new world keeps you engaged. He may be saying that all he wants is out, and everything he does to that end is for his family, but you get the sense that he may have been missing a sense of purpose before and finds it with these forced circumstances. Theo James is a leading man on the rise, and his ability to effortlessly portray confidence and charm serves this project perfectly.
Step for step with Eddie, and more often cleaning up for him, is Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario, The Maze Runner). Her father Bobby (Ray Winstone, Damsel) runs their organization but relies on her and her boxer brother Jack (Harry Goodwins, Sunset Drive) to handle things while he completes his time in a posh prison. Susie is a fixer, using her wits, resources, and the power of her family name to help get Eddie out of some early jams. She’s quick to help because it’s in their best interests to maintain operations on Eddie’s estate, though his screw-up brother Freddy continues to make things impressively difficult. Scodelario is easily the most mesmerizing actor on screen. While lovely and disarming, she can be scary when the situation calls for it, and never allows herself to look rattled.
There is an intensity to The Gentlemen that can catch you off guard at times. While watching the always fantastic and hilarious Daniel Ings comically lose his shit, absurdly flapping around in a chicken costume, or the sweet but dim cannabis expert Chang (Michael Vu, Anuvahood) never having a clue, you get comfortable with a certain tone, then the gravity of a situation or a quick act of violence brings you back. The show isn’t overtly graphic, or especially action-forward, as most of the violence is heard and seen on the faces of other characters witnessing it, but you still feel the effects. It blends dark comedy and dry British humor perfectly.
While the cast is quite the ensemble of familiar faces and bright newcomers, there are some definite standouts that really help keep the show moving.
Giancarlo Esposito has made a name for himself playing some very memorable villains, and he always brings a touch of class to his roles like nobody else can. As Mr. Stanley Johnston (with a “T”), he wishes to buy Halstead, for reasons which gradually become clear. He serves as one of many antagonists that emerge throughout the show, but none are more dignified. There is also a fun nod to his role from Breaking Bad that fans should appreciate.
Vinnie Jones has long been a staple in Guy Ritchie films, so it’s no surprise to see him turn up here, but it is refreshing to see him play a sweeter and more subdued character. As the caretaker of the farm and grounds, he’s fiercely loyal to the Horniman family, especially Lady Sabrina (Joely Richardson, Nip/Tuck) and her daughter Charlotte (Jasmine Blackborow, Marie Antoinette). While he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty or offer advice to Eddie when called upon, it’s more fun to see his love for animals, nursing back to health an eclectic group in his cottage.
Ritchie loves a good caravan, and fans of Snatch will be thrilled with the arrival of JP (Laurence O’Fuarain, The Witcher: Blood Origin) and his merry band of travelers introduced in Episode 5, injecting the show with new life. It’s through his insistence that everyone gets drunk to seal a partnership, and that Eddie and Susie drunkenly make out, the only time their relationship goes in that direction. The energy that he brings is infectious and even worth its own series, though the transporting montage we are treated to is quite fun.
The first half of the season keeps a pretty simple but enjoyable formula, with Eddie finding himself in a comedy of errors and Susie stepping in to assist; then, things progress to see them more as equal partners. In Episode 6, there is a noticeable shift in tone. It’s at this point the show loses a bit of its steam before the finale wraps things up a bit abruptly and unnecessarily.
There are some characters and plot points that seem to be underdeveloped or cast aside entirely, which is strange and disappointing. It’s hard to discern if the series would have been better focused in a tight six episodes, or if it needed 10 to reach a more satisfactory conclusion, but eight clearly wasn’t the magic number. It’s great to see the likes of Dar Salim and Kristofer Hivju pop up on screen, but, given their talent, you would either hope for more of them, or that someone like Joely Richardson would be given the chance to explore her character a bit more.
The Gentlemen succeeds in matching its preceding film’s charm, and in some ways surpasses it, especially when factoring in what Kaya Scodelario’s brings to the show alongside Theo James’ endearing performance. While Ritchie worked with a team of writers and only directed the first two episodes, his imprint is seen and heard throughout, delivering one of the most enjoyable Netflix offerings as of late. If you enjoy his style, you’ll dig this as well. With an ending that welcomes a follow-up season, there are still a lot of stories left to tell with this cast, which will hopefully allow for some of the underwritten characters to have their moments, and allow the great cameos to return as well. Eddie has made some interesting choices about the future of their family, and in accordance with their motto, they are sure to be not without danger.
