‘The Gentlemen’ Returns For A Solid And Surprising Second Season On Netflix
by Tito W. James
After a two-year hiatus, The Gentlemen returns for a solid and surprising second season. English lord Eddie Horniman (Theo James) continues his quest to expand his power and status while getting further embroiled in the volatile criminal underworld. The relationship between Eddie and the Glass crime family is tested when members of the Italian mafia come to England.
The program’s second season feels more Shakespearean and mythological. Mr. Johnston (Giancarlo Esposito) acts like a dark mentor or classic Greek Chorus who explains the symbolic underpinnings behind Eddie’s journey. Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone) comes across as a hardboiled King Lear with dubious sanity. The story incorporates magical realism and Guy Ritchie‘s obsession with esoterica (last seen in his criminally underrated film, Revolver) These creative flourishes keep the show lively and unpredictable while also enriching the complexity of the characters and the world.
Season 2 levels up the drama, action, romance, and intrigue. In doing so, the show sets itself apart from the film by the same name and carves out its own narrative identity. Every domino eventually falls, leading to an explosive season finale. Overall, The Gentlemen is a unique crime drama that’s worth diving into with gusto.
