What TV shows are dominating the conversation, capturing the zeitgeist or are hidden gems waiting to be uncovered? We take a look ahead of your weekend watch.
Why watch a Guy Ritchie movie when you can spend a weekend immersing yourself in his world via an eight-part Netflix series instead? “The Gentlemen” is Ritchie鈥檚 latest small-screen adaptation of an older work, and it鈥檚 just as chaotic and fun as you鈥檇 expect.听
“The Gentlemen” takes place in the same drug- and gangster-filled underworld as the 2019 film of the same name, but that鈥檚 where the similarities end. You don鈥檛 need to watch one to appreciate the other, and there is no surprise Matthew McConaughey appearance to anticipate. That said, the crime series digs into that underworld in a way the movie never could, thanks to an extended number of viewing hours.
The series begins in Turkey, where a soldier named Eddie Horniman (Theo James) learns his father is ill. He returns home to London and an impressive estate, which he 鈥 the spare 鈥 inherits over his older brother Freddy (Daniel Ings). Both men are shocked, but Eddie takes it much better than Freddy.
That鈥檚 because big brother is stressed out. His coke problem has landed him in serious debt, and he owes 拢8 million by the end of the week. The real story kicks off when Eddie goes to liquidate assets to help. As it turns out, the father has been renting the estate to a crime family in the marijuana business, and they鈥檙e eager for that arrangement to continue.
One agreement leads to another; every problem solved creates a bigger issue; and a world of rich and exciting characters emerge to create a chaotic, albeit entertaining, ride.听
As Eddie, James, best known from the “Divergent”听franchise and as the scuzzy “White Lotus”听character Cameron, is a capable lead. Eddie has a moral compass that doesn鈥檛 always make sense, but he鈥檚 the epitome of how money and power can corrupt anyone. As a character states in one episode, the British aristocracy earned their status by being the original gangsters, which made them 鈥渨orse than Al Capone.鈥 Thus, we鈥檙e given more insight into the series鈥 title. These characters may be gentlemen, but they鈥檙e capable of very, very bad things when given the right opportunity.
Eddie is also the typical Ritchie straight-man to Ings鈥 unpredictable screwup character, which creates sharp story turns and a fun dynamic. Anchoring the brothers is Kaya Scodelario as the impeccably dressed and oh-so-watchable Susie Glass. Susie runs the marijuana business for the family now that her father, Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone), is in jail, and she introduces Eddie to all the right people to help manage the problems above. Their chemistry is palpable, but the relationship grows toxic as Eddie works to extricate himself and his family from the business.
Drugs, gangsters and intrigue: Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentlemen” is a compelling watch.
NetflixThat dynamic is the real reason to watch as the episodes progress, and it鈥檚 hard to decide who to root for as the stakes increase and external forces intercede. Those forces include coke king Gospel John (Pearce Quigley), a machete-wielding car dealer named Mercy (Martha Millan), and a mysterious American investor named Stanley Johnston (Giancarlo Esposito from “Breaking Bad”). That鈥檚 鈥淛ohnston with a T,鈥 by the way, which can only be a nod to all the people who have misspelled Ritchie鈥檚 name over the years.听
Ritchie staple Vinnie Jones also stars as the estate鈥檚 groundskeeper (and problem-solver) Geoff Seacombe, Joely Richardson is the matriarch, Chanel Cresswell plays Freddie鈥檚 wife Tamasina, Logan Dean is a fixer named Blanket, Harry Goodwins is Susie鈥檚 boxing brother Jack Glass, and Michael Vu is the weed-crafting stoner Jimmy.
These characters and other supporting players weave in and out of the story and keep the leads on their toes.听“The Gentlemen”听is one of those series that hooks you with adrenaline and high stakes so you don鈥檛 ask practical questions like, 鈥淲here is law enforcement?鈥 and, 鈥淚s everyone in London some kind of secret drug dealer?鈥
The overall style and creative music selection also help to keep the pace puttering along. There鈥檚 blood and gore, to be sure, but the camera doesn鈥檛 always capture the moments you鈥檇 expect. Ritchie directs the first two episodes and establishes a world of creative camera shots, with signature slow-motion and fast-forward montages. There are also moments of script-on-screen to set the tone and help with world-building.
Between the fast narratives, the varying episode lengths, and the artistic touch, “The Gentlemen”听leaves you feeling as though anything can happen next. As a result, you鈥檒l keep telling yourself, 鈥淥ne more episode,鈥 until you鈥檝e burned through the entire series. At that point, you may not be fully satiated, thanks to an ending that wraps the story but leaves room for more.
On the plus side, Ritchie has confirmed he has a few ideas for a potential Season 2. And with听“The Gentlemen”听continuing to trend in Netflix鈥檚 Top 10 since its debut, this crime drama鈥檚 continuation seems inevitable.听
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If you zipped through “The Gentlemen” and need more Giancarlo Esposito in your life, the prolific actor also stars in new AMC/AMC+ drama “Parish.” The series debuted in March and features Esposito playing against type as a good guy named Gracian Parish. Parish is trying to do right by his family, but when tragedy strikes and his dark past comes knocking, he uses his particular set of skills to help a notable crime family.
It鈥檚 a showcase piece for Esposito on a network that knows him well, and there are plenty of high stakes to invest in. While the overall story isn鈥檛 as engaging as some of AMC鈥檚 past dramas and some episodes lag, there are trope-breaking themes of fatherhood and family to dig into. Skeet Ulrich, Zackary Momoh, Paula Malcomson and Ivan Mbakop also star.
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