What Is the Story About?
A spin-off the 2019 Guy Ritchie movie that goes by the same name, The Gentlemen follows Eddie Horniman, an ex-military and the youngest son of the much revered aristocratic (Duke family) as he unexpectedly inherits the wealth and title of ‘Duke’ from his late father.
However, it doesn’t take long before he realises he is wealthy but not rich. In order to bail out debt ridden bratty elder brother who is under death-threat from gangsters, he delves into the shady weed growing business his father was involved in. He learns that his ancestral estate and land had become a part of the weed-empire run by Bobby Glass and gets entangled with a lot of criminal factions, shady men, gangsters and gunmen while desperately trying every way to protect his family even when they scheme against each other.
Performances?
Although The Gentlemen movie (2019) had a far more popular and vivacious cast to boast of, the series cast nails quite as much. The actors sink well into Guy Ritchie ‘s world of glamorised crime, spunky nicknames and idiosyncratic style over substance blood splashes while engaging throughout.
Theo James is immensely likeable as Eddie Horniman – the new Duke and reluctant inheritor to aristocratic wealth. The audience is taken on an equally wild ride down the rabbit hole of underworld, crime, cartels and meth business with Eddie. His reluctance to get involved in ghosts of crime and his furthered seasoned involvement in the same so as to protect his family (in particular his drug addict elder brother) is a treat to watch.
Kaya Scoldelario‘s Susie Glass is another noteworthy performance. She is sassy, bold and an all knowner in the world of underworld. She knows people who could do anything – from crime cleaners to betters. So as to protect her cannabis business in Eddie’s estate premises, she teams up with Eddie and navigate the world of crime and cartels. The duo share an underspoken chemistry even when they don’t trust each other.
Daniel Ings as Freddy Horniman adds the needful amount of idiosyncracy and fun to the show. He is chaos all the way and his one-liners bring a lot of gags. Giancarlo Esposito plays Stanley Johnston – an ultra rich suited aristocrat (who also runs meth business) as a sort of clap-back to his character in Better Call Saul.
Analysis
Written, created and executive produced by Guy Ritchie, based on his own movie The Gentlemen (2019), Netflix’s The Gentlemen is more of a spin-off to the original movie and Ritchie’s way of undoing it’s patches. A deeper dive into the world of crime, violence, drugs, cannabis, family politics and gangsters.
The Gentlemen begins with the main character Eddie Hornman (who is now in the military) being called back home to his dying father. As the youngest son, Eddie had stayed away from his family and streered clear a path of his own. But once his late father’s will comes to the table, Eddie is compelled to take up the position of Duke and solely inherit all the massive wealth his father left by.
If being forced to take up dukedom, inheritance and responsibilities weren’t enough, Eddie has to now tend to his drug-addict, insecure and chaotic elder brother who is burried under unbailable debts. An irresponsible Freddy got himself involved with a lot of shady men, drug cartels and gangsters and now owe them around 8 million in exchange for his life.
Eddie’s unintentional debut to the under-world begins when he encounters Susie Glass who runs cannabis farming in his ancestral estate under the guise of dairy farm. There’s also an ultra-rich wine obsessed businessman Stanley Johnston who is willing to go to lengths to buy Eddie’s ancestral estate (to gain control over the cannabis farming obviously). Eddie travels down the rabbit hole of shady businesses in order to save his debt-ridden brother who furthers the mess by murdering a gangster.
The Gentlemen follows Eddie’s tryst with crime while emphasizing a dialogue one of the characters make in the show about British Aristocracy – “They’re the original gangsters. The reason they own 75% of this country is because they stole it.” The Gentlemen has Eddie doing things he would have otherwise never done, meeting people who he would otherwise be never interested in, facing never ending challenges and obstacles, trying to stay afloat and protect his family. While it’s wildily engaging in the beginning, the pattern gets mildly exhausting after a point.
The world of Guy Ritchie’s crime is so much fun and quirky. The visuals are vibrant, violence is all glamour, dialogues are quippy, action and brawls – everyday business, but all that doesn’t relieve the repetitiveness that creeps in. The series doesn’t hold enough weight to sustain for 8 long episodes.
In short, if you’re a fan of anything Guy Ritchie or Tarantino, The Gentlemen is definitely worth binging. It’s engaging, entertaining and all things wild. It’s a perfect weekend binge-watch recipe to quench your thirst for gangster dramas and crime-dramas.
Music and Other Departments?
Christopher Benstead’s music and score for the show is so on-point. It doesn’t miss a beat and adequately lives by the crime world Guy Ritchie has created. The camera work also deserves the flowers for aptly supporting the narrative and world building.
Highlights?
Guy Ritchie’s world building
Cast
One-liners and nicknames
Writing
Drawbacks?
Duration
Repetitive after a point
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes.
Will You Recommend It?
No
The Gentlemen Series Review by Binged Bureau
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