Created by: Guy Ritchie
Genre: Action Comedy
Cast: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Ray Winstone, Jasmine Blackborow, Giancarlo Esposito
Duration: 8 episodes, 40 minutes
Now streaming on Netflix
It has been so long since I watched a show on Netflix that left me feeling like I had just taken a tall glass of water on a hot day that I will start with a spoiler alert. This is a good, fulfilling show.
Guy Ritchie is in his element in The Gentlemen. For context of his element, look up the 1998 movie, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. You know what I mean if you have watched it. The dry humour, no-gimmicks action, and a story that keeps you interested from start to finish. All these are present in this eight-part series.
The Gentlemen, Eddie (James) comes into an inheritance with the expansive Halstead estate and the title of Duke. He is also in charge of his family, which includes his mother, Lady Sabrina Horniman (Richardson), sister, Charly (Blackborow), and problematic brother, Freddie (Ings). However, this inheritance also puts him head-to-head with the establishment that has been growing weed on the estate and profiting from it. Bobby Glass (Winstone), the head of the weed business may be in prison but his daughter, Susie (Scodelario) is available to keep it running. The tension between Eddie’s family and the Glass business keeps things interesting.
The acting is just right. Theo James’ pretty boy persona is always a nervous point but it works out perfectly in The Gentlemen. Scodelario sheds all traces of Effy from Skins, the role she is more commonly known for, an acting range that we would like to see more of. There are several familiar faces, who the casting director wanted us to see in a non-familiar light. It mostly works but it is jarring for some – Esposito playing Stanley for instance.
The Gentlemen is well-paced, the music on point and it will scratch any itch you have for long-form action entertainment, with a dose of comedy. The only thing that put me off a little was Freddie’s shenanigans. Dude got himself in trouble too many times.
–Grace Kenganzi
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