Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The 2024 Netflix series “The Gentlemen” by Guy Ritchie is like a wild stylish re-hash of his own movies, including the 2019 flick “The Gentlemen” in which Matthew McConaughey played a cannabis mogul looking to sell off his marijuana empire to the highest bidder. This eight-episode show follows young British aristocrat Eddie Horniman (Theo James), who inherits his family estate and learns his deceased father had rented out some land to a notorious empire, who don’t intend on leaving. So Eddie goes on a series of misadventures to get ensure his family doesn’t have anything to do with the dubious dealings anymore.
Like most Guy Ritchie creations, you can expect a lot of style, violence, witticisms from “The Gentlemen”, and a wide range of wacky characters. However the series starts in a way that really makes you wonder “how is this guy going to make this story last for eight long episodes?”. But he does! Cartel wars, illegal boxing matches, bizarre Catholic cultist mafia gangs, thieving gypsies, and deranged scions—this series encompasses a wide range of craziness while keeping romance and sentimentality to a minimum.
Titled “Refined Aggression,” episode one introduces the Horniman family, who all gather when the patriarch, the Duke of Halstead, passes away. Eddie, the younger son, takes over the reins, as his older brother Freddy (played by Daniel Ings) is a total posh tosser knee-deep in ridiculous debts. Immediately, Eddie encounters Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario), through whom he discovers a highly successful underground weed farm on his property, one among many managed by Susie for her father’s empire. Before Eddie can rid his property of the Glass family, he requires Susie’s aid in dealing with criminals extorting his brother. However, one thing leads to another, and soon Eddie finds himself embroiled in a series of dangerous situations. With the Glass family keeping a hawk eye on him, he must find a way to get his own family out of their ever-tightening clutches.
The first chapter entertainingly establishes Freddy as the rotten egg who only invites trouble, while Eddie is the problem-solver. Daniel Ings is hilariously annoying as Freddy, who gets on everybody’s nerves, including the viewers – an irksome wanker who is always getting mixed up in some dangerous nonsense. Freddy’s fraught relationship with his younger brother is one of the most riveting bits about the show, with their love-hate bond being the driving force behind most catastrophes. Theo James and Kaya Scodelario on the other hand make a striking team as leads Eddie and Susie. Kaya’s Susie Glass, in fact, might just be the most memorable female character in a Guy Ritchie creation. That said, Joely Richardson is also endearing in her supporting role as Lady Sabrina, Eddie’s mother, a clever woman who is aware of the circus unfolding on their property and tries to help in her own way.
Among the supporting cast, Vinnie Jones stands out as Geoff, the dashing old groundskeeper of the Horniman family. He is smart, clever, and always has his ears on the ground. Micheal Vu takes the cake in his comical part as Jimmy, who looks after the weed farm, is constantly stoned and lives in a parallel world. Giancarlo Esposito portrays a mysterious wealthy man named Stanley Johnston, who expresses interest in purchasing Eddie’s manor. His presence has sparked comparisons with “Breaking Bad,” as he plays an antagonist involved in the drug cartel in both creations. However, apart from the themes of drugs and violence, the two shows differ significantly.
“The Gentlemen” shifts to a slower gear in episodes two and three, and the plot becomes exaggeratedly pretentious. However, if you could just hold on and not give up on the show yet, you’d be rewarded with a totally wacky episode 4, which contains the craziest twist in the tale. Unless you’re a writer who crafts narratives that are off the rails, you are never going to see that twist coming. If you’re a fan of Guy Ritchie’s 2000 film “Snatch,” then you’d love episode 5, titled “I’ve 100 Cousins,” which focuses on a bunch of gypsies attempting to steal something from Eddie’s property, leading to an unexpected deal between the two parties.
While the cinematography borders on being opulent, and stylish, the soundtrack composed by Christopher Benstead ranged between fantastic to far too theatrical for the plot. The music accompanying several scenes is very choral in nature, which makes it feel like you are watching some macabre accession tale from the 1800s. Depending on how viewers perceive it, those pieces might either feel comical or far too grand and annoyingly distracting.
“The Gentlemen” may follow a somewhat predictable path, but its strength lies in its individual components, which often surpass the cohesive whole, despite occasional pacing issues. Some of the plot twists obviously feel contrived, and towards the end, the usually calm and cool Susie Glass begins to show cracks under pressure, which feels a little out of character for her. However, the constant subtle competitive posturing between her and Eddie keeps the series entertaining. Love how Guy Ritchie avoids the clichés of a romantic subplot, despite some underlying sexual tension between a few characters. Instead, the story maintains a razor-sharp focus on drugs, profits, and one-upmanship until the end. Definitely check out the series if you’re already a Guy Ritchie fan, or if you like stylish violence crime shows with a generous dash of dark comedy and high-brow banter.
Rating: 7 on 10. Stream “The Gentlemen” on Netflix.
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