Guy Ritchie's "The Gentlemen" is back for a second season on Netflix, continuing its distinctive blend of British aristocracy, organized crime, and dark humor. The series revisits Eddie, the 13th Duke of Halstead (Theo James), as he navigates the criminal underworld while seeking to restore his family's ancestral estates.
Bobby Glass, the drug baron played by Ray Winstone, is incarcerated at the start of the new season. Despite his prison sentence for tax fraud, Glass appears to be enjoying luxurious conditions, complete with a sauna and hot tub. The narrative suggests that Bobby's sentence may be shortened due to current penal reform policies, raising questions about his future and the continued operation of his criminal empire.
Eddie, meanwhile, harbors grand ambitions to regain wealth and influence, planning to corner the European cannabis market and manipulate government policy towards decriminalization. His efforts are intertwined with the operations previously managed by Bobby Glass and his daughter, Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario), who is depicted as the true mastermind behind the drug empire.
The series employs visual cues, such as captions and notes scrawled across the screen in yellow marker pen, to explain plot points and introduce new characters, including Aisha, portrayed by Maya Jama. This stylistic choice helps clarify the backstory and the influx of new personalities into the unfolding narrative.
New characters include Hugh Bonneville as Lord Hawthorne, an aristocrat with a hidden darker side, and Cico Maldini (Michele Morrone), a flamboyant Mafioso. The show maintains Ritchie's signature style, mixing one-liners, puns, and slapstick with moments of sudden, stylized violence. This contrast is evident in scenes like the execution of a lawyer, which, despite its graphic nature, is presented within the show's otherwise darkly comedic tone.
Kaya Scodelario's portrayal of Susie Glass is highlighted as a central element of the show's drama. The series also incorporates social satire, with observations on the nature of power and deal-making within the upper echelons of society, often disguised as leisure activities like shooting parties. Ritchie's trademark approach, established in earlier works like "Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels," continues to define "The Gentlemen" as a "blast" that balances its criminal elements with humor and commentary.