Guy Ritchie’s 2019 film “The Gentlemen” gave us a glimpse into the life of marijuana magnate Mickey Pearson, portrayed by Matthew McConaughey, who cleverly utilized the sprawling English estates to operate a lucrative cannabis empire beneath a veneer of aristocracy. In a symbiotic relationship, the financially-strapped noble families benefited from the rental income, which they poured into maintaining their historical residences. Spinning off from the silver screen, Ritchie extends the narrative in a new eight-episode Netflix series, which maintains the film’s spirit while introducing fresh conflicts and characters.
The series pulls us into the tumultuous life of Eddie (Theo James), a commendable soldier serving with the UN Peacekeeping Forces on the Syrian border, negotiating over sheep disputes – a far cry from his impending inheritance. His routine is interrupted when the family lawyer, Ahmed Iqbal (Ranjit Krishnamma), brings news of his father, the Duke of Halstead’s (Edward Fox), ailing health.
Upon his return to the English countryside, Eddie is thrust into the role of successor, shouldering the title and estate after the Duke’s demise. The expected heir, Eddie’s cocaine-addicted elder brother Freddie (Daniel Ings), has proven himself unreliable, causing the Duke to bypass him in favor of Eddie, much to Freddie’s initial dismay. Freddie later reveals his own dire predicament: an 8-million-pound debt to a menacing criminal, Tommy Dixon (Peter Serafinowicz), which has become Eddie’s burden to manage.
As Eddie grapples with his brother’s crisis and the weight of his new title, Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario) arrives, shedding light on another troubling reality. Her father, Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone), currently imprisoned, had been cultivating cannabis on the manor’s grounds, paying a yearly rent of 5 million pounds to Eddie’s father – a transaction that Susie is determined to uphold. Eddie is torn between purging his family home of its illicit connections and relying on these same criminal elements to rescue Freddie from his entanglements.
Over the course of the eight episodes, Eddie embarks on a series of deals and counter-deals, all while encountering an array of Ritchie’s signature characters – each with their own splash of sudden violence, quirky humor, engaging one-liners, and a mix of eclectic British music. Even the unique touch of on-screen, hand-written yellow subtitles is used to guide the viewer through the unfolding chaos.
Despite the entertaining traits that Ritchie fans have come to expect, this series, unfortunately, struggles to maintain momentum. The action seems to stagnate; even the slickest cinematography and most pompous dialogues cannot overshadow the show’s apparent inconsistencies and substantial plot holes. From gangsters clad in tailor-made suits to the lack of palpable chemistry between its leads, the narrative leaves the audience struggling to invest emotionally.
The psychological depth of the characters remains largely unexplored. Whether it’s Lady Sabrina (Joely Richardson), who initially appears unaware but eventually shows apprehension about the criminal transactions threatening to taint her family, or the ex-convict groundskeeper Geoffrey (Vinnie Jones) with his rescue animals and “particular set of skills,” every character feels disconnected from a core narrative drive.
The series showcases the global reach of the crime world, illustrated by a roll-call of players such as American tycoon Stanley Johnston (Giancarlo Esposito), the devious Florian de Groot (Kristofer Hivju), and an array of other colorful, yet stock underworld figures.
A theme of sibling loyalty also threads through the storyline: Eddie consistently comes to the aid of his frustrating brother Freddie, while Susie exhibits unyielding support for her boxer brother Jack (Harry Goodwins), showcasing the binds of family amidst the chaos of crime.
In essence, while the series parades a cavalcade of well-dressed rogues and action-packed scenarios, it falls short of evolving into a truly captivating viewing experience, highlighting that even the most flamboyant characters and Ritchie’s typical cinematic flourishes can’t compensate for a lackluster plot.
“The Gentlemen” series is available for streaming on Netflix under their collection of world and English cinema, as well as television titles.
