The Gentlemen Season 2 does more than deliver a satisfying follow-up to Guy Ritchie’s smash hit Netflix original. In much the same way Francis Ford Coppola upped his game for The Godfather Part II, this second run blindsides audiences by allowing them to witness the evolution of Edward Horniman into a true force of nature. After the finale concludes there will be those who see the comparisons to Michael Corleone all too clearly.
However, that evolution moves beyond Edward to embrace his brother Freddie and business associate Susie Glass, who gets more to do than embody the cold-blooded business arm of this equation. New elements are introduced, new cast members unveiled, and Ritchie continues to work his magic. Moving between Edward’s ancestral home and the sun-kissed shores of Itay to ensure The Gentlemen Season 2 feels truly international.
Counterbalancing that are the more personal moments that elevated this series first time round, showcasing the ensemble cast in new and unexpected ways. Chief among them being Vinnie Jones who brought tenderness, pathos, and emotional depth to Jeffrey in Season 1. That trend continues into this carefully crafted sequel, raising the stakes for all concerned and leaning into the legacy that this show has created.
Image Courtesy of Netflix
Ritchie maintains a perfect balance between Grade A gangster schtick and an intricately plotted piece of mainstream entertainment. Unleashing Theo James in the role he was destined to play, flipping between aristocratic fluff and emotional detachment on a whim. Making Edward more than the figurehead of an ancestral family pile with ties to an illegal enterprise.
Season 2 is forging a dynasty from the ashes of adversity that might just turn The Gentlemen into Guy Ritchie’s House of Cards. Edward is a conflicting collection of characters within one man looking to do more than babysit his birthright. This Duke is heavy artillery in an argument, and not above strong-arm tactics when making his mind up.
As the events of Season 2 escalate Guy Ritchie unleashes some big guns turning this aristocratic off-kilter dramedy into a true turf war. One in which there will be casualties, there will be bodies to bury, and where Edward Horniman comes into his own. Bobbie Glass might spend a lot of episodes under lock and key in his sauna, but the time for idle threats is over.
There is a Svengali approach to the way situations are manipulated in Season 2 that veer between comedy, drama, and blind brutality in the blink of eye. On every level, this is a masterful return from Guy Ritchie and his ever-expanding ensemble cast, making The Gentlemen Season 2 essential viewing.
The Gentlemen is now available to stream on Netflix.