In a world where Jonathan Glazer’s film Sexy Beast doesn’t exist, Paramount+’s Sexy Beast (prequel) series might have been, at least, okay as a new crime tale. As it stands, though, that terrific film does exist, and this show cannot get out of its tremendous shadow. The story, one of British gangsters gangsterin’, is slow-moving, but might have been enough to capture interest. However, when you’re constantly thinking about how stars James McArdle, Emun Elliott, and Stephen Moyer are no Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley (who was Oscar-nominated for his role in the movie), and Ian McShane, respectively, it really puts a damper on things.