THE GENTLEMEN: SEASON ONE
Starring: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Vinnie Jones, Michael Vu, Giancarlo Esposito, and Ray Winstone
Creator: Guy Ritchie
AMARÚ
Guy Ritchie is one of the few filmmakers that I’ll watch sight-unseen. His bang-bang direction, uniquely kooky characters, whip-quick dialogue, and penchant for unraveling exciting mysteries is my exact brand of entertainment. So, of course, Netflix’s The Gentlemen series was one of my most anticipated shows of 2024. Taking Ritchie’s flair from one movie to eight episodes does admittedly take some getting used to, as the series’ start is a bit over-dramatic and paced rather sluggishly. But by mid-season, the stylish cast, led by star turns from Theo James and Kaya Scodelario, helps to deliver another top-notch piece of British gangster greatness.
PRESTON
The Gentlemen is quintessential Guy Ritchie entertainment, and I recall several occasions where I had to mentally stop to acknowledge his scene-building prowess. The composed British narration through flashbacks of violent mayhem is a formula whose sum always equals enjoyment. However, despite its winning formula, as well as taking into account my usual bias for gratuitous violence and clever banter, this latest creation still had me wondering things like, “Did I do my Duolingo for today?” since its more compelling scenes are more of a rewarding treat than an integral part of a must-watch story that has you hanging on every word.
PAIGE
With the series spinoff of The Gentlemen, director Guy Ritchie’s portrayal of the British gangster genre is back to form. Even though it may not be as clever and fantastic as the film, it still has plenty of swagger and style. From the variety of different personalities within the characters to the twists and cheekily dry British humor, I still managed to have fun with this iteration. If you're a fan of the movie and are looking for a slick and entertaining watch, check this series out. However, just don’t anticipate it to expand upon the original movie all that much.
QUENTIN
As a fan of The Gentlemen (film-type) and director Guy Ritchie, my expectations for Netflix’s spinoff series may have been too high. Still, although it doesn’t hit the bar I’d set for it, it’s decent enough, mostly because of the performances. Surprisingly, it doesn’t have the same kinetic spark as Ritchie’s movies, even though he directs the first two episodes. This hinders the fun. Also, the typical Ritchie-thing of sprawling characters and plot points doubling back for fun revelations gets too convoluted when stretched to eight hours, which is even more noticeable given the series’ listless start. Again, it’s watchable, but Ritchie should stick to movies.
