GamesRadar+ VerdictDespite stellar performances from Theo James and Kaya Scodelario, Netflix’s The Gentlemen feels like something we have seen many times before from Guy Ritchie. But what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in humor and an array of colorful characters.
GamesRadar+ Verdict
GamesRadar+ Verdict
Despite stellar performances from Theo James and Kaya Scodelario, Netflix’s The Gentlemen feels like something we have seen many times before from Guy Ritchie. But what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in humor and an array of colorful characters.
Despite stellar performances from Theo James and Kaya Scodelario, Netflix’s The Gentlemen feels like something we have seen many times before from Guy Ritchie. But what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in humor and an array of colorful characters.
Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.
Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.
When Netflix announced its upcoming series from Guy Ritchie, spun off from one of his most recent filmsThe Gentlemen, I was a little skeptical about how the director would transfer his trademark tangled tales of cockney crimes and grimy gangsters onto the small screen. But through the use of a great cast, relatable social commentary, and humor, The Gentleman series lives up to what fans expect from Ritchie, despite being nothing we haven’t seen from the director before.
Series vs. Movie
(Image credit: Netflix)
Theo and Kaya steal the show
(Image credit: Netflix)
The show’s dazzling ensemble from Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito to Ritchie veteran Vinnie Jones, truly carries the series, not to mention James and Scodelario completely stealing the show.
This is a very different role for James, who we are used to seeing in action franchises such as Divergent and other drama series. Eddie is a multi-layered character, who at first look seems like any other privileged elite we are used to seeing on screen such as in Saltburn, but changes the further he delves into the Glass’ world of depravity. In previous Ritchie projects, we see the higher class as somewhat clueless and reliant on their criminal counterparts, not wanting to get their own hands dirty, but Eddie’s character offers a different perspective.
Scodelario’s Susie Glass mimics Dockery’s sardonic nature and elegance, but throughout the eight-part series, we see many sides to the female lead that the movie didn’t have time to delve into. Susie is something of a chameleon, she maneuvers between high-society and dirty dealings effortlessly, but at times we see the strain the business and the pressures from her family have on her. Just like with James’ Eddie, we haven’t had a character quite like Susie before in a Ritchie flick, or even if we have, the confines of a movie haven’t allowed the filmmaker to fully explore the feminine side of his crime genre.
A treat for Guy Ritchie fans
(Image credit: Netflix)
On top of this, we are treated to an appearance from one of Ritchie’s top dogs Vinnie Jones who has starred in the likes ofLock, Stock, and Two Smoking BarrelsandSnatchas a fearsome criminal. It would have been easy to typecast Jones but in The Gentleman, he plays a rather peaceful and complex gamekeeper who adds yet another layer of complexity to Eddie’s family life.
All in all, the Netflix series may not shock and surprise viewers in terms of originality, but for Ritchie fans, The Gentlemen is a welcomed trip down memory lane into familiar territory with references to the legendary filmmaker’s iconic movies and British crime genre. The Gentlemen series exhibits everything we love about Ritchie movies, just in an extended format.
The Gentlemen hits Netflix on March 7, 2024. For more, check out our list of thebest Netflix showsavailable to stream right now, or keep up to date withnew TV shows.
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More about the gentlemenOne of Netflix’s biggest 2024 shows is coming back for season 2 and its real-world reveal has to be seen to be believedNetflix’s new #1 show is a Guy Ritchie gangster thriller, and viewers are calling it a “masterpiece of a series” and “a breath of fresh air"LatestThe 33 greatest post-credits scenesSee more latest►
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More about the gentlemen
One of Netflix’s biggest 2024 shows is coming back for season 2 and its real-world reveal has to be seen to be believedNetflix’s new #1 show is a Guy Ritchie gangster thriller, and viewers are calling it a “masterpiece of a series” and “a breath of fresh air”
One of Netflix’s biggest 2024 shows is coming back for season 2 and its real-world reveal has to be seen to be believed
One of Netflix’s biggest 2024 shows is coming back for season 2 and its real-world reveal has to be seen to be believed
Netflix’s new #1 show is a Guy Ritchie gangster thriller, and viewers are calling it a “masterpiece of a series” and “a breath of fresh air”
Netflix’s new #1 show is a Guy Ritchie gangster thriller, and viewers are calling it a “masterpiece of a series” and “a breath of fresh air”
LatestThe 33 greatest post-credits scenesSee more latest►
Latest
The 33 greatest post-credits scenes
The 33 greatest post-credits scenes
The 33 greatest post-credits scenes
See more latest►
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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