The Gentlemen season two

The first season of Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen saw wealthy and sophisticated aristocrat Eddie Horniman (Theo James) join forces with no-nonsense criminal Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario) to pay off an extravagant debt by selling cannabis grown in a facility under the family’s estate. The second season picks up some time after the previous series left off, with the duo now setting their sights on expanding their empire in Europe. However, Eddie’s appetite and ambition have since grown. Wanting more power for himself and having different ideas about how the operation should be run, he forms an alliance with Italian crime boss Marco Moretti (Sergio Castellitto) behind the back of his current employer, the domineering Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone).

Stylishly shot and filled with colourful turns of phrase from eccentric characters dressed in tweed, the second season of this Netflix show embodies everything that makes Ritchie’s brand of crime thriller work so effectively. Despite the compelling premise and strong cast, the action is let down by a plot that spins its wheels throughout the opening episodes.

James and Scodelario remain the best parts of the show. Each lead exudes charisma as naturally as breathing, coolly delivering Ritchie’s sharp dialogue with equal parts charm and dry wit. Returning cast members Vinnie Jones, Harry Goodwins and Daniel Ings are also as brilliant as before and inject tonnes of personality into each of their scenes. Joining the cast is Hugh Bonneville, who gives a delightfully comedic turn as the corrupt Lord Hawthorne.

After a gripping first episode sets the stage for a more ambitious outing and ends on a viciously dark note, the plot loses a large part of its momentum. Rather than building upon the established narrative, the subsequent episodes primarily see the characters jump through various hoops like obtaining a painting, dealing with a Japanese hitman and retrieving a prized falcon. While these subplots are entertaining detours, they feel more like padding. When certain plot elements come together in the fourth episode, an explosive climax complete with a ferocious monologue from Winstone looks to kick events into the next gear.

There’s no doubt that The Gentlemen’s second outing is the riotous follow-up that fans have been waiting for. Although the pacing isn’t as tight, its impeccable cast and wry comedy prove that Ritchie hasn’t lost his flair.

Andrew Murray

The Gentlemen season two is released on Netflix on 3^rd September 2026.

Watch the trailer for The Gentlemen season two here: