The Gentlemen Season Two Review: Irritatingly Funny

Guy Ritchie's crime caper, 'The Gentlemen,' has returned for its second season, continuing to deliver its characteristic blend of hijinks, profanity, and dramatic posturing. The series, which first premiered on Netflix, maintains its established tone, characterized by men shaking their fists and engaging in outlandish schemes. Despite its often ridiculous premise and the perceived stupidity of its characters, the show manages to evoke a sense of strange comfort in its predictability and over-the-top nature.

The central figure of the new season is Edward "Eddie" Horniman, the 13th Duke of Halstead, portrayed by Theo James. Eddie is depicted as a powerful and wealthy landowner, inhabiting a vast country estate. His physical presence is emphasized, with descriptions noting his "pectorals the size of Bentleys" and his attire, including "plus-fours so voluminous they could accommodate his fleet of gundogs." However, beneath this veneer of privilege and physical prowess, Eddie is presented as a character grappling with sadness and a sense of grievance. He expresses a deep-seated desire to reclaim the lost grandeur of his ancestral estate, lamenting its "diminished" state over "four hundred years." This internal conflict and his dramatic pronouncements, such as "I want it all back!" delivered with a "hexagonal jaw stiff with emotion," contribute to his characterization as the millionaire protagonist.

Eddie's interactions with his groundskeeper, Geoff, played by Vinnie Jones, highlight the subservient loyalty within the estate's hierarchy. Geoff's unwavering devotion, expressed as "I would do anyfink for you an’ this famlee," underscores the traditional dynamics at play. The visual scope of the estate is emphasized through camera work, showcasing "a lavish patchwork of abundant hedges and cap-doffing deer," reinforcing the immense wealth and sprawling nature of the Horniman family's holdings. The narrative continues to explore the criminal underworld and the aristocratic struggles that defined the first season, promising more of the stylized violence and dark humor that have become synonymous with Guy Ritchie's directorial style. The review suggests that while the characters may be irritating and their actions often foolish, the overall effect is one of extreme funniness, making the series a compelling, albeit unconventional, watch.