Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen has never been shy about violence, expensive suits and people making terrible decisions with complete confidence. But the second season takes a noticeably different road, becoming more serious and reflective without completely losing the slick criminal energy that made the first season work. Theo James and Kaya Scodelario return as Eddie Horniman and Susie Glass, and this time their ambitions extend far beyond simply keeping their illegal business running. The eight-episode season gradually turns into a story about inheritance, identity, family expectations and the price of choosing your own path.
That tonal change is what makes The Gentlemen Season 2 interesting. The series begins with the familiar Ritchie formula of sharp dialogue, elaborate schemes and sudden bursts of violence, but the mood steadily becomes heavier as Eddie confronts the history attached to his title. Susie, meanwhile, is trying to build something that does not remain under the control of her father, Bobby Glass. The result is a season that feels less interested in repeating the first chapter and more determined to find out what these characters actually want once the novelty of their criminal world starts wearing off.
Eddie and Susie Want More Than Power
Eddie is no longer simply the reluctant heir who has been pulled into the marijuana business left behind by his late father. As the Duke of Halstead and a new member of the House of Lords, he now has access to a world that sits far away from the criminal empire he has inherited. Instead of abandoning the business, however, Eddie sees an opportunity to make it considerably larger, with plans to expand into Italy and support legislation that would decriminalise marijuana.
It is an ambitious idea, but Eddie’s biggest problems are closer to home. His plans put him on a collision course with Bobby Glass, Susie’s powerful mob boss father, whose influence makes him a particularly dangerous obstacle. Eddie and Susie have built an effective partnership, but their growing ambitions also force them to decide how much control they are willing to give up to the people who came before them. Their relationship works best when the show lets that tension sit beneath the surface rather than turning everything into another gangster showdown.
Susie gets her own battle for independence. Much of her character arc revolves around trying to step beyond Bobby’s shadow, and Scodelario gets considerably more material to explore that side of her personality. The chemistry between her and James remains one of the show’s strongest elements, although the season is careful not to make their partnership too comfortable. They understand each other, but they are also ambitious people with separate goals.
Guy Ritchie Gives the Story a Darker Edge
The first season of The Gentlemen leaned heavily into the eccentricity and dark humour associated with Ritchie’s crime stories. Season 2 initially appears ready to continue that formula, but the mood changes as Eddie becomes increasingly aware of the history attached to his family name and the consequences of the choices he has made. There is still plenty of humour, but it no longer dominates the experience.
The shift gives the series more room to ask questions about morality and purpose. Eddie starts to question whether the life he has inherited actually belongs to him, or whether he is simply following a path created by his family’s expectations. That internal conflict adds a more thoughtful layer to a series that could easily have remained a stylish succession of gangster set pieces.
The season also expands the world geographically by taking Eddie to Italy, where new relationships with the mafia widen the scope of his criminal operation. The production design makes the most of the locations, with grand estates, luxurious interiors and lavish settings providing an appropriately expensive backdrop for the story. Ritchie’s action direction remains a highlight, with rapid editing, escalating violence and carefully constructed sequences giving the show its familiar visual rhythm.
However, the more serious direction comes with a trade-off. Some of the quirky energy that helped define the first season is less prominent, and the reduced presence of Michael Vu and Daniel Ings is noticeable. Their absence is felt particularly because the first season benefited from a larger dose of eccentric supporting characters and comic unpredictability.
Theo James and Kaya Scodelario Go Deeper
James has more to work with this time around, and Eddie’s transformation is one of the season’s more interesting elements. The character is no longer merely reacting to the criminal world around him; he is actively trying to reshape it while figuring out what kind of man he wants to become. That makes his decisions more personal, especially when family history and vengeance begin influencing his actions.
Scodelario is equally well served by the new season. Susie has more opportunities to operate independently, and the character’s complicated relationship with her father gives the actress a stronger dramatic counterpoint to the show’s gangster material. Her chemistry with James remains understated rather than overly sentimental, which suits the characters and their unusual partnership.
Ray Winstone’s Bobby Glass becomes a more imposing presence as the story progresses. Winstone gives the character the kind of authority that makes even relatively quiet scenes feel threatening, while Vinnie Jones once again brings the physical presence expected from one of Ritchie’s longtime collaborators. Jones could arguably have been given more to do, but his appearance still adds weight to the gangster side of the story.
The Horniman family becomes increasingly important in the second half. Characters played by Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Jasmine Blackborow and Benjamin Clementine become more closely connected to Eddie’s journey, particularly as his personal quest for revenge develops. Meanwhile, Hugh Bonneville, Michele Morrone, Benedetta Porcaroli and Sergio Castellitto introduce new complications and personalities into the expanding story.
Giancarlo Esposito also returns for another intimidating appearance as billionaire Stanley Johnston. His presence adds another layer of menace to a season already crowded with people who have their own agendas.
The Gentlemen Season 2 Review: Does It Work?
The biggest strength of Season 2 is that it refuses to simply recreate the first season. Ritchie and Matthew Read push the characters into a story that is more concerned with legacy and personal freedom, even while retaining the criminal machinery that makes the series entertaining. That gives Eddie and Susie more emotional weight and makes their decisions feel connected to something beyond money.
At the same time, viewers who loved the first season primarily for its irreverent humour may notice the difference. The comedy is still present, but the season becomes progressively more serious, particularly once Eddie’s family history and Susie’s relationship with Bobby move to the forefront. The missing presence of some first-season favourites also changes the ensemble dynamic.
Visually, however, The Gentlemen remains very much itself. The Italian locations, lavish estates, sharply dressed characters and bursts of meticulously staged violence give the series the polished gangster aesthetic audiences expect from a Guy Ritchie production. The difference is that beneath all that style, Season 2 has more on its mind.
And that makes the newly announced third season particularly intriguing. Eddie still has unfinished business, Susie’s criminal empire is moving forward, and the characters have not exactly escaped the expectations that have shaped their lives. After a season that takes the story into darker and more personal territory, there is plenty of room for the next chapter to push those conflicts even further.
Questions & Answers
Is The Gentlemen Season 2 darker than Season 1?
Yes. While the second season retains the show’s action and humour, it becomes more serious as Eddie confronts his family history, legacy and personal choices.
Who stars in The Gentlemen Season 2?
Theo James and Kaya Scodelario return as Eddie Horniman and Susie Glass. The cast also includes Ray Winstone, Vinnie Jones, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Jasmine Blackborow, Benjamin Clementine and Giancarlo Esposito.
What is Eddie trying to do in Season 2?
Eddie wants to expand his illegal marijuana business into Italy while also supporting a law that would decriminalise marijuana. His plans bring him into conflict with powerful figures, including Bobby Glass.
What happens to Susie in The Gentlemen Season 2?
Susie attempts to establish herself beyond the influence of her father, Bobby Glass. Her ambitions become increasingly important as the season explores her relationship with Eddie and her criminal business.
Who created The Gentlemen?
The series was created by Guy Ritchie and is based on his 2019 film of the same name. Ritchie also contributes to the writing of the second season alongside Matthew Read.
Will there be The Gentlemen Season 3?
A third season has been announced, setting up another chapter for Eddie, Susie and the expanding criminal world around them.
