Peaky Blindersis one of the few British shows that has become globally renowned, which becomes even more surprising when you consider the premise: a post-World War I Birmingham crime gang. However,Cillian Murphy’s stunning portrayal of Thomas Shelby, along with the rest of the fabulous cast, makes the series thoroughly watchable, whileSteven Knight’s writing paints a colorful world that both embraces its insanity and bleakness. If these attributes are what you still crave after bingeing all six seasons, another show will bewell worth watching while bringing unique qualities to the table.
Gangs of Londonadopts a more modern setting in London over the gritty streets of 20th-century Birmingham, following the Wallace family and their struggle to survive after the death of the family patriarch and what his murder reveals, but itscleaner aesthetic doesn’t make it any less violent. If anything, the scale of carnage is turned up a notch due to the weaponry on display. Furthermore, the threats come not just from outside the family, but inside from the start, as well as the terrifying “investors” who ratchet up the jeopardy for all characters. Yet, in the end, it is not the terror or scale that is most impressive, but the complex relationship that brews between the new boss, Sean Wallace, played byPeaky BlindersalumniJoe Cole, and Elliot (Sope Dirisu), an undercover detective determined to bring down the Wallaces.
‘Gangs of London’ Boasts Sprawling and Explosive Action Set Pieces
From the very first scene where Sean sets a young man on fire and drops him from the top of a skyscraper,Gangs of Londonintroduces us toa world more brutal and powerful than we are used to seeingin the gangster genre. Such dramatic executions are usually only reserved for supervillains like the Joker (Heath Ledger) inThe Dark Knight. ButGangs of Londonis far from done when it comes to shocking us with the depths these characters can reach. We not only see entire skyscrapers bombed and brought down, but entire camps of people slaughtered with machine guns and grenades — not by soldiers, but mostly by men in suits.
While for some viewers this may not be grounded enough, there is a fascinating element that proposes what the technology of our age could allow criminals to be capable of when they become desperate. These scenes do make the Wallace family deeply unlikable, and if you want a badass with a heart of gold like Tommy Shelby,Gangs of Londonis not going to give that to you. Characters such as Marian Wallace (Michelle Fairley), Sean’s cold-hearted mother,are not enjoyable to watch the way Polly was, but instead, there is a tension that permeates every scene due to the brutality on display by those who are meant to be the “heroes” of this story. Arguably,Gangs of Londontests the viewermore than any other gangster piece to find a darkness within themselves that does indeed exist, as we still find a side to root for.
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For more gritty crime and unhinged crime bosses.
‘Gangs of London’ Introduces a Unique Twist to the Gangster Genre
In most gangster dramas, we know where the criminals' money comes from, and we know that they alone are in charge of their organization. There may be more powerful institutions around them, such as theNew York familiesinThe Sopranosand Section D inPeaky Blinders, but they are in charge of their own spheres of influence. However, inGangs of London, the Wallaces and everyone around them areconsistently reminded of the “investors,” who really call the shots. These shady villains are portrayed as omnipotent, arriving in a blacked-out limousine to pick people up and give them their orders to kill someone before pulling off again.
The mystery around their identity, which is slowly explored throughout the series, is frightening because it increases the jeopardy. Suddenly,it’s not enough for the Wallaces to survive; they need to be profitable enough not to be executed themselves. Furthermore, it globalizes the world ofGangs of Londoncompared to other pieces inthe genreand makes us feel the scale of these criminal enterprises in the modern world.
Sean and Elliot Have a Thoroughly Complex Relationship in ‘Gangs of London’
Typically, the arc of an undercover officer would be to flirt with the criminal lifestyle but always eventually pull themselves away from temptation. However,Gangs of London’s Elliot does the opposite. He embraces being a gangster more and more as the show progresses, even aiming to topple Sean and take his place. However, there is a fascinating parallel between the two. While Sean is trying to be the leader his father would have wanted him to be, at times struggling with the brutality,Elliot finds it all rather too easy, and it gives him an edge on Sean. However, Sean is arguably smarter than the detective would assume at first, and the two have fascinating back-and-forths in the first season, such as when Sean is playing football in the garden, where it is clear they are feeling each other out. Seeingone character desperate to survive in this world while the other sees it as a way to fix the issues in his life, such as giving his father a better life, makes these two a pairing you will find very entertaining as they develop.
In the end, even though it is different fromPeaky Blinders,Gangs of Londonis still the next gangster drama you should binge. Withthree seasons out, there is plenty of narrative to digest. Few shows feel as bloodthirsty asGangs of London, and it grounds this violence in its setting and the stakes of the world in which the characters exist. However, a world is nothing without great characters, and Sean, Elliot, Marian, and many more are all people you will be constantly on the edge of your seat for while watching, due to their lack of mercy and ruthless approach to the criminal lifestyle.
Gangs of Londonis available to stream on AMC+ in the U.S.
