The Gentlemen Season 2 Has More Crime, But Not Much More to Say

Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen has returned with a bigger criminal empire, a new collection of aristocrats and gangsters, and the return of Theo James as Eddie Horniman and Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass.

But while Season 2 expands the world of the Netflix series, early reviews suggest it does not move far enough from the formula that made the first season popular.

Critics have praised its absurd humour and visual style, but some have also questioned its pacing and reliance on familiar Guy Ritchie tropes. The result is a season that remains entertaining, even if it does not feel particularly fresh.

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Season 2 Pushes Eddie Further into Crime

Season 2 picks up with Eddie no longer the reluctant aristocrat who accidentally inherited a criminal operation. Netflix's official cast guide says he is now firmly in control, embracing the possibility of being both an aristocrat and a criminal. His partnership with Susie also expands beyond England as their operation grows and brings them into contact with new enemies and allies.

This gives the season a larger playing field, but it also raises the question at the heart of the reviews: can Ritchie's familiar style still feel exciting when audiences already know the formula?

The Guardian argues that much of the energy from Ritchie's earlier work has been replaced by slower pacing. Its review describes Season 2 as lavish, overlong and intermittently funny, while criticising its dependence on familiar characters and situations. Eddie's search for greater power also takes him into international drug dealing and British politics, adding more ambition to the character without necessarily making him more compelling.

A Bigger Cast and a Wider Criminal Empire

The series has responded to its expanded story with a larger ensemble. Hugh Bonneville joins as Lord Hawthorne, while Maya Jama plays fixer Aisha. Other new additions include Michele Morrone as Cico Maldini, Benedetta Porcaroli as Bella, Sergio Castellitto as Italian crime boss Marco Moretti, Benjamin Clementine and Chris Eubank Jr.

The new characters help move the story beyond the English country estate that defined much of the first season. Eddie and Susie's criminal operation now stretches into Italy, bringing the aristocratic crime comedy into contact with a more conventional mafia world.