Netflix’s crime comedy-drama series The Gentlemen returned for a second season, continuing the story of aristocrat Eddie Horniman, the Duke of Halstead, portrayed by Theo James. The show, created by Guy Ritchie and co-written by Matthew Read, adapts elements from Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name and explores themes of class, crime, and modern masculinity through a stylized lens.
The first season of The Gentlemen attracted a global audience of over 100 million viewers between 2024 and 2025. Although reports circulated that the Duchess of Sussex might join the cast in the third season, these plans were allegedly scrapped following public backlash. The show centers on Eddie’s marijuana farming operations at his English country estate, with the narrative expanding this season to include scenes set in Italy, where Eddie seeks to grow his empire with the involvement of local mobsters led by Sergio Castellitto.
Key returning characters include Susie Glass, Eddie’s resourceful fixer, played by Kaya Scodelario, and Bobby, Susie’s father and a criminal kingpin still serving time, played by Ray Winstone. Bobby continues to exert influence despite his incarceration, famously conducting business from a sauna. Vinnie Jones reprises his role as Geoff, the loyal gamekeeper, whose relationship with Eddie’s mother, Lady Sabrina (Joely Richardson), develops as a notable subplot.
The new season features additional characters such as Lord Hawthorne, a gay aristocrat played by Hugh Bonneville, whose portrayal has drawn some criticism for scenes that many view as bordering on homophobia. Meanwhile, Daniel Ings’ character Freddy, Eddie’s volatile and disinherited brother who was a standout in the first series, receives far less screen time in the latest episodes.
The series maintains its focus on the intersecting worlds of upper-class privilege and working-class criminality, often emphasizing traditional stereotypes of masculinity and class conflict. Scenes emphasize elements of aristocratic life, including pheasant shooting and peerages, while incorporating the vernacular and culture of London’s working-class criminals.
Despite moments of sharp dialogue and occasional dark humor, the show has been noted to struggle with pacing and emotional depth across its eight episodes. Critics point to reliance on swearing, bursts of violence, and digressive monologues on historical and cultural themes — ranging from the Magna Carta to falconry — that some find exhausting or distracting. The shift in setting from the traditional English manor to Italian palaces alters the series’ original tone, drawing comparisons to classic mafia narratives but lacking the nuanced appeal of its predecessor.
While The Gentlemen continues to explore themes of modern masculinity, some observers argue that the series remains entrenched in a nostalgic, almost 1990s-style portrayal of masculinity centered on bravado, excess, and excitement, with less attention to the complexities of contemporary life. This approach marks a departure from the more dynamic storytelling seen in Guy Ritchie’s earlier work, such as his 1998 debut film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.