TV has caught up with cinema. Once considered a step back in an actor’s career, it is now considered two steps forward to secure a role on a hit series. This isn’t only the case for Hollywood but for the U.K. market as well. Just ask Joe Cole. The Brit has featured in multiple films and as most know, was a regular on Peaky Blinders. Now Joe Cole has found his own show in that of Gangs of London. Like Peaky Blinders, Gangs of London is in the ‘gangster’ genre. The difference being, this is set in the present day.
Gangs of London explodes onto the scene of television with Joe Cole in the driver’s seat, now a rising star hoping to stake his own claim in the industry.
Gangsters and gang culture have long been popular in TV and film, particularly in Hollywood. Peaky Blinders has elevated the interest amongst those who live across the pond. Gangs of London is only further serving to continue growing the genre’s popularity. Set in London, the series begins with the assassination of London’s most powerful crime lord Finn Wallace. Joe Cole is his son, Sean Wallace, who vows to bring those responsible swift and deadly punishment as he gains control of the organization. Finn’s death followed by Sean’s ongoing retribution sets in motion a sequence of events that leads to tensions within London’s criminal underworld, the gangs clambering for power amid the ensuing chaos. For its first season which debuted in 2020, Gangs of London explodes onto the scene of television with Joe Cole in the driver’s seat, now a rising star hoping to stake his own claim in the industry.
Season one gives audiences intense fight choreography, impressive gun battles, slow burning but solid plotting, sharp directing, and inspired acting by the ensemble. The FX and editing are incredibly cinematic, the writing is commendable but as it’s still in the early stages there is much to be developed down the line. Joe Cole does enough to make his character compelling but he also shows that there’s still room to grow. Cole’s leading man potential is there, and season one gives the audience a reason to care about how Wallace can potentially evolve as a character. That is, in the event that he returns for a second season or even later down the line. The first nine episodes are not without their flaws, but the pros outweigh the cons. Gangs of London is gritty, bold, and has since become one of the more exciting crime dramas that have come out of the United Kingdom in recent years.
As it so happens, a second season has been confirmed for 2022. Not much is yet known about where things are headed and even less is known about who is returning. Season two will certainly have a tough act to follow, but the sky is the limit from this point on and the fans are lying in wait with anxious excitement. So get ahead of the curve and see what all the noise is about. Catch this must watch Sky Original series on AMC+ with a subscription, or just pay for season one online.
