Back in 2017, enthusiasts of “Peaky Blinders” (which is set to make its return in feature film format this year) experienced a significant shock at the beginning of season four when Joe Cole’s John Shelby was killed, thus severing an important segment of the organized crime family lineage. Fast forward three years, and Cole finds himself back in the present-day realm, rife with crime and consequences, with a strong emphasis on the latter in AMC+’s “Gangs of London.”
Now in its third season, “Gangs of London” debuted in 2020 and opens with the demise of crime lord Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney), with moments of mourning quickly interrupted by a quest for revenge. With a substantial void created in the Big Smoke, Finn’s composed son, Sean Wallace (Cole), is eager to ensure that those who are culpable face retribution through ruthless and violent methods. Coincidentally, just as this pursuit begins, Sean encounters the wrong man at the right moment: Elliott Finch (Sope Dirisu), who is secretly an undercover agent attempting to penetrate the Wallace organization.
Reflecting some of the power struggles found in “Peaky Blinders,” it nearly feels like a contemporary rendition of the Shelby family’s exploits. The distinction here is that “Gangs of London” delivers more intensity and significantly more firepower. This level of expertly choreographed brutality is even more comprehensible given that the show was helmed by the director of one of the finest action films ever produced.
Enjoy The Raid? Then you’ll adore Gangs of London
When curating a list of the most remarkable action films ever created, it’s highly likely that Gareth Evans’ 2011 masterpiece, “The Raid,” will be part of the dialogue, and rightly so. The Indonesian film that chronicled a drug bust at a chaotic apartment complex showcased some of the most excruciatingly intense fight scenes in cinematic history, all crafted by Evans. The film achieved such acclaim that it even outshone the comic book adaptation “Dredd,” released the following year, which shared many similar narrative elements.
That level of intensity and brutality has made its way back to the U.K. with “Gangs of London” and has only intensified into more breathtaking confrontations. The first season alone is packed with ample bloody bar fights, alleyway confrontations, and brawls that result in lost teeth or worse, to satisfy any action film aficionado. A standout moment is a siege on a charming countryside farmhouse that rapidly transforms into a battleground. It’s these kinds of shocking highlights throughout the series that have garnered it critical acclaim, reflected in an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Cole, in particular, received accolades from The Times as “superb as Sean Wallace… He came across, to me at least, as a complicated, suppressed individual.” With a fourth season on the horizon, there’s ample opportunity to see how he and Dirisu navigate their roles. Be forewarned, however — those with a weak stomach or aversion to excessive blood might want to steer clear of these London streets. Additionally, if you’re a follower of “Peaky Blinders” and “Succession,” you may find what Netflix presents here to your liking.