I found season one of "Gangs of London" to be good, but a little below truly top class television. I think, at the conclusion of the second season, I feel largely the same, but if more was to come, then I'd continue to watch it.
With Sean Wallace (Joe Cole) dead, power in London sits firmly in the hands of "The Investors". Though Ed Dumani (Lucian Msamati) and Asif Afridi (Asif Raza Mir) are in apparent control, with Elliot (Sope Dirisu) acting as an enforcer - the Investors still send the psychotic Koba (Waleed Zuaiter) to act in their interests. Elliot though has lost himself in the violence he's been forced to undertake and is looking for a way to get himself, and his father, out.
Whilst never quite having an episode to match the Gareth Evans directed fifth episode, of the first season, "Gangs of London" remains perhaps the most expensively violent show made in this country. The scenes with the helicopter gunship alone must have cost more than the entire budget of most series. I'd also say, though the choreographed fight scenes remain impressive, there's nothing to match the "Raid" style back and forths in that first season either.
Storyline-wise it's a little clearer though. There are fewer individual gangs, which helps, but again alliances are formed and broken, and people are crossed and double crossed. It is a little harder to root for any of the characters this time, as the main thrust of the story this time is Elliot's decision about whether or not leave the game, and he's no longer the undercover cop trying his best. I would also say, apart from a few alliances shifting, there isn't much different at the end of season two, than there was at the end of the first season, so in that regard, it's a little inconsequential.
Its certainly well made and I'll watch a third season if one is forthcoming, but I still don't think it's quite at the top tier of TV.
With Sean Wallace (Joe Cole) dead, power in London sits firmly in the hands of "The Investors". Though Ed Dumani (Lucian Msamati) and Asif Afridi (Asif Raza Mir) are in apparent control, with Elliot (Sope Dirisu) acting as an enforcer - the Investors still send the psychotic Koba (Waleed Zuaiter) to act in their interests. Elliot though has lost himself in the violence he's been forced to undertake and is looking for a way to get himself, and his father, out.
Whilst never quite having an episode to match the Gareth Evans directed fifth episode, of the first season, "Gangs of London" remains perhaps the most expensively violent show made in this country. The scenes with the helicopter gunship alone must have cost more than the entire budget of most series. I'd also say, though the choreographed fight scenes remain impressive, there's nothing to match the "Raid" style back and forths in that first season either.
Storyline-wise it's a little clearer though. There are fewer individual gangs, which helps, but again alliances are formed and broken, and people are crossed and double crossed. It is a little harder to root for any of the characters this time, as the main thrust of the story this time is Elliot's decision about whether or not leave the game, and he's no longer the undercover cop trying his best. I would also say, apart from a few alliances shifting, there isn't much different at the end of season two, than there was at the end of the first season, so in that regard, it's a little inconsequential.
Its certainly well made and I'll watch a third season if one is forthcoming, but I still don't think it's quite at the top tier of TV.