Gangs of London drops viewers into a power vacuum created by the assassination of the head of London’s most powerful crime family. The resulting chaos draws in rival gangs from across the city and beyond, each jockeying for control while an undercover investigation threatens to expose them all. The show is the creation of Gareth Evans, the filmmaker behind The Raid, and his action sensibilities are stamped on every frame.
The show generated passionate reactions, with viewers split between those who consider it the best action television ever made and those who feel it prioritizes style over substance. Community discussion consistently praises the action sequences while debating whether the characters and story measure up.
Action Sequences That Redefine Television Violence
The fight choreography and action direction are on a level that television rarely reaches. Evans brings his film background to sequences that are meticulously staged, brutally physical, and shot with a clarity that lets viewers follow every blow. Individual set pieces, particularly extended siege sequences and hand-to-hand combat scenes, rank among the best action filmmaking in any medium. The show treats its violence as craft rather than spectacle, and the difference is visible.
The world-building is ambitious in scope. The show presents London as a city controlled by intersecting criminal enterprises from different ethnic and national backgrounds, and the political dynamics between these groups create a complex web of alliances and betrayals. The international cast brings authenticity to this diverse criminal ecosystem, and the show makes the smart choice of letting characters speak in their native languages rather than forcing everything into English.
The production values are exceptional throughout. The show looks and sounds like a big-budget film series, with cinematography that uses London’s architecture and lighting to create a specific atmosphere of controlled menace. The sound design during action sequences is particularly noteworthy, giving physical impact to every confrontation.
Characters Lost in the Crossfire
The most persistent criticism is that the characters aren’t as compelling as the action surrounding them. Sean Wallace, the heir to the family empire, is positioned as the central character but doesn’t always command the screen the way his father’s legacy demands. Several characters feel defined by their plot function rather than their personality, and the show’s large cast means that development is spread thin.
The second season received a notably cooler reception than the first. The shift in focus and tone divided viewers, with many feeling the show lost some of the raw energy that made the debut season exciting. Plot threads become increasingly convoluted without a corresponding increase in emotional investment, and the balance between action and drama tips further toward confusion.
The extreme violence is also a barrier for many viewers. Even by the standards of prestige crime dramas, Gangs of London pushes into territory that some find gratuitous. While the action is technically accomplished, the sheer volume of graphic violence can become numbing rather than thrilling. The show doesn’t always earn its brutality through narrative necessity, and some set pieces feel designed to shock rather than serve the story.
The Violence as Language
Gangs of London’s most interesting tension is between its visual sophistication and its narrative ambitions. The show uses violence as its primary language of expression, and when that language connects to character and story, the results are extraordinary. When it doesn’t, the technical excellence becomes an end in itself, impressive but hollow.
Should You Watch Gangs of London?
If you’re drawn to action-driven crime dramas and have a high tolerance for graphic violence, the first season delivers some of the most impressive action sequences ever produced for television. The show is particularly worth watching for fans of Evans’s film work. Skip it if extreme violence puts you off, or if you need strong character work to justify your investment in a crime drama.
The Verdict on Gangs of London
Gangs of London is a show at war with itself, possessing some of the most thrilling action sequences on television wrapped around a narrative that doesn’t always match that ambition. Its first season makes a strong case for what action-focused television can achieve, and individual set pieces will linger in your memory long after the plot details have faded. It’s a flawed but frequently spectacular piece of work that pushes the boundaries of what TV action can look like.