If you have had the pleasure of seeing either of The Raid films from director Gareth Evans, the idea of him devoting his skills for the extremely violent to the small screen is incredibly exciting. If you have yet to see those films, you should rectify that as soon as humanly possible so you can understand why the new Sky Atlantic/AMC co-production Gangs of London should be firmly on your radar. Created alongside Matt Flannery, this new crime series makes its presence known from the very first scene as one that is not going to pull any punches. Evans is one of the most notable mad geniuses operating in the business right now as he uses bone-crunching violence as the paint of a beautiful action masterpiece. Throughout this ten-episode debut season, we get to witness a family in turmoil and how it impacts everyone in their orbit. Destined to be a new favorite for a certain bloodthirsty segment of the audience, this series offers thoughtful twists and turns in addition to the action set pieces that will rock your world.
The story is a classic one that follows what happens when a power structure is disrupted. We memorably first meet Sean Wallace (Joe Cole) as he is interrogating a poor soul who is hanging upside down from an unfinished high-rise. To say that things do not end up well for this man when he fails to provide satisfactory answers would be an understatement. The way he is dispatched is the definition of overkill, but it perfectly clues you into the unstable mindset of Joe. It was only a week ago that his father and crime boss Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney) was unexpectedly murdered and all hell broke loose in the London crime world. We know that the hit was carried out by Darren Edwards (Aled ap Steffa) of a group of vagabonds known as Travellers, but we are not quite sure of who ordered it. The rage-filled youngest of the family, Sean, has the wrong impression of who is responsible which leads to a splintering of the delicate bond between the various crime factions that had been forged over decades by Finn and his best friend and chief adviser, Ed Dumani (Lucian Msamati, Games of Thrones).
Through a series of awful choices, Sean makes a laundry list of enemies including the Albanian Mafia, competing Pakistani and Kurdish heroine rings, and so many more. While it may seem like Sean is our primary protagonist, the honor would actually go to Elliot Finch (Sope Dirisu) who serves as a foot soldier for the Wallace family and always seems to be around for the most violent moments. Through his talents for resolving seemingly impossible situations, Elliot moves up the ranks and into the inner circle despite some distrust from some within the family. You really want him to be the audience surrogate after watching him disarm eight men in an epic bar fight with nothing but a dart to aid him. That and the fact that he is not showing off with his skills; he is more so annoyed that he puts in such an effort for people who do not seem to appreciate what he brings to the table. The Wallace inner-circle is populated by various fascinating figures from the recently-widowed matriarch (a striking Michelle Fairley, Game of Thrones) to Sean’s heroin-addicted older brother Billy (Brian Vernel) and Ed’s clever son Alex (Paapa Essiedu), who was in contention to take over the throne.
While not the strongest suit of the show, the power-intrigue and shifting allegiances make for some very compelling storylines, especially as you learn more about these characters and events are clarified quite a bit. This show knows how to do some impressive world-building in short order. The series can occasionally feel a touch too ambitious, but it never falls on its face in this regard. You also cannot understate how much good will the show builds up from the action piece alone. At least once an episode you get a sequence that is so precisely staged and executed that you want to stand up and clap. A highlight from the season is a showdown with a large man wielding a meat cleaver that follows the action in a way that few filmmakers so purposefully do these days. Every motion is critical to establishing the flow of the scene. It is why these scenes will stick with you long after you have finished the episode. Sure, the brutality is gloriously memorable, but violence does not make as big of an impact if there is not some thought behind it. Gangs of London is the perfect combination of enthralling story and no-holds-barred action set pieces. It is truly a thrilling journey.
Video Quality
The first season of Gangs Of London comes to Blu-Ray with an eye-popping 1080p presentation that pushes the format to its limit. The series is filled with intricately curated gritty sets and gorgeous cinematography that is presented with perfect clarity on this disc. From the many brightly lit scenes to the darker, shadowy sequences, the skin tones and facial details are incredibly rendered in a way you could almost mistake this for a 4K disc. Subtle facial features are readily visible, such as the many cuts and bruises you see throughout the season that lends itself to intricate texture. Colors from the blood and costumes pop off the screen alongside the varied lush landscapes. Black levels are very deep and never betray the objects on screen. No instances of compression artifacts crept up during the viewing. This is an immaculate presentation that perfectly showcases a beautifully shot series that deserves such treatment.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is quite forceful The series is primarily dialogue driven, but there are also frequent action-packed sequences such as hand-to-hand combat and explosions that kick this track into overdrive. There is some nice ambient activity in the rear channels, especially during crowded sequences or after an unexpected gunshot leads to some ear ringing. The dialogue primarily stays in front center channels and is reproduced clearly. The track does a good job of making sure neither sound effects nor the score ever overpowers dialogue. The score brings a richness to the series that fills up the room on this track. When the action kicks in, there is some heft to the low end that is appreciated in a series such as this one. This track has a substantial dynamic range that should please fans of the series.
Special Features
- The World: A five-minute look at the setting of the show as a whole and how it informs the story with insights from the cast and crew. There are some good insights from the creative team concerning how they wanted to differentiate this show from others to make it more enthralling.
- The Families: A six-minute piece which takes a closer look at the family dynamics within the show that keep it from being a mindless bloodbath.
- The Soldier: A five-minute featurette which takes a closer look at the character ol Elliot Finch and the performance from Sope Dirisu.
- The Power: A five-minute look at some of the powerful females in the show and what the writers focused on while developing these characters.
- The Action: A nearly five-minute look at the action present in the series and how the creatives took an uncompromising approach to executing it.
- Anatomy Of An Action Scene: A sixteen-minute piece which provides analysis from Gareth Edwards of two key action scenes including the Pub Fight and Elliot vs. Len. There are some nice tidbits in here regarding filming techniques, visual effects, lighting and more.
Final Thoughts
Gangs of London could very likely be your next new addiction. The series offers up some breathlessly compelling storylines as these various factions figure out how to exist after a power vacuum is created. The performances are strong all around, but it is the numerous fight sequences that really elevate this show to must-watch television. RLJE Films has released a Blu-Ray set featuring a grand A/V presentation and a decent assortment of special features. While not well promoted in the United States upon its initial launch, the show is one that is destined to become a fan favorite. Recommended
Gangs of London: The Complete First Season is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: RLJE Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
