Spoiler Alert !!!This article contains spoilers for The Gentlemen season 1. If you have not seen it, do that and then come back.
The Gentlemen season 2 is almost here. What better time to look back at the plot and ending of season 1? The Netflix series is a spinoff of Guy Ritchie’s 2019 action comedy of the same name. It is set in the same universe but tells a brand-new story with a different set of characters. Season 1 mainly followed Eddie Horniman (Theo James). He inherits his family’s estate and discovers that it is home to a lucrative cannabis empire.
Initially, he wants nothing to do with the criminal business. However, a series of weird events force him into the underworld. He comes into conflict and cooperation with the Glass family, Stanley Johnston (Giancarlo Esposito), and several other criminals. It is a hot mess, all right. Before you watch season 2, which releases on September 3, let’s revisit the first season and explore what you need to remember.
How Does Eddie Get Involved With the Glass Family?
Eddie’s problems begin when his elder brother Freddy (Daniel Ings, Lyonel Baratheon in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) owes £8 million to criminal Tommy Dixon (Peter Serafinowicz). Eventually, Freddy kills Tommy and Eddie has to help cover up the murder. Meanwhile, Eddie comes into contact with Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario). She runs the criminal empire of her father (Bobby, played by Ray Winstone), since he is in prison.
It is not long before Eddie realizes that Bobby has been growing cannabis beneath Halstead Manor. Eddie wishes for the operation to be shut down, but he realizes that getting rid of the Glass family will be more difficult than he imagined. Instead, Eddie begins cooperating with Susie and soon becomes comfortable in the criminal world.
What Happens After Freddy Kills Tommy Dixon?
Peter Serafinowicz as Tommy Dixon in The Gentlemen season 1 | Credits: Netflix
Eddie and Susie deal with the consequences of Tommy’s murder while trying to keep their respective interests protected. Eddie attempts to save Jethro, the surviving witness, but Susie ultimately has him killed.
Their partnership continues despite the growing mistrust between them. Eddie helps the Glass family expand its business while trying to get them off his estate. However, the Glasses have no intention of leaving quietly, especially with millions of pounds still needing to be laundered.
Things become even more complicated in The Gentlemen when American billionaire and drug kingpin Stanley Johnston enters the picture.
Why Do Eddie and Susie Turn Against Each Other?
Kaya Scodelario and Theo James as Susie Glass and Eddie Horniman | Credits: Netflix
Stanley wants Bobby’s cannabis empire and begins disrupting the Glass operation. Eddie sees an opportunity to get rid of the Glasses and secretly works with Stanley, giving him information about the aristocratic estates being used for the business.
Henry Collins eventually reveals Eddie’s betrayal to Susie. She retaliates by telling Gospel John that Freddy killed his brother Tommy. Gospel arrives at Halstead Manor demanding Freddy, but Bobby intervenes and pays him to leave. Bobby then announces that he is retiring and will sell his criminal empire to the highest bidder.
What Is Stanley Johnston Really After?
Giancarlo Esposito as Stanley Johnston | Credits: Netflix
Stanley is determined to take over Bobby’s entire cannabis empire. He has the money to outbid almost everyone, forcing Eddie and Susie to reluctantly work together again. The pair decide to compete for Bobby’s business themselves. Susie contributes £35 million, while Eddie raises money through his network, giving them a combined £235 million. Stanley remains their biggest obstacle, so Eddie finds another way to remove him from the race.
He obtains Stanley’s tax records and uses them to have the billionaire arrested for tax evasion. With Stanley’s assets frozen, he can no longer compete for the empire.
How Does The Gentlemen Season 1 End?
A still from The Gentlemen | Credits: Netflix
In The Gentlemen season 1 ending, Eddie and Susie manipulate the remaining bidders until Mercy kills Sticky Pete, after which Henry eliminates Mercy. Henry also becomes a target after betraying Susie. Eddie takes him to the woods, where Susie tells him to finish his “journey.” Eddie ultimately pulls the trigger himself.
With that, Eddie completes his journey from being a reluctant aristocrat to becoming a criminal who is prepared to kill for his interests. However, Bobby has one more trick up his sleeve: the whole auction was merely a test to prove to himself if Eddie and Susie could put their life and fortunes at risk.
Bobby is still in charge while Eddie and Susie form a partnership to grow the business. The Gentlemen season 1 ends with Stanley behind bars alongside Bobby, setting the stage for an even bigger criminal battle in Season 2.
The Gentlemen season 2 reviews are not out yet, but season 1 holds a score of 75% on the Tomatometer, as of September 2.
What do you remember most about The Gentlemen season 1? Share your thoughts in the comments before diving into season 2.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
