The intense world of Gangs of London returns with even more brutal confrontations and a fight scene that could easily be pulled straight from Die Hard. As the show continues to serve up raw violence and power struggles, keeping track of the shifting allegiances within the city’s criminal underworld proves to be just as complicated as ever.
Sky’s Gangs of London has never been shy about its gritty portrayal of London’s bloodthirsty gangs, where face-to-face meetings are as vital to the plot as the signature bloody brawls and shootouts. The phrase “Call a meeting of the gangs. Tonight” has become a hallmark of the show, signaling that chaos is about to ensue. For the various factions, these meetings serve as a chance to identify potential threats within their ranks. For viewers, they offer an opportunity to keep up with the larger-than-life personalities who shape the city’s criminal landscape—from Marian Wallace (Michelle Fairley), the ruthless Irish widow, to the sharp-dressed fixer Ed Dumani (Lucian Msamati), and the unyielding Albanian mobster Luan (Orli Shuka). After two seasons of betrayals, backstabbing, and visceral violence, the one thing that remains certain is that survival is key in this brutal world.
At the heart of the action is Elliot Finch (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù), the undercover cop turned mobster, who finds himself deeply embedded in the very world he once sought to dismantle. This season, Elliot is faced with a devastating blow: a cocaine shipment he oversees is laced with fentanyl, leading to hundreds of deaths across London. This disaster not only threatens his criminal empire but also his carefully cultivated reputation. As accusations fly and tensions rise, Elliot’s investigation into the sabotage reveals a tangled web of enemies and past mistakes, leading to violent confrontations and shocking discoveries.
New antagonists make their mark this season, including Andrew Koji, fresh from his role in Warrior, and the ever-evocative Richard Dormer, who brings an unrelenting energy to his portrayal of a malicious Irish troublemaker. Meanwhile, the newly elected mayor Simone Thearle (T’Nia Miller) adds another layer of intrigue, her apparent anti-drug stance undermined by her secret use of cocaine. Miller’s nuanced performance reveals a depth to the character, offering moments of subtlety amidst the chaos.
While Gangs of London is known for its relentless action, with its signature bruising fistfights and exhilarating shootouts, it also delves deeper into the tangled web of power, loyalty, and retribution. The show’s convoluted plotline, laden with shifting motivations and alliances, may be difficult to follow for those who’ve lost track of earlier developments. For the dedicated viewer, however, the intense confrontations and elaborate power struggles continue to deliver an engaging, if sometimes overwhelming, experience.
Season three reaches new heights in terms of both violence and intensity, with one particularly memorable sequence in episode five. This episode focuses on Lale (Narges Rashidi), a Kurdish freedom fighter-turned-drug smuggler, who finds herself cornered by a group of heavily armed men in an abandoned office building. The ensuing battle—an homage to Die Hard—is a masterclass in improvised weaponry and raw survival, offering a rare moment of empowerment for Lale as she takes on her enemies with unmatched ferocity. It’s a stunning, transgressive fight that becomes the season’s standout moment.
However, while the show delivers intense action and unpredictable twists, its glorification of violence may not be for everyone. Those who found the previous seasons’ violent excesses off-putting will likely remain unimpressed. Nevertheless, for those who revel in high-stakes tension, Gangs of London still delivers a nerve-wracking experience.
As the season unfolds, the stakes continue to rise, with dangerous power plays and explosive showdowns that promise to leave viewers on the edge of their seats. It’s a chaotic, bloody world, and one that shows no signs of slowing down.
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