The Gentleman: Season 2 - Meh

 

Okay, so ... I loved Season 1, let me start there.

Season 2 is - meh.

For starters, Eddie went from being a stand-up, honest, morally conflicted person trapped in this situation he has to get his family out of (who ends up being good at this "situation") to ruthless, old-school, British colonizer/aristocratic douchebag -  apparently sometime offscreen between Season 1 and Season 2?

Because in the season opener he Geoffrey what he wants, which is basically as far as the eye can see, , wanting everything the light touches like he's the freaking British Lion King.

I literally was thinking "Who IS this, now?" and "Ewww."

Also, besides dragging in parts between the good stuff - in addition to Guy Ritchie, a man famous for creating his own clever plotlines and twists, in addition to regurgitating some of his own former plotlines -  has somehow also shamelessly swiped plotlines from  Peaky Blinders, Ozark, and Breaking Bad. 

This is all stuff that was brilliant when originally done - but we've seen it all before, at this point - there's nothing fresh here except the very shocking bloody end (and by bloody I do NOT mean it in the British way, I mean literally bloody).

I mean, if you haven't seen any of those films or shows already, then I guess you're in for a treat - but otherwise, I literally started yawning about midway through.

Also, although I love Bella and I love the chemistry between Eddie and Bella - there was no romance time here. There was an ongoing attraction/flirtation whenever they saw each other, which was rare, then suddenly they're deeply in love and getting married, but they have no idea who the other person really is? Alrighty.

Also, is insatiable, murderous greed and power abuse compatible with being that deeply in love?

I don't know the answer to that - but I want to say "No."

I know the tagline for this season is "Ambition Can't Be Tamed" - but clearly, Bella did tame him as far as commitment and love - AND he became a ruthless MF.

I'm not saying that ruthless gangsters don't also genuinely love their families and that there isn't honor among thieves - I'm just saying that when you are throes of falling in love, especially in the beginning, the power of the sensation of love makes everything look and feel brighter, love changes you - you're actually usually the best version of yourself when in love, not the worst?

I could understand someone becoming like that after that person was murdered or something, but before or during?

And also, even true crime bosses rarely do these things themselves, they usually order it, right?

And there are some very real, true stories about criminals changing their ways after finding love, in fact - and the fact is, love does soften you - so I'm not sure that being deep in love and bloodthirsty power lust are actually compatible?

I'm not sure that bloodthirsty criminals were ever in love or loved.

In fact, I'm not even sure they're capable of love - it's not like known serial killers were also deeply in love with someone and were like "Honey, I love you madly, but I gotta go out and torture and kill someone with my own bare hands now." 😂

I mean, it just doesn't happen. If they are in relationships, it's either a cover or they're monstrous within them, too.

I dunno, I have always thought men like that collect women like they collect their favorite guns rather than true love lol.

Thus, my theory is that real love and murderous impulse are incompatible - and I hope no one proves me wrong lol.

Also, SPOILER ALERT - who else predicted what would happen to Bella from the beginning, because it's been very clear from season 1 that Susie is the most appropriate person for him in his profession and they're just dragging out the sexual tension for as long as they can because ending it has ruined shows.

However, there is that pesky class thing in the way - there's always that pesky class thing in the way, in Britain, isn't there? 

AND - it's stupid. 

At this point, generations of spoiling privilege (not to mention inbreeding) don't result in the best stock anymore, genetically OR with regard to cultivating character  - sorry, European Aristocracy. 

In fact, considering the methods we now know were used to obtain power, I'm not sure they ever were the best man for the job in the first place instead of just the most ruthless.

Now, don't get me wrong, both the casting and the acting are excellent. There's literally no one miscast and everyone is convincing - Guy Ritchie - or his casting director - always does an excellent job with that and it continues here. 

In fact, if there's a reason to watch this show, it's literally because of the casting/acting.

Also, I nominate Theo James to be the next James Bond, who's with me?

But is it worth a watch, this season?

Considering the time of year it is and the lack of premieres, maybe. But if it was released with other premieres of other shows, after having seen it, quite honestly, it'd go on the back burner. 

Overall disappointed - sorry, Guy.