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Since the release of Ritchie’s first action comedy film in 1998, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, he has consistently promoted a male-centered ideology that reinforces the patriarchy. For 25 years, his depictions of women have reduced them to mere objects or comedic sidekicks while simultaneously elevating men like Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones as prime examples of British masculinity.

His new Netflix show is named The Gentlemen, which is based on his 2019 film of the same title. Theo James, who portrays a character named Eddie Halstead, agrees with my observations but also confesses to being enamored with Ritchie’s work since he was young. In his own words, “Lock, Stock was a significant part of my teenage cultural influence. [Ritchie] introduced this lively British sub-genre. It left a lasting impression – my friends and I would often quote lines from the film during our sixth form years. It was quite impactful at the time.”

After more than 25 years, is it not worth considering if Ritchie should give recognition to the 50% majority of the population he has largely overlooked? One would expect him to have enough life experience to acknowledge the existence of strong women. After all, he was once known as Mr Madonna.

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Upon discussing these worries with Kaya Scodelario, the female lead in The Gentlemen, she responded with intense agreement. She expressed, “I was genuinely concerned about this issue. I made it a priority to have a discussion with the showrunners to ensure that her character, Susie Glass, would remain a consistent aspect throughout the plot, with her own development and a prominent presence. I didn’t want her to get lost in the storyline, as can often occur in many of Guy’s past projects.”

The young actor from the television show Skins on E4, who has been working in the United States for 15 years, plays a unique role in this series. Susie Glass is not only elegant, but she also possesses more intelligence than the male characters in the show combined. She portrays a woman who manages a criminal enterprise, secretly growing and selling marijuana while her father (played by Ray Winstone) serves time in a comfortable minimum-security prison. Although the show is titled The Gentlemen, the main character is actually a woman.

Actor Joely Richardson, who portrays wealthy widow Lady Sabrina Halstead, intriguingly describes the series as a blend of “Downton Abbey” and “Peaky Blinders”. When handsome duke Eddie inherits his father’s estate, he returns from his military service to discover that the family’s yogurt farm is not the main source of income – instead, there is a secret cannabis factory run by the Glass family underneath the dairy. As British playwright Noël Coward famously recognized, many stately homes in England are heavily in debt. However, it is unlikely that Coward ever envisioned a scenario where one aristocratic family would fend off debt collectors by operating a large criminal enterprise on their estate, managed by a rough East Londoner (no offence intended).

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The character Theo James plays, Duke Eddie, is facing a similar situation to Michael Corleone in The Godfather. His character starts out as a moral man returning to his family, but as time goes on, he becomes corrupted by the family’s involvement in the drug business. This was a major source of inspiration for Theo while playing the role, but he emphasizes that they were not trying to copy The Godfather.

James, famous for his role in The White Lotus, reveals that he faced difficulty in portraying Eddie with empathy. This is an interesting confession, considering that James is currently taking a break from filming an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Monkey, where he plays both twin brothers who discover a toy monkey in the attic that may be linked to a series of killings. “It’s quite violent, but also has a comedic side similar to Gremlins, if you recall that movie,” he explains.

I have a strong dislike for the aristocracy, believing them to be responsible for perpetuating a harmful class structure that has negatively impacted British society for centuries. I also view them as equally culpable as those involved in the illegal drug trade. I found it difficult to embody the characteristic manners and behavior expected of a duke. On one occasion, when I attempted to carry my own bags, I was chastised by Guy who reminded me that it was beneath the station of a butler to do so. It would never occur to Eddie (the duke) to carry his own belongings.

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The portrayal of the British social hierarchy is a significant element in The Gentlemen, primarily by intensifying the sexual tension between Eddie, a handsome duke, and Susie, a street-smart criminal. James comments, “We were inspired by Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd’s dynamic in Moonlighting, where there was undeniable sexual tension, but it could never be resolved.” Therefore, Eddie and Susie’s relationship cannot exist without ruining the sense of drama.

As Scodelario enters the scene, it becomes clear that anyone who dismisses her as just a man or a spineless upper-class person will be making a grave error. Speaking about her character Susie, Scodelario expresses that she may be the most relatable to her own personal background compared to any other role she has taken on. She identifies as working class and is the daughter of an immigrant who had to hold down multiple jobs.

The most striking aspect of The Gentlemen is the way its leads draw on their past experiences as inspiration. Vinnie Jones, a well-known figure in Ritchie’s films and famous for being a tough guy, is remembered for two images – grabbing Gazza’s private parts during a 1987 soccer match and posing with two shotguns in publicity photos for Lock, Stock. In this film, Jones takes on a different role, returning to his more peaceful nature from his youth. Jones grew up in a peaceful countryside near Watford, where recreational drug use was not a common practice among young people. Instead, they found ways to get a natural high, such as finding bird’s nests or taming ferrets. Jones explains, “Our idea of getting high was different – it didn’t involve cocaine or other drugs. For us, it was things like finding a bird’s nest or training a buzzard.”

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Jones portrays the rustic and youthful Geoff Seacombe in his role as the gamekeeper for the Halstead family. When Duke Eddie comes to visit, Jones showcases his collection of injured animals that he is caring for, including a fox. I ask Jones if foxes can be domesticated, to which he responds that they cannot truly be domesticated but that Guy, the writer, found it amusing. Jones mentions a time when Guy visited him at home and saw that he had many animals living with him. Foxes are typically skittish creatures and will only come out for one person before hiding or seeking shelter when anyone else arrives. However, during female fox season, they are more active and must be monitored closely.

This serene persona of Geoff, Jones hopes, will transform TV executive’s perspective on the former footballer as he diversifies from go-to meathead to sensitive flower. “They just think of me as a hardman who’s going to fight bears in Russia, you know? They can’t think beyond the stereotype. I really want to make a nature programme like Jack Hargreaves.” I’ve even built a log cabin in my garden we could use for filming.”

The mutation in The Gentlemen is quite exciting, but there is even more to it. For those of you who have been missing Gustavo Fring since he left Los Pollos Hermanos, you’re in for a treat. Ritchie has brought back Giancarlo Esposito’s lovable yet frightening drug dealer character for this series. He now plays Stanley Johnston, a successful African American meth dealer who shares the same profession as Fring did in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. In The Gentlemen, Johnston is a lover of British culture and he has a desire to purchase Eddie’s estate, including the outbuilding with a hidden drug factory in the basement (similar to the one Fring had under a laundry in Albuquerque) to keep it away from prying eyes.

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The words written by Ritchie and Matthew Read for Esposito are even more captivating as they satirize a millennium of British history. “Have you ever thought about what makes the British aristocracy so special?” asks Esposito rhetorically during a casual conversation with Duke Eddie. “They’re like the original gangsters. The reason they have control over three-quarters of this country is because they took it. William the Conqueror was even worse than Al Capone. When he arrived from France, he seized every opportunity to claim land and then created a system to ensure that he and his allies could keep it forever. Taxation. Education. The judiciary. It’s all cleverly designed to maintain the aristocracy’s hold on their wealth and property.”

It must be lovely, I suggest to Esposito, to be a person of colour sticking it to Brits on their home turf and explaining our nation’s contribution to global white supremacy and structural racism?

Esposito shares a story in response. “Years ago, when I arrived in London, I was with my white girlfriend who had long blonde hair. As we walked through customs, a police officer in full uniform walked alongside me, staring. I ignored him completely, as I was focused on talking to my companion. He didn’t speak, but he clearly wanted to intimidate me.”

“Welcome to London,” I greet Esposito. “It’s a truly meaningful experience to challenge society’s views of people who are black or brown.”

“I have always aspired to work in Europe, and specifically with director Guy Ritchie. However, I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to portray such a significant character. I am portraying a wealthy individual of African American descent who exudes grace, poise, and success. Kudos to Ritchie for defying stereotypes. I fully support this perspective. It challenges the misconception that only white people hold positions of power, sophistication, and intellect.”

The true gentleman in the show is not the wealthy duke in his mansion, nor the sharp boys and hoodlums of the United Kingdom’s criminal underworld, but rather a sophisticated African American man from the less privileged side of town.

“It’s evolving from the times dominated by white people to a world where the smartest, most intelligent, and elegant individuals dominate…” Esposito stops for dramatic effect, lowers his voice, and gazes at me with serious intent, “… cunning, astute, and ruthless.” These four words encapsulate not only Esposito’s personality but also the overall allure of The Gentlemen.

On March 7, The Gentlemen will be available to stream on Netflix.

Source: theguardian.com