Gangs of London
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Gangs of London
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Gangs of London is a crime drama about an ongoing war between several international crime families in Britain. Created by Gareth Evans (The Raid: Redemption), its unique draw is the long, elaborate fight scenes that frequently feature martial arts with hand-held weapons and guns. Other violence on the show is similarly stylized, including a character who is burned alive and thrown off a building. It also has heavy sexual content, including graphic simulated sex and full frontal male nudity, as well as alcohol and drug use, including scenes where characters shoot heroin. Heavy profanity is used throughout: the "f" word, "s--t," "bitch," etc. Fans of The Raid, and Evans in general, will be drawn to the exciting fight choreography, but viewers should be prepared for graphic and unsettling content throughout the series.
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What's the Story?
GANGS OF LONDON is an action drama about a turf war between criminal factions. The Albanian Mafia, Pakistani drug cartel, and Kurdish freedom fighters are among the groups of international criminals doing business on the streets of London. At the center of them all appears to be the organization run by Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney, The Umbrella Academy). But when Wallace is assassinated and his son Sean (Joe Cole) takes over, it sends a ripple of instability through London's criminal underworld. In an instant, it's all-out war as the gangs battle for power and control of the city.
Is It Any Good?
Viewers coming to this series expecting more of Evans' intricate and surprising fight choreography won't be disappointed in the series action sequences -- Unfortunately, the rest of the show will test viewers' patience. Gangs of London is somehow both too dense and too thin, with an overwhelming number of characters and relationships to track, but not enough plot to really care about tracking them. The fights are great, but there's not enough behind them to make the series truly compelling.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence. Is it less affecting when it is "stylized," like in marital arts movies and this series? Or does it have an equal impact?
How does main character Sean treat power? How do the other characters treat power? Why do some people feel that having power is important?
What are the ethics of the police in Gangs of London? How do their actions compare or contrast with the gangs'?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 4, 2021
- Cast: Joe Cole, Lucian Msamati, Colm Meaney, Sope Dirisu
- Network: AMC
- Genre: Action
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
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