The story of a crime family in modern-day London which goes into a brutal turf war after the family head is murdered. Does the concept sound familiar?

Now hold on. What if I tell you that the series is created by Gareth Evans?

Yes. The director who gave us those bone-crunching “The Raid” movies. No wonder the violence in “Gangs of London” comes with a capital V.

Some viewers are even proclaiming that a few of the episodes are the most brutal that has ever been created for TV.  Some fans have even compared the episode five to the infamous Red Wedding episode in the Game of Thrones.

But the similarity does not end just here. There are multiple Game Of Throne stars whom you will find here, including Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark) and David Bradley (Walder Frey).

Obviously, had it just been the visceral quality and the superbly choreographed fight scenes, the series would not have earned such positive reviews. The writers Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery made sure that the story drags us along with it like a whirlwind.

The complex political machinations of the underworld along with the right element of mystery make it a perfect thriller for binge-watching. It is the elements of drama that elevates the series from being just a bloody action romp and gives it the right amount of balance. Also, there are plenty of twists that come your away as the story progresses.

The series centres on Sean Wallace who takes the position of the crime family head once his father is shot in the face.  Joe Cole, the former star of Peaky Blinders, plays the role of a young crime lord with just the right amount of cold-blooded ruthlessness. He is desperate to find out his father’s murderer and no one is beyond suspicion.

Then there is the low-ranking thug Elliot Finch, played by Sope Dirisu, who is trying hard to rise through the ranks of the gang.

The first episode itself gives us two inimitable fight scenes that will rank among the best ones ever filmed for television. While the first one is a violent club brawl with some unique weapons, the second one is a bloody battle for life with a touch of horror. Dirisu plays the prime role in both the sequences and nails both with the right level of physical intensity.

Dirisu was trained in karate and judo in his younger days and it shows in the effort that he puts in these fight scenes. Here he worked with some of the best stunt coordinators like Jude Poyer to make the choreography simply stunning.

Coming to the violence, the viewers of The Raid will obviously expect something of a similar tone from Gareth Evans. But it is clear that he was trying to cross the boundaries of TV content with “Gangs of London”.

However, the previous efforts from Evans were closely linked to a martial arts form like Silat. Here, each fight scene has a unique quality starting from street fights and moving on to the blazing roar of gunfire. Moreover, the camera angles of the perfect for the viewers to enjoy every move.

Though Evans directs only two of the nine episodes, each action sequence is crafted like an intricate dance. The solid choreography and excellent sound design adds to the overall effect. Honestly, the action scenes here are much better than many Hollywood action movies that you may have watched.

There are breathers in the form of flashbacks and side stories that allow the viewers to rummage through the various plot threads. With a massive cast and a complex plot, the storytelling could have gone astray with the slightest misstep. However, the directors keep a tight leash on things and the ensemble cast does a great job.

Even though it can be sickening to some viewers, the violence in “Gangs of London” is not mindless. In fact, it is difficult to imagine the levels it can reach in the second season which has already been picked up by AMC. The first season was Sky Atlantic’s second-biggest opening as a drama series.

If you are looking for an energetic action thriller that will keep drawing you towards the next episode, “Gangs of London” is definitely a great pick. In the coming days, it can very all mark its spot among the best of the best in television entertainment.

But be warned. This is not for the faint-hearted.

The first season ends on a cliff-hanger which will surely leave you wanting more. But Evans has said that it took three years to complete the first season and they are developing the second now. So we will surely have to wait beyond 2021 for the rest.

By Suvajit Banerjee

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