‘Gangs of London’ Episode 1 Part 1: Who is Besmir, will he be killed for a crime he did not commit?
Spoilers for ‘Gangs of London’ Episode 1
Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney), the most powerful criminal in London is dead — and nobody knows who killed him. A cold-blooded murder. Two young boys on a run. And a missing driver. The mystery tightens in ‘Gangs of London’ a week after the ghastly events of the night. Disturbed by his father's death, Sean Wallace (Joe Cole) tells all his business partners that “everything stops until I find who killed him.”
While he is suspicious of everyone, including the Dumani family — headed by Ed Dumani (Lucian Msamati) — and a number of crime groups like the Albanian Mafia — fronted by Luan Dushaj (Orli Shuka) — along with Kurdish freedom fighters, Pakistani drug cartel and Welsh travelers, Elliot Finch (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) sets his eyes to find out who committed the murder.
After laying hold of a wad of money down a drain, he pays his respects for Finn at the funeral and heads down to the pub. Once there, he hands the money over to Jim (David Bradley), who works on Finn’s pay-role. Headstrong and hellbent to get behind the criminals and be in the good books of Sean, he loses his temper after confronting the Albanians in the pub and smashes a beer glass down on them. He seems to believe they ordered the hit.
In a fit of rage, he walks out and stumbles upon a group of men showing off the CCTV footage from that night. Finn’s driver, Jack O'Doherty (Emmett J Scanlan), is still alive and was bundled into a black van that night. As he replays the tape, Elliot remembers where he saw the van earlier. Outside the bar, a brutal, bloody fight breaks and Elliot tackles eight Albanians to finally catch hold of the one he came looking for. It's an Albanian by the name of Besmir (Florist Bajgora) who happens to work for Luan Dushaj (Orli Shuka).
“Where is he? Where is Jack?” Elliot asks him. When he refuses to answer, Elliot threatens him. “We saw your van arrived quickly and scooped him up. We can keep playing games but I've got orders to take you to Sean. You want to answer me or him?” Besmir finally breaks his silence and says, “We were out picking up a score, we heard gunshots. I get a call, shit's going down — we just turned up to it. I swear we didn't expect to find what we did.”
Elliot asks why didn't he take Jack to the Wallaces? “F**king Sean would kill me at his doorstep. The driver didn't wake up for days. He's the only one to say I didn't kill Finn.” That rings a bell. Elliot puts a knife to his throat and tells him, “Wait, wait, Jack's awake. Take me to him. Take me.” The episode ends at that cliffhanger and leaves viewers wondering if the two men approaching Elliot would take Besmir from him.
Moreover, the biggest question remains: Will Besmir listen to Elliot or be killed for a crime he did not commit? Well, Elliot wouldn't kill Besmir as he knows he is the only link to the driver. The second episode may reveal what really happens and whether they find the driver alive or dead.
‘Gangs of London’ premieres on AMC Plus this October 1, 2020. The first three episodes will air on the premiere date and the rest of the 10-part series will be followed by weekly episodes on Thursdays.