'Gangs of London' Episode 3 Review: Will Sean's message teach Lale a lesson or make her go rogue?
Spoilers for 'Gangs of London' Episode 3
If you thought the first two episodes of 'Gangs of London' were the epitome of graphic violence on television, the third one arrives as a stellar reminder of why the show is being labeled a 'Peaky Blinder on steroids' or the new age 'Game of Thrones'. From people being tortured and roasted alive to axe murderers and a full blow sniper shootout exploding heads like a bubble burst of blood all around - Episode 3 abounds in gory horror and the gritty undertones of London's crimelords.
But even after the almost-hour long saga culminates, it is the central anti-hero Sean Wallace's (Joe Cole) ways to teach his business partners a lesson that strikes the biggest chord. The terrifying message he sends to his Turkish partner Lale is not about the money, it's more about respect, but still, the question lingers whether Lale (Narges Rashidi) will learn her lesson, or go full rogue against Sean.
The episode kicks off with a flashback that will put you on the edge; amidst grenades and gunshots, Lale and her men can be seen trying to make their way to rescue fellow comrade and her husband Ara. Amidst a barrage of bullets when Lale finally reaches inside what looks like a torture chamber, she sees her husband on a table with a fire underneath. When she tries picking up his body, her hands burn as gooey tissues come off his skin.
It's a terrifying affair orchestrated by Asif Afridi selling them out, thus explaining why Lale is stoic and bloodthirsty the way she is, insisting the show must go on despite Sean's strict orders.
We know Lale steals Asif's cargo to continue her business in the aftermath of Finn Wallace's sudden murder, but her quest for payback blinds her towards Sean's vulturous instincts. The previous episode revealed Billy having to spot the heroin being circulated around town is Lale's, so Sean sends his psychopath hitman to abduct Lale's sister and her two children to teach her a lesson.
This happens while Lale is flying all the money earned to Turkey to help out her people with food, medicines, and ammunition to fight their own drug wars, and as she watches the cargo enter the plane, Sean's hitman calls her up to inform her of the predicament she has landed herself in.
It is at this moment Lale takes the most coldblooded call; despite the hitman's threats of killing her family if she doesn't stop the cargo, she refuses to budge. In fact, she doesn't budge until the last moment when Sean drives in and literally threatens to shoot her for going behind his back. Lale keeps insisting it is Asif's drugs they circulated to earn the needed cash, but for Sean, it is not about the cash or the drugs anymore; it all about sending a message establishing his dominance above all that she needs to respect.
It becomes clear when Lale is ready to die in peace, knowing she did all she could for her people, and in comes to the carriage with her precious cargo loaded with the cash she was flying out. With a gun to her head, Sean lights it all on fire as Lale belts out agonizing screams of all of her attempts falling apart.
In all of this, never for once does Lale break; not when her sister and two innocent kids' lives are at stake, neither when Sean is holding her at gunpoint for betraying his orders. And knowing what Lale is ready to sacrifice, there's no chance she will be a trusted ally for Sean in the long run. But if, by some twist of fate she realizes avenging Ara's death by ruining Asif is her mission in life, there won't be an alliance as deadly or insidious as her and Sean teaming up.
'Gangs of London' dropped with all nine episodes on April 23, and is now airing weekly every Thursday at 9 pm only on Sky Atlantic.