Gangs of London's graphic violence has fans drawing 'Game of Thrones' comparisons: 'Not for the faint-hearted'
As we stand on the brink of the second episode of 'Gangs of London' dropping on Sky Atlantic in the UK, fans are still gushing about the high octane, action-packed sequences on the show. From comparisons with 'Game of Thrones' to 'Fight Club', viewers can't help but tout the Gareth Evans show - something that makes the cast and crew reportedly shadowing "London's undercover police teams to ensure an authentic take on the city," worthwhile.
Having dropped with all 9 episodes in the UK on Sky Atlantic, the show is also running on a weekly basis, every Friday on the same network for everyone who isn't a fan of binge-watching. It is also expected to arrive on HBO's sister channel Cinemax in the US later this year. But for anybody who isn't familiar with the show exploring London's gritty underworld and gang wars, evading spoilers might be a difficult feat to achieve simply because of the buzzing wave the debut series has caused on social media.
The plot kicks off with the death of a crime lord - Finn Wallace and sees his son - Sean - set out on a path of bloodthirsty vengeance. Laden with signature dry British humor and soaked in blood and gore - 'Gangs of London' reminds us once again why 'Narcos', 'Narcos: Mexico', and even OG classics like 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul' have tough competition across the ocean.
The opening scene of the pilot is Sean hanging a man upside down from a skyscraper and dousing him in gasoline, before lighting him on fire. While one might think the dying man's agonizing screams of being burnt alive might be the most disturbing violence on the show, it twists and turns to give us butter knife fights and men being stabbed with something as simple as a dart to splatter bloodshed all across the screen.
It's pretty much 'Game of Thrones' minus the nudity and incest (so far) and that's not just because Michelle Fairley plays the mourning widow, or David Bradley plays another conniving shrew much like the HBO's phenomenon. Peaky Blinders' Joe Cole plays the crimelord's son Sean, and on his pursuit to find his father's killer, viewers are the biggest winners here.
Taking it to Twitter, just moments into the pilot, viewers expressed their cheers for the tight woven plot with little loopholes to distract one from the action that's unfolding. In that, even though the name might sound like a show that's trying to take itself too seriously, 'Gangs of London' is a must-watch for fanatics of the crime and action genre. It is especially the fight scenes - every bit raw and unforgiving as they must be - that have won people over. "literally amazing.
The fight scenes were phenomenal. Awards needed, recognition deserved," shared a fan on Twitter. Another fan quipped "I’ve persuaded my 75yr old Mum, to ditch ‘New Tricks’ and try #GangsOfLondon She coped with Game of Thrones, so I think she will survive it." Along similar lines, another fan chimed in, touting: "OMG #GangsOfLondon has got me hooked! Episode 2/4 & 5 especially has some amazing scenes. Not for the faint-hearted, my wife could not watch BUT I have not seen anything like this on TV."
Makes sense because after the Mountain exploding Oberyn's skull like a tiny grape, this is the first show that sees faces being crushed against walls and dragged across for added effect.
Cole's presence was enough to draw in comparisons with 'Peaky Blinders', as a viewer pointed out "Just binge-watched #GangsOfLondon and this shit is addictive. it's brilliant, up there with peaky blinders!" Another enthused about the "gruesome and insane body count," adding, "Count me in!" But if you ask what exactly about the violence and gore caught their attention, a fan gushed, "Oh my god those sniper bullets in episode 4. #GangsOfLondon is vicious and I can't believe how good it is. I'm savoring it."
While a fan also claimed "This is GOT based in the present day...family feuds, gangs, frightening brutality...totally love it..," another just shared, "Okay, I didn't expect this level of violence from #GangsofLondon. This black man came like a freaking Avenger, sheesh. can't wait for season 2!"
'Gangs of London' premiered with nine episodes on April 23, and is now airing weekly on Fridays, at 9 pm only on Sky Atlantic.