‘Gangs of London’ Recap: ‘Season 2, Episode 5’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Gangs of London’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular concept that pops up often in crime dramas, is how there are consequences for our actions, and it makes sense as to why this is commonplace in this genre. Simply because the world of crime functions upon causality, for the crime demands justice and depending upon the complexity of the story and the crime in question… pushback is also a consequence for the hero since sometimes evil doesn’t want a wrong to be righted. And of course, this is also commonplace, simply because it really is the perfect way to explore lessons grounded in morality and this is so well-received by audiences that few have ever toyed with the concept or removed it from their crime-laden story.
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But some crime dramas, aspire to go above and beyond and truly tell a tale unlike any other, and those are the stories that will jiggle the concept and see if by chance it can be explored in new light and one such show eager to do that, is Gangs of London on AMC+. For this is a revolutionary and bold crime drama through and through and it just so happens, that its next episode, took a stab at attempting to revisit this concept and see if by chance… greater consequences can come forth from causality. After fooling us of course. Since a fair chunk of this story, Elliot’s journey to be specific, focused upon more traditional consequences for the life he’s agreed to lead. Since he found himself working to rescue Ed Dumani from the clutches of Koba, because of the fact that he re-engaged with Shannon.

Of course, once that was accomplished in a harrowing manner, he faced consequential pain. Since a desperate attempt to get his father out of town as quickly as possible, ended in disaster. Because while he waited for his son at the airport, as part of the plan to get out from under the clouds hanging over the family… the Investors seemingly struck and put down Elliot’s contact and his father. Leaving him in a rage that spoke to how choosing to go this route and follow this path, harbored horrible consequences. The kind that would come to the investors as well, since Elliot did indeed go after them shortly after his father died in a rage and fury, we’ve never seen from him. But alas, that was merely the tip of the iceberg in this story regarding this lesson. Since it did indeed explore something far more powerful regarding consequences.

In that sometimes, evil generates its own consequences with its actions and can make a difficult situation worse if it inspires revolt from the wrong individuals and that’s what happened here. For Koba was facing all kinds of penalties for the Wallace attack happening on his watch and of course, Elliot’s government handler was putting a squeeze on Sean to become the state’s puppet, and well… that pushed Sean to do something drastic. In that, he was ready to snap back at such gestures, and stun everyone in charge and take control of the city, by teaching the Investors and the government how little control they actually had over their ‘subjects’. As evidenced by how easily he was able to establish a treaty and partnership with Koba. Thanks to the fact that Koba wasn’t good with being seen as a failure or having his position threatened, and it didn’t hurt that Sean offered up one solid and daring plan.

One that involved having Elliot’s dad and handler killed to get the Investors data, so the Wallace/Koba Alliance, could go after the Investors. Making it clear that the consequence here, was that too much control and too much fear can make the staunchest of employees and allies turn their back when a better opportunity arrives… and well… that really was quite the twist to inject into this concept. Because we rarely see those employed by drug empires in storytelling, turn on their bosses in such a prompt and stunning manner, but this is the right show in which to toy with this. For this series always stands above others in the genre because of the bold chances it takes, and kudos to the show for surprising us with this twist and for leaving us eager to see what will come forth from the coup that Koba is now planning alongside the man that was once his enemy. Until next time.

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