Theo James gets ruthless as ‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2 takes Eddie down a dangerous path

Theo James returns as Eddie Horniman, whose growing ambition puts his alliance with the Glass family at risk

Theo James returns as Eddie Horniman in The Gentlemen Season 2, but the polished Duke of Halstead audiences met in the first season has changed dramatically. Guy Ritchie’s Netflix crime drama comes back with a darker tone, bigger ambitions and considerably higher stakes, placing James at the centre of Eddie’s transformation from reluctant aristocrat into an increasingly ruthless criminal power player. Variety praised the second season for pushing the series into darker territory while highlighting James’ performance as a major reason the story works so well.

Season 1 introduced Eddie as a man who unexpectedly inherited his family estate and discovered an illegal cannabis operation hidden within it. His connection to Susie Glass, played by Kaya Scodelario, pulled him deeper into the criminal world controlled by her father Bobby Glass, played by Ray Winstone. Eddie initially appeared uncomfortable with the violence and deception surrounding the enterprise, but his military background and ability to remain composed gradually helped him find his place.

Season 2 picks up after Eddie has become far more comfortable with his position. Netflix describes him as someone who is now firmly at the helm of the operation, with ambitions that extend beyond the family estate and into international territory. Eddie and Susie are attempting to expand the business while dealing with Bobby, whose increasingly unpredictable decisions threaten their plans.

That ambition becomes one of the central forces driving the new episodes. Eddie wants to reclaim land surrounding his family’s vast estate, expand the criminal enterprise into Italy and establish influence within the legal cannabis industry. His plans require political connections as well as criminal alliances, forcing him into increasingly complicated dealings with figures outside the Glass family.

The tension between Eddie and Bobby also becomes harder to ignore. Eddie and Susie have grown frustrated with operating under Bobby’s control, while Bobby appears increasingly focused on his own spiritual awakening and personal priorities. Their competing ambitions create a dangerous power struggle that gradually pushes Eddie towards decisions he might once have considered unthinkable.

James’ performance is particularly important because Eddie’s evolution is not presented as an overnight transformation. The character has spent the first season learning how power works, and the second season explores what happens once he begins to enjoy having it. Variety identifies Episode 4, titled "The Bigger Picture", as a major turning point, with Eddie finally losing control and exposing a much harsher side of himself.

The comparison with Michael Corleone from The Godfather becomes especially striking as Eddie moves further away from the affable aristocrat he once appeared to be. Like Michael, Eddie gradually discovers that authority can change the person holding it. His growing confidence also carries a darker consequence, as his willingness to use power threatens the relationships that helped him build his position.

The season retains the signature elements associated with Ritchie’s style, including elaborate criminal schemes, eccentric characters, gunfights, romance and deliberately outrageous moments. Yet the comedy is balanced by a stronger sense of danger, giving the new episodes a more serious edge.

Netflix has already confirmed a third season of The Gentlemen, suggesting Eddie’s increasingly dangerous rise is far from finished. Ritchie has said the ambition of the series has accelerated and its consequences have grown heavier, setting the stage for another chapter in Eddie and Susie’s increasingly volatile criminal saga. Season 2 is now streaming.