- The Gentlemen TV series follows Eddie Horniman after he inherits an estate linked to organized crime.
- Central conflict: Aristocratic family life collides with an underground cannabis empire.
- Key partnership: Eddie works with Susie Glass, the criminal operator managing her family’s business.
- Series tone: Expect dark comedy, stylish crime schemes, sudden violence, and fast dialogue.
- Movie connection: The Netflix series tells a new story and does not require the 2019 film first.
The Gentlemen TV series what is it about?
The Gentlemen TV series is a British crime comedy-drama created for Netflix by Guy Ritchie. It follows Edward “Eddie” Horniman, a disciplined former Army officer who unexpectedly becomes the new Duke of Halstead after his father’s death. Eddie expects an inherited title and a complicated family estate, but he soon discovers that the property is connected to a major cannabis operation.
The business beneath the estate belongs to the Glass organization, a criminal network led by the imprisoned Bobby Glass and managed in practice by his daughter, Susie Glass. Eddie initially wants the operation removed from his land. However, family debts, criminal negotiations, rival factions, and the value of the estate make a clean exit increasingly difficult.
The show’s main appeal comes from its contrast between two worlds:
- British aristocratic traditions, inherited wealth, and country estates
- Organized crime, drug trafficking, violence, and business negotiations
- Formal manners placed alongside impulsive criminal behavior
- Family loyalty challenged by money and power
- Eddie’s controlled personality tested by an unpredictable underworld
The story is not presented as a realistic police procedural. Instead, it uses heightened characters, elaborate schemes, dry humor, and sudden reversals. Eddie’s inheritance becomes the doorway into a criminal system that is already deeply connected to his family’s history.
| Story Element | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Main protagonist | Eddie Horniman, the new Duke of Halstead |
| Central location | Halstead Manor and its surrounding estate |
| Hidden business | A cannabis operation connected to the Glass family |
| Main partner | Susie Glass, an experienced criminal operator |
| Core tension | Eddie wants control of his future while others want control of the estate |
| Genre blend | Crime drama, dark comedy, family conflict, and thriller |
Start with the series itself. The premise, characters, criminal network, and family conflict are introduced clearly from the beginning, so new viewers do not need prior knowledge of the movie.
Main Characters and Criminal Alliances
The character structure explains why the story develops beyond a simple inheritance dispute. Eddie belongs to a powerful aristocratic family, while Susie operates inside a criminal organization with its own hierarchy and traditions. Their partnership connects both sides of the series.
Eddie Horniman
Played by Theo James
The new Duke of Halstead is controlled, strategic, and initially determined to remove the criminal business from his estate. His decisions gradually pull him deeper into the underworld.
Susie Glass
Played by Kaya Scodelario
Susie manages the Glass family’s cannabis empire. She is practical, composed, and experienced, making her Eddie’s main guide to the criminal world.
Freddy Horniman
Played by Daniel Ings
Eddie’s older brother expected to inherit the estate. His debts, impulsive choices, and unstable judgment create several major problems for the family.
Bobby Glass
Played by Ray Winstone
Susie’s father and the founder of the Glass organization. Although imprisoned, Bobby remains an important authority within the criminal network.
Eddie and Susie are the central relationship, but the supporting cast expands the conflict across family, business, and rival interests.
| Character | Affiliation | Narrative Function |
|---|---|---|
| Lady Sabrina Horniman | Horniman family | Eddie and Freddy’s mother and the family matriarch |
| Geoff Seacombe | Halstead estate | Trusted groundskeeper with deep knowledge of the family |
| Stanley Johnston | Rival interests | Wealthy outsider seeking influence over the criminal business |
| Henry Collins | Independent criminal interests | Boxing promoter whose ambitions threaten the Glass organization |
| Jimmy Chang | Glass organization | Cannabis grower working within the underground operation |
| Tammy Horniman | Horniman family | Freddy’s wife and a relative affected by his poor decisions |
The series uses these characters to create shifting alliances rather than fixed heroes and villains. Eddie may begin as an outsider to organized crime, but his title, social access, and ability to make calculated decisions give him advantages that other operators lack.
Susie, meanwhile, understands the criminal network better than Eddie. She knows how its deals work, how rival groups apply pressure, and how quickly a business disagreement can become a physical threat. Their relationship is therefore both practical and tense: each possesses skills the other needs.
The strongest way to follow the plot is to track Eddie and Susie’s changing partnership. Their decisions determine whether the estate remains a burden, a bargaining tool, or a source of criminal power.
Episode Structure and Watch Order
The first season contains eight episodes that form one continuous story. The episodes should be watched in numerical order because Eddie’s negotiations, family problems, and relationship with Susie develop directly from one chapter to the next.
| Watch Order | Episode Title | Main Story Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Refined Aggression” | Eddie inherits the estate and meets Susie |
| 2 | “Tackle Tommy Woo Woo” | Freddy’s debts create pressure around the business |
| 3 | “Where’s My Weed At?” | A disruption affects the cannabis operation |
| 4 | “An Unsympathetic Gentleman” | Eddie faces new estate and criminal negotiations |
| 5 | “I’ve Hundreds of Cousins” | Rival factions and alliances increase the pressure |
| 6 | “All Eventualities” | Eddie and Susie consider possible ways forward |
| 7 | “Not Without Danger” | Rival plans and betrayals move toward a collision |
| 8 | “The Gospel According to Bobby Glass” | The future of the estate and criminal empire is decided |
Meet Eddie and the Estate
Pay attention to Eddie’s inheritance, his relationship with Freddy, and the first signs that Halstead Manor contains more than a traditional aristocratic household.
Understand the Glass Operation
Follow Susie’s role and the way the underground cannabis business connects the estate to a wider criminal network.
Track the Rival Interests
Note when outside figures such as Stanley Johnston and Henry Collins begin pursuing influence, access, or control.
Watch Eddie’s Transformation
Compare Eddie’s early attempts to leave the business with his later willingness to negotiate, manipulate, and take action.
The episode titles reflect the series’ playful tone, but the story itself becomes more dangerous as Eddie gains confidence. Early problems may appear to be family or property disputes; later, they affect the balance of power between multiple criminal groups.
The episode table is spoiler-light. The final episode contains major developments involving Eddie, Susie, Bobby Glass, and the future of the organization, so read the ending section only after watching the season.
Movie Connection: Is the Series a Sequel?
The Netflix series shares the crime-world atmosphere and aristocratic criminal themes associated with Guy Ritchie’s movie, but it tells a separate story. The television plot centers on Eddie Horniman, Susie Glass, Bobby Glass, and Halstead Manor rather than continuing the movie’s principal characters.
| Category | Movie | TV Series |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Feature film | Serialized Netflix drama |
| Main protagonist | Mickey Pearson | Eddie Horniman |
| Main operator | Mickey’s cannabis empire | Susie Glass manages the Glass operation |
| Primary setting | London criminal circles | Halstead Manor and linked estates |
| Story structure | Self-contained film narrative | Eight-episode continuing story |
| Required viewing | Optional | Works as a standalone entry |
| Shared elements | British class, cannabis, crime, betrayal | British class, cannabis, crime, family, and rival factions |
The series is best understood as a new story built around related ideas:
- Wealthy British circles can hide criminal infrastructure.
- Cannabis businesses create economic and political leverage.
- Social status can be as useful as physical force.
- Criminal organizations depend on trust, reputation, and succession.
- Polite negotiations may conceal serious threats.
You can watch the movie first if you want additional context for Guy Ritchie’s style, but it is not necessary. The show introduces its own setting, characters, conflicts, and relationships without requiring viewers to know Mickey Pearson’s story.
For official background, see the Netflix Tudum overview of The Gentlemen, which explains the series premise and its relationship to the broader concept.
Choose the movie first for stylistic context, or start with the series for Eddie and Susie’s story. Neither order prevents you from understanding the television plot.
Season 1 Ending and Season 2 Setup
The Season 1 finale changes Eddie’s position in the story. He begins as a reluctant heir trying to remove criminals from his property. By the end, he has demonstrated that he can operate inside the criminal world and make decisions that protect both his family interests and his partnership with Susie.
The finale’s main developments can be summarized without treating the series as a simple battle between good and evil:
| Ending Element | Result |
|---|---|
| Eddie’s original plan | Move away from the criminal operation |
| Eddie’s final direction | Accept a larger role in the business |
| Susie’s position | Remains Eddie’s key partner and criminal-world connection |
| Bobby Glass’s influence | Continues through his authority and succession plans |
| Rival threats | Stanley Johnston and Henry Collins are prevented from taking control |
| New status quo | The Horniman estate and Glass organization become more closely linked |
Eddie’s transformation is the most important ending point. He does not merely survive the criminal world; he becomes more comfortable using strategy, social influence, negotiation, and force when required. His aristocratic background gives him access to people and spaces that traditional criminals may struggle to enter.
Susie’s importance also increases. She is no longer simply the operator explaining the business to Eddie. Together, they represent a partnership built on complementary strengths:
- Susie understands the organization and its criminal relationships.
- Eddie understands status, property, negotiation, and long-term positioning.
- Both can recognize opportunities that individual rivals overlook.
- Their alliance remains vulnerable to ambition, loyalty conflicts, and outside pressure.
As of September 5, 2026, Season 2 is part of the series’ continuing plans, but an official release date should be checked through Netflix’s official title page. The next chapter is positioned to explore Eddie and Susie’s increased influence, new threats, and the consequences of treating criminal power as a business opportunity.
Before You Start Watching:
- Understand that Eddie inherits both a title and a serious estate problem
- Remember that Susie Glass manages the criminal operation
- Watch the eight episodes in numerical order
- Expect dark comedy, violence, strong language, and criminal themes
- Decide whether you want to avoid the spoiler-heavy finale discussion
The series works best when viewed as a succession story. The central question is not only who controls the cannabis empire, but who has the judgment to inherit its risks.
The Gentlemen TV Series FAQ
Q: What is The Gentlemen TV series about?
It follows Eddie Horniman, a former Army officer who inherits an aristocratic estate and discovers that a large cannabis operation is operating beneath it. He becomes involved with Susie Glass and her family’s criminal organization.
Q: Do I need to watch the movie before the Netflix series?
No. The series introduces a new story and central cast. The movie can provide extra context for Guy Ritchie’s crime-comedy style, but it is optional viewing.
Q: Who are the main characters in the series?
The main characters are Eddie Horniman, played by Theo James, and Susie Glass, played by Kaya Scodelario. Important supporting figures include Freddy Horniman, Bobby Glass, Lady Sabrina Horniman, Geoff Seacombe, Stanley Johnston, and Henry Collins.
Q: How many episodes are in Season 1?
Season 1 contains eight episodes. Because the story is serialized, watching them in release order gives the clearest view of Eddie’s transformation and his developing partnership with Susie.