Gangs of London Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Episode 8

Gangs of London Season 2 Episode 8 finds the Dumanis making powerful moves while Elliot and Sean’s highly anticipated showdown yields surprising results. 

Admittedly, “Episode 8” presents a tall order following the epic, high-octane ultraviolence of the previous two episodes. In addition, how do you top the Season 1 finale, wherein Elliot shoots Sean in the face? The bar is already impossibly high on the fight choreography front, yet Gangs of London usually breaks that bar in half by implementing innovative action choices. 

SHANNON: The Wallaces stood on our shoulders and wanted our thanks for it. But not anymore. They used you. For years, you were their bag carrier. Their little gravedigger.

Performance-wise, “Episode 8” delivers the goods. Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù always doles out incredibly nuanced work. He deserves all the nominations for his performances this season. The past few episodes have brought Elliot lower than we could imagine. He’s struggling under the weight of his immense remorse and grief. Taking Billy hostage and removing his arm is completely misaligned with his character. Even he knows this. 

We know he possesses some awareness when he starts hallucinating his father. His dad questions why Elliot’s taking his ire out on Billy, who’s easily the most innocent and vulnerable of the Wallaces. Dìrísù ensures we see the wheels turning in Elliot’s mind when he decides whether or not to save Sean from death by hanging. It’s more compelling than anything in the scene — his inner moral struggle that’s the crux of his character. 

There’s a moment where the writers make us think this is the end of Sean Wallace. Even the camerawork tries to persuade us of his demise. That shot with Sean looking limp in the distance while the sirens wail conveys as much. While some might argue that Sean should’ve “won” this round, given this is the second time Elliot prevails, I say his story isn’t actually about Sean. It’s about Elliot’s fall from grace and how he enters this world with good intentions but said intentions succumb to corruption no thanks to London’s seedy underbelly. 

BILLY: You told me that people like him, the world just chews them up. That’s the way it’s built. I’m sorry. It’s not right. 

Was it the right choice to keep Sean alive? I’m not sure. I’m still conflicted about bringing him back after the first season. While interesting narrative gems could arise from this decision, perhaps it would’ve been better to end Sean’s story there. 

Admittedly, I feel Season 2’s overall narrative faltered slightly under the weight of Sean’s return. This series doesn’t shy away from death. Giving even the main characters plot armor removes some of the impact of the stakes. It’ll be interesting to see how the writers develop Elliot’s choice to let Sean suffer while he seizes control of London. 

“Episode 8” kills off Koba, who was once the most formidable presence in London. Some might protest his dying via poison, but there’s something poetic about having a toxically masculine man who’s all about showmanship going out with a whimper. 

KOBA: Dads, man. Ah, they wipe their boots on you, don’t they? 

The Dumanis rising to the top of the food chain feels utterly satisfying, especially given how Ed is mainly responsible for Finn Wallace’s success. Pippa Bennett-Warner and Lucian Msamati churn out solid performances in “Episode 8.” Both Ed and Shannon undergo intriguing character evolutions in Season 2. It’s been fun watching Shannon embrace her power as she takes a stand against anyone threatening her family. 

The dichotomy between the Dumani and Wallace families is more apparent in the Season 2 finale. Two families who once worked in tandem to rule London have embarked on vastly different paths: the Wallaces have officially imploded and scattered to the winds. In contrast, the Dumanis have risen victorious as bona fide power players in the city. 

Sean choking Marian might be the first time I feel Gangs of London might’ve gone too far. Well, more in that I don’t feel the scene landed as it should have. Sure, it’s supposed to showcase Sean’s tenuous grasp on sanity, but that moment feels more like it was inserted for shock value than to support the narrative. Plus, the overdramatization — the yelling — doesn’t leave the intended impact. 

All in all, “Episode 8” falls short in some respects while leaving intriguing loose threads to tie in Season 3. Strong performances from players like Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Brian Vernel (who doles out his show-best work here), and Jahz Armando ensure we’re invested in the story. Here’s hoping Gangs of London Season 3 provides some twists to keep the narrative fresh. 

Stray Observations: 

• Marian’s still not getting that Mother of the Year award, but Sean’s not exactly getting that #1 Son mug, either. Was Sean going to commit matricide? Perhaps. Does Marian deserve to come face-to-face with her awful parenting choices? Undoubtedly. Regardless, these two should never be in the same room again—mutual toxicity to the max. 
• Did anyone else think Koba’s story about his dad was the opposite of funny but deeply, deeply sad? Koba laughing at it makes it 10 times more depressing. 
• I can’t imagine the owners of that shabby motel are too happy with the Dumanis’ destruction post-Albanian shootout. 
• Hey, if you’re gonna go out, it should be with a good burger and fries (chips). 
• Saba gets her revenge! That’s my girl! Here’s hoping she and Faz escape all this mafia business unscathed.  
• Lale and Asif working together shouldn’t make sense, yet it inexplicably does. I just want Lale to have everything in the world. 

What did you think of this episode of Gangs of London? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Gangs of London Seasons 1-2 are now streaming on AMC+.

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