Is The Gentlemen woke?
TV Show · 2024
The Gentlemen has a wokeness score of 2/10, which we rate as Not Woke. No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
Key points
- Strong female character Susie Glass drives plot through competence in crime, not gender messaging.
- Ethnic diversity in supporting criminal roles follows genre conventions without ideological emphasis.
- Core focus remains on inheritance, gang wars, and family antics with no political or social lectures.
Wokeness analysis
The Gentlemen (2024) is a Guy Ritchie-created action-comedy crime drama centered on an aristocratic British family inheriting a massive cannabis empire hidden on their estate. The narrative prioritizes fast-paced heists, gangster rivalries, family dynamics, and violent escapism over any social or political messaging. The cast includes a strong female lead in Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario), who runs the criminal operation with competence, but this serves the plot as a capable partner in crime rather than a commentary on gender roles. Supporting characters feature some ethnic diversity typical of London's underworld, including actors of color in roles like Giancarlo Esposito's Stanley Johnston, but portrayals rely on Ritchie-style stereotypes of criminals without promoting inclusion, equity, or progressive ideologies. Reviews note the show tones down some offensive elements from the 2019 film but retains its focus on class satire, criminal thrills, and British eccentricity. No evidence of intentional indoctrination, forced representation, or didactic social commentary on race, feminism, or identity politics. Themes of legacy, power, and capitalism emerge organically from the story of old money clashing with new criminal enterprises, without lecturing viewers. The series delivers entertainment through wit, violence, and twists, aligning with traditional storytelling rather than modern progressive agendas.
Plot
When the Duke of Halstead dies, his second son Eddie Horniman (Theo James), a former UN peacekeeper, unexpectedly inherits the family estate and title, bypassing his irresponsible older brother Freddy (Daniel Ings). Eddie soon discovers the estate conceals a massive underground cannabis farm operated by the Glass crime family, led by imprisoned patriarch Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone) and his sharp daughter Susie (Kaya Scodelario). To settle Freddy's massive debts to rival gangsters and protect the family legacy, Eddie is drawn into the criminal underworld, navigating rival dealers, violent confrontations, and moral compromises while learning the ruthless rules of the trade. The eight-episode first season blends Guy Ritchie's signature stylish action, sharp dialogue, and black humor as Eddie evolves from reluctant aristocrat to savvy operator in a world of old money, new money, and illicit fortunes.
Analyzed by AI on September 3, 2026