The Gentlemen Recap Season 1 Episode 6 ‘All Eventualities’

One of the joys of watching The Gentlemen is how it seamlessly slips in a bit of pointed social commentary amidst this struggle between an aristocratic family at the sunset of their powers, and the rising billionaire criminal class. Stanley Johnston pointed out that the British aristocracy were the original gangsters, going back to William the Conqueror who set up the system designed for himself and his friends to hold on to everything they acquired through generations, to this very day. The 1st Duke of Halstead must have been a savvy operator to have acquired what he acquired. Eddie was a far better custodian of the family estate than Freddy, but he was a privileged man who has been privileged his whole life. His military career notwithstanding, he had little idea of what it took to build something from the ground up, in a decidedly impolite and often violent society. Then he decided to play in shark infested waters. Would he survive? Would Susie forgive him for his betrayal that led to her brother Jack getting hurt? 

From Eddie’s point of view, being under the thumb of the Glass family, likely for the rest of his life, must have chafed, not just at his previous rule following self, but at the aristocratic man at his core. Eddie’s father accepted that he did not have the means to save the family estate using his own wits alone, and so he was happy to take the millions of pounds the Glass operation infused into his life. It kept his estate whole. It saved his family from knowing what it was like to have to live without at least 20 servants catering to their every whim. Eddie was different because Eddie actually had experience in building a life outside of the bubble of the aristocracy. Eddie was also a second son; he never expected to inherit, he has always known that he needed to make his own money, to survive on his own wages. That he slipped rather easily into the role of the gentleman landlord was a function of his upbringing. But his very strengths – his education, his work experience, his mind that was far sharper than his brother Freddy’s – also meant that his struggle against the status quo was greater. He could not quite accept being a passive rider to the Glass weed empire. He was willing to risk his own person being implicated in criminal acts – he was present when Keith was executed, amongst other criminal acts – but he was unwilling to allow to continue the weed farm operation on his land. One was about his own self, the other about the estate that he was tasked to steward. 

Once Eddie realised that the Glass family had no intention of letting him or his estate go, he started pushing for an end date. Susie stalled, and said money could not be considered profit until it had been washed; they still needed to wash 15 million pounds before he could exit. Susie offered to fast track a meeting between Eddie and Chucky, the man who washed her money. 

It was at this meeting at the boxing gym that Eddie met Henry Collins, Jack’s promoter. His father and sister may have been running a criminal enterprise, but Jack seemed serious about his boxing career. Susie, too, wanted Jack to get a proper belt. Jack, however, could not quite help himself; he fooled around with Chucky’s wife Stella, and their discovery ended with Chucky walking out and refusing to clean Susie’s money. 

Susie promised to fix it, but Eddie was already unhappy; the timeline Chucky provided to clean 15 million was four to five months, too long in his opinion. Henry slithered his way in and said he knew a lot of people; he used their common military background to build rapport. Eddie also reached out to Rosie to ask for her help in arranging a meeting with Stanley Johnston. In his desperation to get away from the Glass family, he aligned himself with people he knew little about. 

Eddie did try to do as Susie asked, and brought the 15 million to Chucky after she told him he had sorted things out with him, but the meeting ended with Eddie hitting Chucky’s man Ishy. Eddie took the 15 million to Henry, who promised his man Thick Rick could wash it quickly minus a 5% commission. 

Eddie called it an executive decision, but Susie was very unhappy. Eddie, too, was done with playing around, and outright asked where Jethro was. Susie did not bother denying it; she said Jethro was dead to protect Eddie and Freddy. When Eddie asked when she would let him and his family go, Susie honestly replied never. 

Whilst Susie was busy at her brother’s big fight, Eddie met with Stanley Johnston, and reached a yet to be revealed agreement with him. Eddie did tell Stanley that he wanted the Glass family to come out of the transition unscathed, which was a tad naive of him. Even Rosie warned him Stanley was not a good person. 

At the fight, Susie was concerned about the size of Jack’s opponent, but Jack assured her he had done his homework on the guy. Henry called Susie to his office and finally took his mask off. He wanted to take over Susie’s business, which he estimated was raking in two and a half billion pounds a year from its 14 farms. He threatened to hurt Jack so Susie would know he was serious. Susie held her ground. At the boxing ring, Jack fought hard. For a few moments, it looked like brother and sister would come out on top. But Henry was right, Jack’s opponent was the better fighter. His losses were fixed fights. Jack ended up knocked down and in the ambulance, his sister beside him, as Eddie sat inside what looked like a private club, looking every bit like the aristocrat that he was. 

Rating: A-

Strays

🏚️It was to Geoff that Eddie went to for advice, once he realised the Glass family would be willing to kill him if he tried to extricate himself from their grasp. Geoff advised him to continue delivering his end of the bargain, don’t let them know what he was thinking, but, prepare for all eventualities.

🏚️The thing is, whilst Bobby may have been willing to kill Eddie, Susie was not. Freddy had been trying to get Susie’s attention about the new strain of weed he developed with Jimmy. When Freddy finally managed to corner Susie at the fight, he mentioned that Eddie wanted out. If anything happened to Eddie, the whole estate would go to him. Susie was not a fan of this offer of betrayal, and pointed out that she would do anything for her brother. 

🏚️Susie asked Eddie to allow Jack to stay at the manor to focus on his training. Geoff ended up spending time with Jack. 

🏚️Stanley to Eddie: ‘You have my word. As a gentleman.’ 

🏚️Henry was reporting to someone else. I'm reasonably certain on my guess, but will wait and continue watching and recapping one episode at a time per usual.

Episode Title: All Eventualities

Episode Writers: Stuart Carolan

Episode Director: Eran Creevey

Original Release Date: March 7, 2024