As the episode begins, Sean Wallace (Joe Cole) steps back in time and joins Ed (Lucian Msamati), Alex, and his father Finn (Colm Meaney) for a drink. Finn claims Alexander (Paapa Essiedu) has taken the business to a new level. Finn sits with his son and asks him what he will do when he dies. Finn wants his son to deliver now that Alex has taken them to a new level. Billy (Brian Vernel) joins them a few seconds later. Back in the present, Sean drinks alone. He remembers hearing that everything will work out as long as he keeps his family close. Then, we see men on a motorcycle rob a jewelry store. The motorcyclists escape. Anthony (David Avery) is told to grab an umbrella because he’ll need it.

Then enter the nearby building and tell Raheem (Shaq B. Grant) that his uncle needs to clean it up because it stinks. They meet up with the uncle and promptly introduce him to Anthony. The uncle is worried because they hit a place that is protected by the Wallace gang. The others aren’t worried since they believe Sean Wallace is finished. Everyone gets worried when they realize what they’re up against. After that, Sean runs into Ed who wants to know what happened last night. Sean wants Ed to trust him. He also says they wouldn’t have to deal Cole’s brains off of the floor if Ed and Elliot hadn’t intervened. Then, Sean learns about the jewelry store being robbed that morning. Ed is worried that they’re losing respect but Sean is more interested in knowing why Elliot was there since he didn’t send him.

Ed says he didn’t send him either and would like to know more about him. Before the conversation ends, Sean tells Ed to bring his son and family to the house for dinner. Next, Elliot (Sope Dirisu) checks on Charlie and finds out that he has been drinking again. Charlie says Sally is going to take him to the cemetery so Elliot tells Charlie to thank her for him. Then, Elliot’s dad suspects he is in trouble but Elliot doesn’t want to talk about it. Then, we learn more about the pictures and the Albanian family being wiped out. Ed and Alex discuss the hit and wonder if Finn was responsible for the murders. Alexander doesn’t believe Finn did it and suggests Luan is lying.

Alex says he’ll look for the money in the books before passing judgment. He also wants to speak to Sean but Ed tells him to wait. Ed claims he is honoring Finn by checking his son in check before Alex reminds him that Jevan has invited them to meet some friends of Finn’s that night too. They’ll be back before dinner. Next, Sean meets with Lale who tells Hekar (Aksel Ustun) that their product will feed the city and not Asif’s. She joins Sean who asks her if she can fill the warehouse with drugs. She can as long as the docks are open so Sean believes they can make a lot of money together. He explains he wants to go into business with her because he has seen what she is willing to sacrifice. A man spies on Sean and Lale. He calls Asif and tells him what is happening.

Asif is told that they’re getting in bed together. As for Sean, he says Asif is a part of the old order and he wants to work with the people he can trust. Lale says her people die for her and they’ll die for Sean if he tells them. Sean says Nasir is in the public eye so Asif won’t do anything crazy. Then, we join a protest about the tax haven and housing problem. Nasir gives an interview about his intentions before receiving a call and learning about Sean working with Lale. Asif wants Sean to know who he is dealing with but Nasir thinks they should wait because the election is coming up and his poll numbers are good. Nasir is forced to get out and walk alongside the protesters before holding a speech. Sean listens to that speech.

Sean walks through the hospital before running into Jacqueline (Valene Kane) and asking her about their upcoming dinner. Jacqueline promises to give Billy and Sean two hours but not their mother. Sean asks about the baby before telling Jacqueline that he needs her there. She tells Sean that the baby will not be learning the way of the world from him. Elliot visits Shannon (Pippa Bennett-Warner) so they can chat about the previous night. Elliot tells Shannon that it has been two years since his wife and child died. He tells her more about Naomi and Samuel who were killed in a car accident. Shannon lost her mother and understands that it takes time to piece yourself back together.

They agree to change the subject to happier things. Elliot asks her if getting into a relationship would be a good idea but Shannon doesn’t. They kiss anyway before Danny (Taye Matthew) enters and says he missed the minibus. Elliot against to walk him to school. Along the way, he learns about the upcoming football trials and other things. Elliot gives him advice and says he’ll talk to Shannon about watching the games if Danny makes the team. Elliot returns to his father and finds him chatting with Ed. Ed explains that they have friends in common before Mark (Adrian Bower) walks down the stairs and joins them. Elliot is told that his father used to work for the Williams Brothers. Ed says he had the pleasure of watching Charlie in the ring but he was better at losing.

After that, Elliot steps outside with Ed and says he doesn’t kill kids. He felt responsible since he transported Cole. Then, Elliot learns about the jewelry store robbery. Ed tells him that he isn’t sure he is on their side before ordering him to follow Mark’s instructions. Mark tells Elliot that lads tend to go one way or the other after a tour of Afghan. They either buck the system or go further in. Elliot gets into the vehicle and says nothing. After that, we see a flashback of Marian (Michelle Fairley) sitting near Finn as he eats. Finn uses his phone before Marian realizes she is sitting alone. A man approaches and says it is nice to see her before Marian asks about Floriana. He pretends to know nothing but Marian knows it was her husband’s mistress.

He tells her that Floriana was quiet, Eastern European, and in her 20s. Serwa arrives seconds later and gives Marian information about Finn’s movements before he was killed. When she returns, he gets upset and throws Finn’s suits on the ground. Sean finds her going nuts and tries to calm her. She complains about Finn buying a yacht for his mistress and naming it after her. Sean doesn’t want her doing that tonight since everyone is coming over for dinner. He says he wants to get Ed involved more so he can see things through his eyes. Mark and Elliot track down Barkley and interrogate him about the Royal Arcade robbery. Elliot is ordered to hurt Barkley. Mark takes away his oxygen before Elliot begins chucking his pigeons off of the building.

That doesn’t convince Barkley to talk so Elliot goes for another pigeon cage. That does the trick and Barkley agrees to take them to his nephew. Meanwhile, the staff at the Wallace house begins preparing for the dinner before Marian tells Sean she shouldn’t have said anything. Billy answers the door and Shannon enters with her son. Jacqueline is the next to arrive. Meanwhile, Luan (Orli Shuka) arrives home to his family. He tells his partner, Mirlinda (Eri Shuka), that the Nigerians are tired of waiting so they gave him the money and they’ll do what they must. He says it was Finn’s deal before he is told to go meet with Sean. Luan doesn’t think that is a good idea because Sean doesn’t trust him. Alex and Ed meet with Jevan (Ray Panthaki).

Nasir is there but they’re introduced to Natalie (Eva-Jane Willis) first. Alex walks with Natalie while Ed follows from a distance. Ed asks Jevan and is told that these people are his new friends. They’re representatives for some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world. All of them are there to meet Alex. They want to ensure that their money cannot be traced so they’ll remain untouchable. Jevan explains that Alex needs to finish what he started with Finn and a lot of people are relying on that to happen. Next, DI Vicky Chung (Jing Lusi) watches a video that is part of the evidence. Floriana gets into a black taxi. She also gets a video on the cellphone and it appears someone is threatening her. We get a closer look at the man driving the black taxi.

Vicky calls Elliot to tell him that Floriana was last seen getting into a taxi on the day Finn was killed. They need to find out who it is licensed to in hopes of determing who was driving the vehicle. A man who looks like the driver enters a dark room and gives Floriana food for the baby. She asks for a fork before Lief is told his dinner is getting cold. Lief returns to his mother and we see that Floriana is chained. Meanwhile, Raheem, Anthony, Diah, and the others try to dump the jewelry but nobody is interested. Before they can leave, Raheem believes Barkley is outside but it isn’t him. Mark shoots into the room before entering with Elliot.

Mark orders them to line up before Anthony tells them to take the jewelry. Mark tells Elliot to do what he says and that he and his father are on the line. Solomon (Tom Christian) is forced to stand up before being told he is a punching bag. Elliot accepts his order and punches Solomon once. Mark tells him to punch harder and he does. Elliot is given a hammer and Mark orders him to target the knee. Elliot bashes the man’s knee using the hammer. When Alex and Ed leave, they agree not to tell Sean about it. Meanwhile, Billy has had too much wine. Marian offers to help Jacqueline with the baby but she doesn’t want her help. Marian tries to smooth things over with her and eventually gets through. Sean watches as Jacqueline lets Marian touch her belly.

Then, Sean gets a call from Luan saying Ed hasn’t told him about the deal he made with his father. Sean is invited to his office so they can talk about it. Sean tells Grahams to call everyone in. Lief drinks milk before getting a text message telling him that Sean is on the move. Elliot and Mark continue torturing the thieves until Elliot is ordered to break Diah’s arm. Anthony steps up and tells Elliot to break his arm instead. Mark agrees and says to start with Anthony and move to Diah but Elliot says he won’t do it. Kev (James Harkness) interrupts to tell them that the boss has called and they need to go. When Elliot steps outside, Mark holds the gun on him and says he knew he was a cop from the beginning.

He orders him to get into the vehicle and Anthony watches it from a distance. Elliot is handcuffed before the car drives away. Anthony follows them on his bike. Luan asks if he is making the right move. He explains himself and says they can’t afford to let this fail before Sean arrives outside. Before Sean can speak to Luan, Mark arrives with Elliot and Barkley. Elliot tries to free himself while Mark tries to tell Sean about Elliot being a cop. Luan interrupts and approaches Sean. Elliot frees himself and gives Barkley oxygen. Anthony arrives and watches everything. Elliot escapes the vehicle while Sean asks what Finn wanted Luan to do. Luan says that Finn had him kill a lot of people and Sean owes him a lot of money now.

Elliot watches as a red dot appears on Sean’s head. Mark moves him out of the way before being shot in the head. Sean clears his eyes before the sniper fires again and again. Elliot rushes forward and saves Sean’s life but he gets shot in the stomach. Sean tries to get Elliot up. Luan gets involved and they drag Elliot to the vehicle. The sniper shoots Barkley’s oxygen tank causing the vehicle to blow up. Anthony shoots the sniper before driving the others to safety. The sniper tells them that the mission has failed and they need to move on to plan B. Meanwhile, Danny talks to Jacqueline and everyone learns she is having a girl. Sean and Anthony pull Elliot inside and begin working on his gunshot wound. Jacqueline helps while Shannon tries to keep Elliot calm.

The bullet is removed before Elliot believes he sees Samuel. It is Danny instead. Marian takes him to the other room so he doesn’t see the chaos. She tries to take him into one room but Billy is in there shooting drugs. She tells Danny to go upstairs. A staff member collects herself before grabbing a handgun and going after Sean. Alex shoots her before she can kill Sean. Sean asks Ed who is doing this to them before the episode ends.

 

Gangs Of London Review

I am not a huge fan of Gangs of London but I can see why people dig it. The pacing is a bit odd. Sometimes, it feels like the show is going nowhere but that can change quickly. When it does, it doesn’t let up and it is hard to catch your breath. I find it difficult to follow the story because there is so much going on at once. I wonder if that will make a difference in the long run though.

Some people will love Gangs of London because it is action-packed and gory but some may not. The episode was enjoyable at least. It scores a 7 out of 10. Previous recaps of Gangs of London can be found on Reel Mockery.