Netflix has just quietly added one of the best British crime dramas of all time

A British show labelled ‘the best gangster series’ ever by fans has now been released on Netflix.

Based on the 2006 video game, Gangs of London first hit screens in 2020 on Sky Atlantic, with a second season released two years later.

It follows the struggles between rival gangs and other criminal organisations in present-day London and stars Joe Cole and Paapa Essiedu.

The show kicked off with the murder of crime boss Finn Wallace, with his assassination leaving the once-powerful Wallaces scrambling to regain control of the streets of London from enemies who strive to fill the vacuum Finn’s death leaves behind.

Joe plays Sean, Finn’s eldest son, who is tasked with stabilising the familyempire and tracking down his father’s killer, while Papa plays Alex Dumani, an ally of the family.

This week the show was quietly uploaded onto the streaming service, a move celebrated by both its fans and new viewers.

‘Gangs of London is better than Blacklist.  It’s the sickest, most interesting, highly intriguing show on Netflix.  I can’t get over it!!! The director is sick!!!!!’ Pere Egbi posted on X.

Since the show premiered, it’s picked up a loyal audience, many of whom have said it’s one of the most gripping series they’ve ever watched.

‘Highly recommend Gangs of London – the best gangster series ever! The special effects are mind-blowing!’ Anestorsrise shared.

‘Gangs of London is literally one of the best crime/drama series but it’s so underrated,’ tr_koy commented.

‘I love that Gangs of London is pretty much exactly what you’d expect from a tv show directed by the guy who did The Raid, in the best possible way. Turns out the missing ingredient for UK tv drama was insanely hyperviolent action scenes,’ Phelimo added.

In 2020 Adam Peaty also threw his support behind the series when it was released, writing on social media: ‘Gangs of London is by far the best thing I’ve ever watched on TV.’

At that time, the first episode attracted an audience of 2.23 million over seven days and became Sky Atlantic’s second-biggest original drama launch.

However, some have said the ‘graphic’ violence on the show has been ‘too much’ for them.

But in 2022 creator Corin Hardy defended the grisly tone and scenes.

‘It’s part of the show’s DNA. You’re existing in a world of criminals. Everyone in gangs is a criminal, and there is something interesting to watch where you can relate to the characters because they are family members,’ he told Metro.co.uk.

‘There’s this quandary of, “Can you have a life of family and crime in a big way? Can you make that work?”

‘It comes with sacrifices, and it comes with dilemmas, and those dilemmas spill into becoming involved in some kind of violence.’

He continued: ‘I personally like to explore that in a lot of detail in a cinematic way. That can be visual and can be thrilling.

‘It might be a bit gruesome at times, but it’s also propelled by these characters and their relationships and their emotions and survival [instinct].’

Speaking to Metro too last month, Joe revealed that the third season of the show ‘should be out the end of this year or early next year’.