Guy Ritchie has a thing for fathers. Whether it's the looming shadow of a patriarch's legacy or the frantic, blood-soaked attempts of a son to protect his kin, the theme is everywhere in his work. When The Gentlemen leaped from the big screen to a Netflix series, it didn't just bring the tweed suits and weed farms with it. It brought a messy, complicated look at what it means to lead a family when your world is literally on fire.
Parents watching this show—or people looking for the gentlemen parents guide to understanding these dynamics—often get distracted by the gunfights. That's a mistake. If you look past the smoke, the show is a masterclass in the "sins of the father" trope, wrapped in a very expensive, very British bow.
It’s about inheritance. Not just the money. The chaos too.
The Burden of the "Second Son" Mentality
Eddie Horniman wasn't supposed to be the Duke. He was the "spare," the soldier, the guy who found his own path away from the crumbling estate. But then his father died and bypassed the erratic, drug-addled firstborn, Freddy. Suddenly, Eddie is the head of a criminal enterprise he never asked for.
This is where the show gets real about parenting. The late Duke of Halstead didn't just leave a title; he left a trap. By favoring Eddie over Freddy, he ignited a sibling rivalry that fuels half the plot's disasters. It’s a cautionary tale for any parent about the long-term impact of "the favorite." Freddy’s insecurity isn't just a plot point; it’s a symptom of a father who didn't know how to manage his sons' egos while he was still alive.
Honestly, it's heartbreaking if you think about it too long. Freddy is a mess because he was never told he was enough. Eddie is a killer because his father knew he was the only one "man enough" to handle the rot.
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Susie Glass and the Shadow of Bobby Glass
Then we have Susie. She’s the acting CEO of the Glass empire while her father, Bobby, does time in an open prison that looks more like a luxury spa. Their relationship is the most fascinating part of the gentlemen parents guide to character analysis.
Susie is brilliant. She's ruthless. But she is constantly seeking the validation of a man who is literally behind bars. Bobby Glass is a "gentleman" in the sense that he values etiquette and strategy, but he is a puppet master. He plays his daughter and Eddie against each other like chess pieces.
It raises a massive question: Can a parent truly love their child if they are also using them as a business asset? Bobby seems to think so. Susie seems to hope so. But the tension is always there, vibrating under the surface of every phone call.
Is The Gentlemen "Safe" for Younger Viewers?
Let's pivot to the literal the gentlemen parents guide—the stuff you actually need to know if your teenager is begging to watch this. Netflix gave it a TV-MA rating for a reason.
It’s violent. Not "cartoon" violent, but "Guy Ritchie" violent. We’re talking about fingers being lost and people being dispatched in ways that are both stylish and gruesome. There’s a scene involving a chicken suit that is equal parts hilarious and deeply disturbing.
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Then there’s the language. It’s a symphony of profanity. If you have a low tolerance for the "C-word" or constant, creative uses of the "F-word," this is not the show for your living room.
- Drug Content: It’s literally about a massive underground marijuana farm. While it’s not glorifying hard drug use (in fact, it shows the devastating effects of cocaine through Freddy), the entire economy of the show is built on illegal substances.
- Nudity: Surprisingly sparse compared to other prestige dramas, but it’s not non-existent.
- Tone: It’s cynical. It’s dark. It assumes everyone has a price.
The Halstead Matriarch: Lady Sabrina
Don't sleep on Lady Sabrina. Played by Joely Richardson, she’s the one trying to keep the family’s soul intact while the walls close in. She represents the "traditional" side of the guide. She knows exactly what’s happening in the woods, even if she pretends she doesn’t.
Her role is the "gatekeeper." In many ways, she is the most "gentlemanly" of them all because she understands that maintaining appearances isn't just about vanity; it's about survival. She protects her children by being the silent anchor. When the world goes mad, she’s still there, pouring tea and offering the kind of cold, hard wisdom that only comes from decades of managing a dying aristocracy.
Navigating the Legacy Trap
What the show gets right—and what most critics miss—is the weight of expectations. Eddie spends the entire first season trying to get out. He’s a "good" man who realizes that to save his family, he has to become a "bad" one.
That’s a heavy theme for a show that also features a scene with a man in a gimp suit.
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It challenges the idea of what a "good" parent does. Is a good father the one who leaves his kids a billion-dollar empire built on blood? Or is it the one who burns it all down so his kids can be free? The show doesn't give you an easy answer. It just shows you the cost of both choices.
Tactical Advice for the Modern "Gentleman" Parent
If you're looking at this through a lens of real-world application (minus the crime syndicates), there are a few takeaways.
- Transparency is a double-edged sword. The Duke’s secrecy about his dealings with the Glass family is what caused the explosion. Keeping your kids in the dark "for their own protection" usually just means they'll be blindsided when you're gone.
- Define success early. If Eddie and Freddy knew what was expected of them beyond just "becoming a Duke," their lives might have had a different trajectory.
- Watch the ego. Almost every disaster in The Gentlemen happens because a man's pride got hurt. Freddy's pride, Eddie's pride, the Gospel's pride. Teaching kids how to lose gracefully is probably the most "gentlemanly" thing a parent can do.
The show is a wild ride. It’s stylish, it’s fast, and it’s deeply concerned with how we pass our values—and our vices—to the next generation. If you're diving in, do it for the aesthetics, but stay for the surprisingly deep dive into the messy reality of family loyalty.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Rating: Ensure you are comfortable with high-frequency profanity and stylized violence before starting the series with anyone under 17.
- Discuss the Themes: Use the show as a springboard to talk about "legacy" and "burden" with older teens who might be feeling the pressure of family expectations.
- Analyze the Power Dynamics: Pay attention to Susie and Bobby Glass's relationship in Episode 5 specifically; it’s a masterclass in manipulative parenting that serves as a perfect "what not to do" example.