Ganglands Season 2, or Braqueurs Season 2, is back with its gritty and dramatic storytelling to raise our blood pressure. Created by Hamid Hlioua and Julien Leclercq, the plot surrounds a proficient robber Mehdi and a small-time thug Liana, whose lives get entangled following a series of coincidences. Julien Leclercq directs the series.
Starring Sami Bouajila as Mehdi and Tracy Gotoas as the lead actors alongside Samuel Jouy, Salim Kechiouche, Nabiha Akkari and more. Wim and Vanswijgenhoven are the cinematographers, and Lucas de Moidrey and Jeanne Trellu give the music. The show contains six episodes with a runtime of approximately 45-50 minutes each.
The official Netflix description of the series reads as follows:
To protect his family from a powerful drug lord, skilled thief Mehdi and his expert team of robbers are pulled into a violent and deadly turf war.
-Ganglands Season 2 Review Contains No Spoilers-
Similar to the previous season, the latest episode opens with a bang! Liana, Mehdi and Tony are seen carrying out a well-planned robbery where they also meet their rivals. The event is a catalyst for the upcoming troubles that the trio faces later on. The situations begin to get heated from there on.
However, the story forces us to create an emotional bond with the characters in order to display a predictable reaction, but the lack of backstory and character development prevents the audience from doing so. The shock element is present throughout the series. You can expect the unexpected, and the turn of events will horrify you. But even the most shocking twists and turns feel repetitive at some point.
The story picks up its pace in the first half, goes downhill in the middle and finally revives again. It constantly feels like it’s two steps forwards and four steps back. When the plan fails to progress further, the audience is bound to get frustrated and question the characters’ intelligence. A number of loopholes are present, but those can be overlooked because of the uber-realistic action sequences.
Various new characters are introduced in the season, which plays a major role in the plot. Prosecutor Almeida, the main villain of this season and the culprit behind most tragedies, manages to captivate the viewers. His ruthless actions and mindless decisions to overthrow his superior and become the next drug lord of Europe plays off quite well in the series. Much about his past is not shown, only a glimpse of his traumatic experience.
Tony is utilised well in the series, and the creators are able to create a sense of attachment with the character. The story surrounding his life, the build-up and the revelation are not unforeseeable, but it still leaves an emotional dent. A certain level of character development can be seen with Liana as she does not make rash decisions anymore and is mindful of how her actions can affect her loved ones.
Mehdi finds solace and a family within Liana. His protectiveness towards her increases, and he can go to any lengths to keep her safe. He grows to be more gentle and emotional around his close ones. Although he shows his vulnerability, he is still calculative and a sharp assailant who proves to be an important asset.
Action sequences involving high-tech weapons and car chases are exciting and sometimes brutal. It is filled with thoughtless violence and explicit assault scenes. Some sex scenes and nudity are also present, but it does not overpower the main plot. The planning and scheming to accomplish their goals by pitting one against the other are exhilarating to witness.
The actors did an excellent job and remained committed to their roles throughout. Sami Bouajila and Tracy Gotoas showcase an intimate relationship of father and daughter, which will be relatable to the audience. Samuel Jouy stole the show with his compelling performance of a distraught father whose only goal is to protect his family.
Ganglands Season 2 Review: Final Thoughts
The series will keep you hooked with thrilling moments and a compelling storyline with characters whose lives converge and leads to chaos and destruction. However, it gets repeated and reaches a standstill at some points, but it also quickly recovers and gets back on track. The French crime drama is quick and contains all the elements to keep you on edge.
Ganglands Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
Did you watch the latest season yet? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read: Ganglands Season 1 Recap: Read All That Happened Before Catching Up With the New Season
The best thing of the movie is the setting, Brussels, Antwerp and a lot of unusual sights taken from drones gives the serie a special attraction as well as the duality between the flemish and arab gangs. The rhythm and action scenes are thrilling but underlying love stories are weird and unemotional, one lesbian affair was already displayed in the first part and pretty boring, a second one in the sequel is too much and seems to be a personal obsession of film director, it lacks anyhow 4credibility. They are some nice second roles but on the whole, the casting is too dark, too middle eastern and too merciless.