‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2 Sees Impressive Netflix Comeback

Tena Milakovic
The Gentlemen 1 1
Share:

Sophomore slumps have become a notable trend on Netflix in recent times, with returning favorites often struggling to replicate the success of their debut seasons. Shows like ‘Wednesday,’ ‘Beef,’ and ‘That ’90s Show’ have all experienced significant drops in viewership during their second outings, and for a moment, it seemed that Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Gentlemen’ might follow suit.

When ‘The Gentlemen’ returned for its second season on September 3, the initial results were disappointing compared to the high bar set by its first season. The show debuted at number three on Netflix’s global chart, garnering 6.7 million views and 49.8 million hours watched in its first four days, a sharp decline from the 12.2 million views that season 1 achieved during its debut window back in March 2024.

However, that initial slump has transformed into a remarkable turnaround. According to Variety, ‘The Gentlemen’ season 2 experienced a 48 percent increase in viewership during its second week on the platform, while season 1, which had also re-entered the charts for a nostalgic rewatch, climbed higher in the rankings.

The 45 percent drop compared to the first season’s launch raised concerns about whether the two-and-a-half-year gap between seasons had hindered the show’s momentum. Season one originally ran for ten consecutive weeks in Netflix’s global top 10, accumulating over 72 million completed views, setting a high standard for season two to meet.

Part of the explanation for the shaky start seems to be timing rather than quality. Season 2 launched over Labor Day weekend, and while the extra day off seemed like it would boost viewership, it may have inadvertently diverted some subscribers toward other holiday activities during the show’s crucial first few days.

The season 1 rewatch effect also contributed to the initial numbers, with dedicated fans returning to catch up on Eddie Horniman and Susie Glass’s story before diving into the new episodes, temporarily splitting attention between the two seasons instead of focusing solely on the latest release. Once that catch-up viewing settled, season 2 appears to have gained real momentum based on its own merits.

The show follows Theo James as Eddie Horniman, the 13th Duke of Halstead, alongside Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass, as they continue to navigate a sprawling criminal cannabis empire one year after joining forces. Critics have responded positively to the new episodes as well, with the season’s Rotten Tomatoes score rising into the mid-80s compared to season 1’s 75 percent, even as the show embraces a noticeably darker and larger tonal shift this time around.

Screenshot 2026 09 04 at 09 12 49 The Gentlemen Rotten Tomatoes

Notably, Netflix greenlit ‘The Gentlemen’ for a third season back in August, about ten days before season two even premiered, indicating that the decision to continue the show was not influenced by how these viewership numbers ultimately played out. That early renewal now appears to be a wise decision given the show’s rebound in its second week.

With both seasons climbing the charts simultaneously and the franchise reportedly topping IMDb’s most popular TV shows list following the week two surge, ‘The Gentlemen’ seems to be establishing the kind of sustained, word-of-mouth growth that shows like this typically require time to develop. Whether this momentum continues into the next chart week will be the true test.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.

Share: