Rival Gangs
Gangs Of London was one of Sky’s biggest dramas in 2020 and it’s easy to see why. Between the high octane action and characters, this exciting series leaves you wanting more. For our American fans, AMC have snatched this one up and plan to air it in October. If you’ve watched this already and are itching for more, we’ve combed through the archives to find you some alternatives. To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have. Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with. So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Gangs Of London.
Peaky Blinders
Similarities – Gangs & Action
Raw, dramatic and surprisingly realistic, if you’re looking for an accurate depiction of 1920’s England, look no further than Peaky Blinders. Revolving around a family determined to make its way to the top of the criminal underworld, Peaky Blinders revels in its grimy, dark depiction of Birmingham. There’s plenty of twist and turns along the way too and this drama spreads across 5+ seasons so there’s lots to watch. You can read our thoughts on Peaky Blinders in our full season reviews here!
Top Boy
Similarities – Action & Story
On the surface, Top Boy is a very straight forward story about two drug dealers trying to navigate the murky underbelly of London. When you dive a little deeper however, Top Boy is a fascinating social commentary. It really hones in on the issues facing Britain’s youth and just how seductive the drug trade can be. Gritty, and realistic, Topboy is worth a watch. You can read our thoughts on Peaky Blinders in our full season reviews here!
Suburra: Blood On Rome
Similarities – Fighting Over Territory & Action
Set in 2008, the story begins with a simple turf war in a sleepy seaside city. With the Mayor retiring and his successor left up for dispute, three separate gangs seize the opportunity to capitalize on the ensuing confusion. As the separate families begin preparing for the inevitable fights ahead, three key characters, Aureliano, Spadino and Gabriele, band together to blackmail a priest. Gripping, action-packed and full of gang warfare, this Italian series is a must-watch for crime enthusiasts. You can read our thoughts on Suburra in our full season review here!
Narcos
Similarities – Crime Families & Action
Narcos and its sister spin-off Narcos: Mexico are gritty, well written crime dramas. Both shows do an excellent job at building up a dangerous world revolving around the drug trade. While the show primarily follows Pablo Escobar, it does then branch out and encapsulate many more characters to produce one of the more intriguing and entertaining series out there. If you’re a fan of Gangs Of London, you should definitely check this out.
El Chapo
Similarities – Crime & Drama
Documenting the life of infamous drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, El Chapo is an engrossing, fast paced and often violent ride through the underworld of drug trafficking. Beginning with Chapo’s rise to power and ending with his eventual downfall, this crime series does a great job depicting this notorious man’s life. With a satisfying conclusion and plenty of drama along the way, this is one of the better options out there. You can read our thoughts on El Chapo in our full season reviews here!
Breaking Bad
Similarities – Drama & Characters
Breaking Bad manages to transcend beyond excellent TV into something timelessly epic on the small screen. From the tight writing and memorable characters to the constant juxtapositions and changing character fortunes, this slow-burn thriller is a non-stop rollercoaster ride. There’s a reason this is one of the best shows ever produced and if you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favour and check it out. You can read our thoughts on Breaking Bad in our full season reviews here!
Line Of Duty
Similarities – Action & Pace
On paper, Line Of Duty is a very simple action-orientated crime drama. The main premise revolves around investigations of a controversial police anti-corruption unit called A-12. Only, the story goes much deeper than that. With numerous seasons to get through, this wildly popular British series does include a new investigation every series but has enough threads holding everything together to make for one consistent story. It’s one of those shows that really sucks you in and leaves you wanting more. This is definitely a must-watch.
Gomorrah
Similarities – Crime & Action
Much like Suburra, Gomorrah is an Italian crime drama revolving around the Mafia in Naples. Running for four seasons, Gomorrah has a lot of bang for its buck. However, this is backed up by some amazing storytelling and tense action set pieces. More so than some of the others on this list, here you really get a feel and vibe for organized crime. This expands out to 4+ seasons to make for some incredibly gripping drama.
Better Call Saul
Similarities – Drama
The spiritual successor to Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul revolves around everyone’s favourite crooked lawyer Saul and takes place before the events of Breaking Bad. With familiar faces and fresh blood, Vince Gilligan shows just why he’s one of the best in the business with this series. Expertly written, beautifully shot and generally just a fantastic show all round, Better Call Saul is definitely worth a watch.
ZeroZeroZero
Similarities – Action
Any fans of Narcos or Gomorrah will be right in their element here. ZeroZeroZero revolves around a cocaine shipment making its way to Europe, beginning with a cartel of Italian criminals who decide to buy it. From here the series only gets better over time as it hops across the Atlantic Ocean. Gritty, well-written and full of some really well choreographed action, this is another must-watch show and a surprisingly underrated one too. So there we have it, our 10 TV show picks to keep you busy while you eagerly await Gangs Of London returning to the small screen. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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