Gangland - Seasons 1 & 2 (History Channel)

 
I had no idea that there were so many naive, misled, nasty, evil, pathetic people out there. Individuals who need to belong to a violent pack in order to have a sense of belonging or self-esteem. Of course, many gang members are youngsters who have had bad family lives and, to a degree, that's understandable. But again and again, this series exposes individuals who are evil incarnate, drunk on power and remorselessly ruthless.

This really excellent series is, in many ways, a sickening experience.  It's certainly not for the light-hearted.  Generally sitting on the right side of sensationalism, it is a very informative, well researched affair using a good mix of existing footage, interviews with ex-gang members, victims, and the police who are left to deal with them.


It covers gangs across the entire US, tracing their roots even when this means crossing the borders.

There are 25 'hour long' (well, to fit hour slots on commercial TV) episodes here, and without exception, every episode is as grimly fascinating as the last. It digs surprisingly deep too, prying into gangs where to talk or to be seen to exposing activities brings a death sentence from the gang involved.

Whether it's Skinheads, the ultra-violent Asian Triads, Hell's Angels, Maniac Latin Disciples or the Bloods and Crips, they're all here.


It's nicely narrated by a UK voice-over (maybe just for the UK release?) and superbly edited, using interviews and news items to bring a cohesive structure to the programme.

Apparently the series had audience figures of well over 50 million in the US, which for a peripheral station is some feat. It also attracted viewing figures of in excess of one million in the UK, which is quite something too.


Though it's bleak viewing, there are occasional rays of light with gang members, now grown up, full of remorse and doing what they can to reverse the bad karma. But this is a rarity. Most are truly hateful.

Something very curious about the series is the way each episode ends. Quickly. There's no slow-down and each episode just suddenly stops.


The picture quality is, of course, wildly variable throughout as so much CCTV and amateur footage is used though this is nicely balanced by high quality graphics and editing.
Audio is good with a nice, though relentless, music bed.
 
All in all, a fantastic series and, with two seasons available in a single box for such a good price, this is definitely one to get. 

 
 Episodes:
1. American Gangster
2. You Rat, You Die
3. Code of Conduct
4. Behind Enemy Lines
5. Race Wars
6. Kings of New York
7. Stone to the Bone
8. Hate Nation
9. Gangster City
10. Blood In, Blood Out
11. Basic Training
12. Blood Oath
13. Root of All Evil
14. Maniacal
15. Deadly Triangle
16. Biker Wars
17. Texas Terror
18. Crip or Die
19. Murder By Numbers
20. Lords of the Holy City
21. Mongol Nation
22. Gangster Inc.
23. One Blood
24. Sin City
25. From Girl to Gangster