Seasons one and two of Gangs of London were almost universally revered by fans and critics alike, its blend of brutal violence, emotional family drama and Gotham-esque version of London winning the hearts of many.

Season 2 culminated in a jaw-dropping, epic fight scene, followed by a “where-can-we-go-from-here” moment that had viewers counting the days until the release of season 3. With a complete change of writers, directors and executive producers bringing fresh eyes and style to the table, do the latest eight episodes live up to hype and expectation?

In a nutshell, yes.

Lead writer Peter McKenna (Kin) and lead director Kim Hong Sun (Project Wolf Hunting) bring a familiar yet distinct feel to the overall aesthetic of the show blending good old fashioned drama with outstanding action sequences. Speaking to FILMHOUNDS on the red carpet, Kim explains, “Some of the ways we make films in Korea is a little different but emotionally it's totally the same. We cry, we smile all the same,” with McKenna adding: “We wanted to honour the DNA of the show which is having a real sense of propulsive story that drives the characters and everybody is affected by or part of and I think we achieved that.”

Episode One takes us right back to the heart of the show and why viewers keep tuning in. It begins with a flashback revealing the fate of a family member of a main character which has a huge impact upon the rest of the episodes. And before viewers can rest on their laurels, another whopping moment reminds them they are in for one hell of a ride.

As well as being reunited with familiar faces, this season there are several new ones to add to the line-up and as usual they arrive with a bang. Coneilius Quinn (Richard Dormer from Game of Thrones) is Marion's brother and immediately presents as some kind of Negan (The Walking Dead) figure with his terrifying walking stick he uses as a weapon. Then there is Zeek (Andrew Koji from Warrior), a mysterious lone figure whose history and motives are slowly revealed over the entirety of the season. Both characters are a welcome addition to the show, Koji in particular bringing his expert martial art skills into the fray and opening up many possibilities for a fourth season.

At the heart of Gangs of London is a tale as old as time, a sometimes Shakespearean-esque labyrinthine story of families and legacies. It also keeps the characters more relatable and even a little sympathetic, especially the parents. Asif (Asif Raza Mir) and Ed (Lucian Msamati) are still grieving the loss of children, Sean (Joe Cole) and Billy Wallace (Brian Vernel) and Elliot (Sope Dirisu) all lost a father and there is plenty more death and destruction of trust and bonds where that came from.

Season 3 also delivers more mystery than the previous two, and the unravelling of the whodunit pieces alongside the power struggle of the gangs is a smart and refreshing move. This season also introduces the political ambitions and alliances of the Mayor of London, Simone Thearle, played incredibly by the super talented T'Nia Miller (The Fall of the House of Usher) and by including a few more characters outside of the criminal underworld, the audience gets to see just how far the actions of the families really reach.

Elliot (Sope Dirisu) in particular has a personal journey to take this season regarding a defining moment from his past, and proving Sope isn't solely an amazing actor when doing mostly his own fight and stunt sequences, but can also bring raw emotion to the screen in spades. “In season 3, there is a development of Elliot's story that I wasn't aware of before, so when I found out what was happening, I was finding out the same time as Elliot was, we were on the same journey of discovery. It was parallel for us,” Dirisu shared with us.

Recurring characters Shannon (Pippa Bennett-Warner) and Lale (Narges Rashidi) have phenomenal storylines this season, proving anyone in London, or the audience, who thinks women are the weak link are sorely mistaken. Episode five is a glorious almost standalone tale featuring fan favourite Lale and holds some moments that will go down not just in Gangs of London, but in TV history. And Shannon, with her smart, chic clothing and Beyonce-esque hair really comes into her own, girl-bossing it at the club she owns whilst also sharing some incredibly tender and tense moments with her son, Danny.

Whilst some shows begin to falter and weaken the more seasons and episodes there are, the strong writing, incredible cast and breathtaking stunts keep Gangs of London at the forefront of action TV and whilst EPs and showrunners have come and gone, Gareth Evan's original vision is still very much the lifeline of the show.

Through Gangs of London Season 3, the audience is kept on their toes, and right from the get-go it is obvious that no one is safe. The stakes are high from episode one and there is no let up throughout the series, it takes the emotional rollercoaster analogy and then raises it tenfold. Anything could happen to anyone at any time — and that makes it one of the best TV shows on air now.

All 8 episodes of Gangs of London 3 have launched as a box set on Sky Atlantic and the streaming service NOW on 20 March.