TNT's newest edition to an already great television line up is Mob City, a TV Miniseries that has an ensemble cast that absolutely kills it & I'll get into why.
Plot Line: Mob City takes place in late 1940's Mob soaked Los Angeles. The show revolves around a LAPD detective who has acquaintances in the Mob. I will not go into much detail because I would be giving away most of the core story. As the story follows the LAPD detective it also follows the Mob, specifically Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen (who you see very little of) and the mystery woman (which I can not go into detail on without spoiling it) threatening and brushing shoulders. The series mostly follows on the LAPD and Bugsy's crew clashing, but recently in eps. 4 followed a rival gang trying to take over Bugsy's operations. There are some holes in the story, but the whole finished product does not fail.
Cast: Let me start of with Frank Darabont. Frank of course took over The Walking Dead after its first season, which in my opinion has dumbed down the show ever since. Ever since Frank took over The Walking Dead for season 2 ongoing I slowly stopped watching. The Walking Dead just became dull and just flat out boring. That is to say I am not a Walking Dead fan, so I could see my hesitation when TNT started advertising a 1940's mob show using Frank's work as a promotion. Looking at the ad's I think, how is a zombie guy create a noir? Frank brought Jon Bernthal (Walking Dead's Shane Walsh) and Jeffrey DeMunn (Walking Dead's Dale Horvath) back who were both killed off of The Walking Dead. Personally I did not like Jon Bernthal in The Walking Dead, but seeing him here on Mob City made me appreciate him a little more. Jeffrey DeMunn was also my one of my favorites on the show and here he is even better. The Walking Dead's resurrected cast helps boost the show, and I love to see others returning to the screen such as Michael McGrady (Southland, L.A. Noire), Neal McDonough (Justified), and Gregory Itzin (24) who make it feel more at home for me. I absolutely love that Edward Burns is playing Bugsy Siegel he is all around a great actor with a lot of potential and portrays him greatly. I do have a problem with casting Jeremy Luke as Mickey Cohen. He makes the show feel awkward and just does not portray Mickey the way I would like. The casting is great overall, and I do enjoy it very much as they defiantly add to the noir feel of the show.
Conclusion: Mob City is a great miniseries, with a cast that makes it and screenplay that kills. Mob City has a lot of potential as a straight up television series. As it is a miniseries they traditionally do not get renewed nor have more that one season, so It will be upsetting to see it go. Frank impressed me when I thought he could not. If Mob City is becoming renewed or brought to a series it cannot be dumbed down, I can already see the money they've spent with the sets, props, and costumes and cutting budget it will make me a lost viewer. I applaud Frank and TNT for making a piece that is my favorite this year. I recommend to anyone though, not the typical Walking Dead fan because I just do not think they would enjoy it. Some background knowledge of the LA mob is good to get the story. A mob enthusiast like me will be just at home. See you at the series and/or season finale? 7/10
