MobLand

MobLand is a sort of Roman history-like / Shakespearean over the top crime show that brings Miller's Crossing together with a Guy Ritchie-type universe.

Our "hero" is Tom Hardy, fixer guy for The Harringon Family, led by the diabolical and insane Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren. They want to expand into the fentanyl business, but their son may have been involved in a homicide with a rival crime lord's son...and now it's "nuclear war." Tom Hardy has to protect both his crime family and his real family - and win the war.

This show is a lot of fun. The acting is great and the production value is superb. The theme some / credits intro for this show might be the best of any show since Game of Thrones, and it really jazzes you up and gets you excited for the story.

The writing is mostly really good, but it ranges from over the top to kind of underwhelming. For example, there is a scene with a chainsaw that is bloodshed and madness, but what should have been a game-changer turned into something where then there is never really much of an emotional resonance from anyone. Characters kind of just "go on." Also, it introduces this crime lord to be the main antagonist, and I think by the end it's unclear what made him such a threat in the first place.

Lastly, this world is full of backstabbing and chaos, it's so over-the-top that nobody who existed in this world could be real, and that is both part of the fun and also the challenge of MobLand. It's in no way shape or form a real look at mob life - it's more like a Roman-era bloody tale of madness and revenge.

But, whatever.

The show is a total binge-worthy blast and I'd absolutely watch a second season.

The series Mobland starts off strong and is carried by Tom Hardy. The other actors range from decent to completely over-the-top - especially Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren, who are genuinely hard to watch.

The show lacks an overarching storyline, instead stringing together one narrative fragment after another, often feeling more like a soap opera than an actual mafia series. Many scenes are marked by illogical decisions. All in all, it's nowhere near masterpieces like The Sopranos.

It's a show you can easily binge in one or two days, have a good time with, and completely forget about four weeks later. Without Tom Hardy, it would be a 5 out of 10.

There's way too much of these types of shows now. In an ideal world they would take the best elements of all these and put them together to make a brilliant series.

There's so many holes in the plot and so many unbelievable things happening considering the prestige of the family and their enterprise. If it wasn't for Tom Hardy I may have switched off before the end.

I was stunned to find out the Pierce Brosnan was Irish, that accent is wild. Same as Helen Mirren and her ridiculous character.

Too much of this stuff is designed for the yanks, the Cotswolds isn't around the corner from London.

MobLand delivers exactly what you'd expect from a top-tier crime drama - and perhaps even more. The screenplay is incredibly well-constructed, with sharp editing and a clear, efficient introduction of characters, free from any redundancy. Information is revealed at the right pace, and the use of parallel storylines only enhances the main narrative rather than distracting from it.

Character development is handled to perfection: each figure is explored to the exact extent necessary, with depth and intention. The scenes are well-framed from the beginning, making it easy to dive into the story and follow its progression. The plot unfolds naturally, maintaining suspense and engagement throughout.

There may be a moment or two where one could argue a storyline could've been tied up differently - but in the end, everything is resolved. Any debate lies purely in creative choice, not in oversight. Every thread is ultimately connected.

This is a polished, well-directed, well-written, and well-acted series. A prime example of how to deliver a layered narrative with clarity, rhythm, and emotional impact. A solid 10.

I'm Irish and have lived in Ireland all my 52 years. Why is Pierce Brosnan not able to do a convincing accent in this, when he's also, you know, Irish? It is so cringeworthy to hear. They've obviously asked him to go full mob Irish and he can't do it justice AT ALL. His scenes with Helen Mirren - also delivering a terrible Irish accent - come across like comic relief plonked in the middle of some genuinely interesting and exciting work from the rest of the cast.

Thankfully they only take up about a quarter of screen time, so my high rating is all for Tom Hardy, who yet again, serves up a nuanced and believable character. He's mesmerising to watch. He almost underplays it (which makes Brosnan's overacting even more jarring). I'm intrigued to see where this goes.