Created by Ronan Bennett, Mobland follows two rival crime families grappling for power and influence. The only thing keeping the families at bay is the behind-the-scenes work of Harry Da Souza (Tom Hardy), a fixer who steps up to resolve problems when a client doesn’t or can’t get involved. Poor decisions are made by family members that spark a collision course between the sides that can’t be avoided.
The cast is led by Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, Lara Pulver, Joanne Froggatt, Paddy Considine, Geoff Bell, Anson Boon, and Mandeep Dhillon.
Conrad Harrigan (Brosnan) leads the crime family alongside his wife, Maeve (Mirren). Their grandson, Eddie (Anson Boon), brings trouble to their doorstep when he foolishly associates with Tommy (Felix Edwards), the son of rival boss Richie Stevenson (Geoff Bell). A brat and total screw up, Eddie’s bad habits and poor decisionmaking kickstart a web of lies that put Conrad’s masterplan on pause and increases the intensity between the families.
Whenever I see the term “fixer,” I immediately think of George Clooney’s portrayal of the title character in Michael Clayton. Traveling the country in a S-class Mercedes-Benz and sporting the cleanest suits, he resolved any problem you could throw at him. Well, Hardy is no Michael Clayton, but he has his ways of solving problems in a more aggressive and surlier manner. Swap the U.S. for England and the S-class Mercedes for an Audi RS6 wagon, and you have yourself a street-smart fixer in Harry.
Several different storylines are taking shape, so it may take a few episodes to piece everything together. We meet Harry in the middle of his first task for Conrad, which saw him and his associates eliminate an entire room full of “partners”. Kevin and Bella (Lara Pulver) are driven mad over the trouble their son Anson has caused. Harry has problems at home with his wife, Jan (Joanne Froggatt), upset at his distance and their struggle to communicate. While Harry attempts to keep the peace, Richie defies his efforts and makes it known that he’s ready for battle. Throw in a police investigation and a group of siblings who aren’t fully congruent, and you’ll see there’s plenty of drama to go around.
It doesn’t pack the same punch as, say, HBO’s Sopranos, but it doesn’t have to. Paramount+ has provided the proper space for a mob drama to carve its path and leave its mark. What stands out above other streaming crime dramas isn’t just the story, but the action and the conscious choice not to douse the series in copious sex scenes. Drugs, guns, and explicit language are the norm (it’s what makes London London, right?), but it limits itself in a way that, say, HBO could never. There’s just enough death, just enough violence, and just enough Michael Bay-esque explosions to keep everyone happy.
The entire series is a great watch. Brosnan has caught some flak for his Irish accent, but it’s really not that bad. If audiences can let Denzel Washington get away with a New York accent when he’s supposed to be in ancient Rome (Gladiator II), I think folks can give Pierce a pass.
Mobland gets an 8.5 out of 10. The series and the cast are outstanding. It won’t take long before you find a favorite character, and it won’t necessarily be Tom Hardy (even though he’s great). With carefully infused humor here and there, the series falls under the “IYKYK” moniker (if you know, you know). You won’t see too many ads or hype about it, but it’s an excellent show. I’m guessing the hype will start once the season ends.
The final episode of the first season of Mobland will air on Sunday, June 1.
-Jon Jones
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount+
Genre: Crime/Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 10 Episodes | 50 mins.
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: March 30, 2025