An action-packed series with strong performances from a solid cast that constantly surprises the viewer. MobLand is one of the best productions this year. A few months ago, I attended the Dutch premiere of MobLand at the Rosewood Hotel in Amsterdam. During the premiere, we were in a packed auditorium enjoying the first episode of MobLand, and it was effortless to pay attention; you were immediately hooked. I recently wrote a positive review about that first episode, giving it an 8.5 (https://www.mijnserie.nl/mobland/recensie/4342/mobland-eerste-aflevering-screener-thomastv/). The rest of the series definitely maintained that level; in fact, it exceeded my expectations.
The cast of MobLand is truly amazing, and they all delivered strong performances. All the characters were incredibly compelling, and every episode completely captivated you. The series consistently surprised us, making it a shame to have to wait a week for the next episode. The first season of MobLand consists of ten episodes, each lasting between 40 and 59 minutes. A second season has already been announced.
MobLand is about the Harrigan family, a British criminal gang where (almost) everyone has made a career out of crime. Drug dealing and extortion are commonplace. And a large part of the series deals with that. But it also explores the political side of it. You have to be tactical, otherwise you won't stay active (or alive) for long.
As a viewer you are constantly surprised and it is also a pure pleasure to watch.
MobLand is directed by Guy Ritchie, whom you undoubtedly know from films like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Sherlock Holmes, as well as the series The Gentleman. I expected it to be a hectic, over-the-top series, but that wasn't the case. There was plenty of room for calm, strong dialogue, and a buildup to big surprises. I thought the series was very well-crafted, with a surprisingly catchy theme song.
Certain characters in the Harrigan family are played by Pierce Brosnan, Tom Hardy, and Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Tom Hardy and Helen Mirren, in particular, are excellent in their roles, and it's a pure joy to watch. Almost all the supporting characters are also very convincing. I wasn't as much of a fan of Pierce Brosnan, as many of them felt overdone and unnatural.
When the Emmy nominations list was announced, I expected to see a few MobLand actors/actresses on it. But MobLand didn't receive a single nomination, despite being well-received. Perhaps it's a year with a lot of competition (which it is). I would definitely recommend the series to everyone.
In short: the first season of MobLand is an excellent, well-crafted series. It constantly surprises the viewer, and it's a pure joy to watch. The acting is exceptional. The dialogue is also very strong. In my opinion, MobLand is a high-quality series that is incomparable to others. I can't wait for the second season of MobLand.
Based on the above, the first season of MobLand gets a well-deserved 9.5.
About the writer, Karzal
Mike (1995) has been a member of MySeries since 2016 and is mainly active on the English version of the site. Since 2018, he has been actively translating news articles, columns, reviews and basically everything that ends up on the Dutch site. The original articles, columns and reviews were actually written by others. During the week Mike can be found at IKEA, where he is a national systems specialist and occasionally also in the classroom to teach an English lesson. In addition, Mike logically enjoys watching series and has actually been spoon-fed this from an early age. The genre doesn't matter, there is a place for everything in the otherwise busy life.
I thought it was a good series. But at a certain point, I couldn't stand the roles of Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, and the boy playing their grandson. Irritating and annoying characters are part of every series, and I don't normally have a problem with them. But I found them truly unbearable. Stupid actions that made no sense. I really don't get why they're supposed to represent the most powerful crime family. Reckless, ill-considered decisions that would spell doom anywhere else. I did think Tom Hardy and Paddy Considine's performances were excellent, and they, in my opinion, keep the series going.
Fantastic series, rightly praised. For me, the most impressive performance was reserved for Tom Hardy. It's refreshing that for once the series takes place in London, not New York or LA.
