Tom Hardy delivers one of the most riveting performances of his career as a fixer for a powerful crime family in MobLand, a standout Paramount+ drama. Backed by a powerhouse ensemble—Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, and Paddy Considine among them—and guided by showrunner Ronan Bennett, the series blends gripping character arcs with unflinching grit. The result? One of 2025’s best shows.
MobLand Overview
MobLand centers on the Harrigans, a powerful London crime family led by Conrad (Brosnan) and Maeve (Mirren). When problems arise, they call Harry (Hardy), a loyal fixer whose moral code is put to the test as tensions escalate. Harry is closest to Kevin (Considine), Conrad and Maeve’s second son, and Kevin’s wife, Bella (Lara Pulver). But when their son Eddie makes a costly mistake, it threatens to ignite a war with the rival Stevenson family.
As the threat of violence looms, Harry must navigate shifting loyalties and dangerous alliances to prevent a citywide mob war. At the same time, his home life is strained. His wife, Jan (Joanne Froggatt), is growing resentful of the Harrigans’ grip on their lives, and the Da Souza family’s deepening involvement only adds to the stress. Despite the chaos, the family dynamics offer surprising moments of levity.
Hardy gives a magnetic performance, balancing quiet introspection with explosive action. His presence grounds the show, and whenever the plot loses steam, it’s Hardy who brings it back to life. Brosnan is compelling as the volatile Conrad, while Mirren’s Maeve slyly manipulates from the shadows. Considine shines as Kevin, whose emotional arc builds to a powerful season finale twist.
Not every subplot works—threads involving Brendan (Daniel Betts) and Seraphina (Mandeep Dhillon), and Bella’s business dealings, feel underdeveloped. But the core drama more than delivers.
With a stellar cast, sharp writing, and gritty tension, MobLand is one of 2025’s best crime dramas.
The Fixer of MobLand
MobLand features a sprawling cast, but Bennett keeps the central conflict tightly focused and easy to follow—a testament to his control over complex storytelling.
The catalyst is Eddie’s reckless night out. During a club altercation, he stabs a man and flees the scene with his friends. But when one of them—unluckily—goes missing, things spiral fast. That missing friend turns out to be the son of Richie Stevenson (Geoff Bell), the ruthless leader of a rival crime family. Richie demands answers, threatening all-out war unless his son is found. With time running out, Harry dives into the city’s underworld, calling on every contact he has to uncover the truth.
As the tension escalates, the Harrigans begin to suspect there’s a traitor in their ranks. Conrad, increasingly paranoid, even questions Harry’s loyalty. But Harry meets each accusation with blunt, brutal honesty, leaving no doubt about where his loyalty lies.
Family Issues
Conflict is constant in MobLand, and when the show steps away from the hunt for Richie Stevenson’s missing son, it leans into the simmering tension within the families themselves.
Harry’s domestic life offers a quieter but compelling contrast. He’s not the most attentive husband, but his love for his wife Jan and their daughter is undeniable. One of the series’ more unexpectedly affecting moments comes when Jan confronts him—and Harry’s blunt honesty lands with real emotional weight.
The Harrigan household, by contrast, is far more volatile. Brendan, the eldest son of Conrad and Maeve, is ineffectual mainly despite his eagerness to prove himself. His half-sister Seraphina, daughter of Conrad from another relationship, is a sharp strategist—much more competent than Brendan, though bitterly resented by Maeve. Conrad, however, shows her genuine affection, adding more fuel to Maeve’s disdain.
Maeve’s clear favorite is her grandson Eddie, whom she frequently indulges—even when his impulsive, violent behavior threatens the family’s stability. It’s a dynamic that feeds the show’s core tension: between calculated control and emotional chaos.
Then there’s Kevin, the middle child, often dismissed by Conrad as too soft. But Kevin’s quiet resistance makes him one of the show’s most compelling figures. His moral discomfort with the Harrigans’ increasingly reckless decisions—especially those that endanger his own son—sets him apart. He’s also the key to keeping Harry close, both as a trusted friend and as a stabilizing force within the family’s crumbling empire.
Change the Game
The collision of gang warfare and deep-seated family conflict builds to a gripping, emotionally charged finale.
In the back half of the season, Kevin and Harry’s friendship becomes the emotional core. Together, they uncover two moles—one embedded with the Stevensons, the other a corrupt cop—and cleverly use both to outmaneuver Richie and Conrad, ultimately seizing control of the Harrigan empire.
One of the season’s best scenes comes late in the finale: a long-simmering confrontation between Kevin and Conrad. Kevin reveals just how thoroughly his father has been played, while Conrad, rattled and cornered, lashes out. But the moment backfires. Conrad’s bitterness reeks of desperation, while Kevin remains calm, dissecting his father’s failings with chilling precision. It’s a masterclass in restraint and character work, and a fitting climax to a season defined by power struggles and buried resentment.
MobLand Final Thoughts
MobLand delivers a gripping blend of crime, family drama, and psychological intensity, anchored by one of Hardy’s finest performances. The series thrives on dual tensions—between rival gangs and fractured families—and skillfully weaves both threads into a tightly constructed, emotionally resonant narrative.
Bennett balances action with character, never letting the show’s violence overwhelm its human core. Whether it’s a heated gang standoff or a quiet moment between estranged family members, MobLand knows how to land a scene with weight and purpose. The writing is sharp, the pacing deliberate and the stakes always feel real.
Hardy is mesmerizing, but Considine and Brosnan also bring layers to their roles, mainly as the season builds to its masterful conclusion.
With compelling characters, high-stakes tension, and a memorable finale, MobLand earns its place as one of the most impressive series of 2025.
MobLand
-
Outstanding - 9/109/10
