Guy Ritchie's MobLand Has Arrived on Paramount+: Is It a Worth-Watching Show?
A classic crime story about a war between two families that has nothing to hold the viewers' attention.
Guy Ritchie hasn't had a break in the last few years. You could get used to the British director's frenetic pace in theaters, but now the auteur has taken on TV series as well.
Last year, Netflix released the multi-episode The Gentlemen, expanding the universe of Ritchie's movie of the same name.
MobLand is the second series in the director's career. As in the case of The Gentlemen, Ritchie did not film all the episodes of the series, but only the first two. Nevertheless, the style of the master of the crime genre is recognizable.
What Is MobLand About?
Eddie and Tommy go to a nightclub with some friends. During a random argument, Eddie stabs one of the guests. The friends flee the establishment, but while Eddie calmly returns home, Tommy disappears.
The missing man's father, Richie, is a crime boss who controls London's fentanyl market. Eddie also represents a gangster family. Grandfather Conrad and grandmother Maeve Harrigan are thinking about taking over Richie's business and the entire trafficking of illegal substances in the British capital.
Fixer Harry, who works for the Harrigans, has to find Tommy and protect the family during a possible street war.
MobLand Is an Average Crime Drama We've Seen Before
MobLand is a classic crime drama. Two powerful families share a large market, but hide behind concern for their children. Grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers and mothers are forced to correct the mistakes of youth.
Both the Stevensons and especially the Harrigans are shown to be extremely cruel and unscrupulous people. Each business partner is tolerated for a while and then eliminated with a shot to the head. The police watch the bloody showdown, but there is little evidence.
There Are Almost No Characters to Sympathize With
The series is in no hurry, and the writers thoroughly introduce a dozen characters, all of whom are extremely unpleasant.
The only one who arouses mild sympathy from the viewers is the laconic, charismatic character of Tom Hardy. In MobLand the actor plays the role of a man of actions, not words.
MobLand Is a Classic Work in the Genre That Does Not Stand Out in Any Way
The problem with MobLand is the ordinariness of the story and the characters. The show is not particularly funny, dashing or crazy – everything is on a good average level. Both high-stakes showdowns and tough characters have been seen dozens of times before.
The series does not stand out from its genre competitors. The name of Guy Ritchie seems to attract more attention, but the British auteur increasingly misses the mark.