Every time it threatens to recede into tedium because of its overwriting, a performer brings it back. Hinds and Gillen are perfectly cast as opposing Godfathers, but the show really belongs to the next generation, giving most of its screen time to the younger Kinsellas. Keely and Scanlan are strong, and Cox will have his fans even if his performance can feel a little too low-key at times, but it’s Clare Dunne who really walks away with “Kin.”

Ultimately, Kin isn’t going to reinvent the wheel, or offer much beyond some solid direction and the familiar beats of a mob potboiler. (There is a wrinkle to Cox’s character introduced in episode three that suggests there may be at least one semi-novel element to this story.) Instead, it’s simply an opportunity to watch some gifted actors do what they do, very well, with a story that glides along in entertaining but unoriginal manner. ... The performances keep Kin engaging.

Kin starts a bit muddled but the performances and story setup give us a good feeling that the tension will ratchet up as the series goes along.