Critic Reviews

If “MobLand” feels familiar—the head of an organized crime family fighting for power within a global crime syndicate—well, at least the prickly character, terrific actors and sharp writing make it an engrossing watch nonetheless. And no one is more magnetic than Hardy as Harry.

Far from feeling slight, MobLand feels real, and episode 1 deftly balances the fun and the violence.

MobLand isn't a grand reinvention of the gangster show, but it does offer plenty of twists and turns, paired with a magnetic cast that will have you eagerly anticipating every new episode.

If “MobLand” is just a well-acted gangster tale, there’s worse company to have. But there’s enough here to be hopeful that it has deeper ambitions.

“MobLand” is familiar but effective, weaving a few strong plotlines together—potential drama within the Harrigan empire, potential drama from their rivals, and potential family drama at Harry’s home—into an entertaining whole.

“Mobland” feels like a combination of “Top Boy” and “The Gentlemen.” It has the tone, pacing and plot similarities of the former but also the middle-class crime family vibes of the latter, with the webs of deceit and deep-rooted corruption.

So far, Tom Hardy’s show is far more tolerable than Billy Bob Thornton’s or Jeremy Renner’s, if not quite as enjoyable as Sylvester Stallone’s, but it has plenty of time to move up or down in the rankings.

Each instalment leaves you wanting more, and excited to come back for the next one. The problem as of now is that it doesn't do much to stand out from the crowd, leaving its buzzy, A-lister filled cast feeling like something of a stunt to get people to watch what is otherwise a serviceable gang drama.

While the Harrigans, led by patriarch Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) and matriarch Maeve (Helen Mirren) and the Stevensons, led by patriarch Richie (Geoff Bell), are all engaging to watch, this story centers around longtime Harrigan fixer Harry Da Souza (Tom Hardy). The show is bursting with talent and tension, but it remains to be seen whether “MobLand” can go the distance.

Ritchie’s direction is … pretty good. Accomplished. Smooth. He flexes various muscles he has built up in previous work. .... Aside from that, and some indications that Maeve’s power comes from having learned to weaponise the dark perversities of the men in her life, there’s not much of the psychological depth that a premium mob saga runs on. But if you ever start thinking MobLand isn’t worth your time, Tom Hardy will be along shortly to convince you otherwise.