Paramount+ Review: ‘MobLand’ is a Solid Crime Drama with a Top-Tier Cast

It’s never a good idea to get tangled up with the mob. But there are cases where people don’t do so on purpose but instead find themselves in an unfortunate situation far beyond their control that then proves inescapable. MobLand treads familiar territory in its depiction of a sprawling crime family with lots of power and just as many enemies, making itself stand out thanks to its exceptional cast and its focus on the man responsible for keeping the peace and ensuring that nothing gets too out of hand for the very dangerous people in his orbit.

Harry De Souza (Tom Hardy) is a fixer who works for Conrad Harrigan (Pierce Brosnan) and his wife Maeve (Helen Mirren), who rule their territory with an iron fist and don’t tolerate those who betray or disappoint them. After cleaning up a mess involving partners who proved to be less than dependable, Harry turns his sights on a new problem, Conrad and Maeve’s son Eddie (Anson Boon), after an act of childish aggression invites deadly retribution, while dealing with his own family issues and the fragile relationship he has with his wife Jan (Joanne Froggatt).

It’s very interesting that this show was originally announced as a spinoff of Ray Donovan before it transformed into its own project that doesn’t have any apparent relationship to that long-running Showtime series about a different kind of fixer who doesn’t work primarily with the mob. There are familiar elements here in the style and execution of the series, but the tone is quite different, still maintaining some humor but otherwise focused on violence and the way in which casual misunderstandings can quickly become irreversible rivalries with entirely unforeseen consequences.

Despite spending a good amount of his time in recent years in film, Hardy is a recognizable TV face from his work on Peaky Blinders and Taboo, among other projects, and this is a fitting role for him. Harry is levelheaded but also knows when he needs to act, and it’s a much more serious turn than, say, Hardy’s dual role as Eddie Brock and the title character in the Venom franchise. There are so many great actors around him, but it’s especially fantastic to see him paired with Froggatt, an Emmy nominee from Downton Abbey, who brings quite a bit of spirit into her portrayal of Jan, who has memorable moments like sarcastically emphasizing how great it was for her to be at couples therapy alone.

Brosnan and Mirren, two true industry veterans, have also been seen recently seen on television in The Son and 1923, respectively, and while they’re among the most well-known of the cast, they’re not the most prominent in terms of screentime or visibility. But they’re expertly picked for their parts since they know how to chew scenery in a way that makes them legitimately terrifying and conveys their stature, appropriately removed from day-to-day operations that don’t require their attention and less than pleased to be brought in when more serious matters arise.

The gravitas of the ensemble, which also includes House of the Dragon’s Paddy Considine and Ozark’s Janet McTeer, helps to elevate this drama from executive producer and director Guy Ritchie, no stranger to a healthy blend of violence, cursing, and solid entertainment. Creator Ronan Bennett is also riding high from his successful reimagining of The Day of the Jackal, proving that he knows how to take concepts audiences have seen before and turn them into something newly worthwhile. This show does feel very British, layered with characters, conflict, and turmoil, far from a relaxing watch but one that offers a good deal of intrigue and entertainment to go along with it.

Series Rating: 8/10