Paramount+ released its most recent crime drama series, ‘MobLand,’ on Sunday, March 30, 2025. The hotly anticipated series was the brainchild of Ronan Bennett and guy that is well-known in his film Guy Richie as the guy responsible for the direction. It didn’t take long for the series to be the talk of the town as the all-star cast including Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren was quickly noticed. But are you sure the buzz is warranted?
What’s ‘MobLand’ About?
‘MobLand’ is an exploration of London’s underworld with a focus on organized crime. It provides the backdrop to a violent and bitter conflict between the two eminent families, the Harrigans and the Stevensons. It is the fallout of this matter when a terribly violent incident with personal consequences for their children erupts that the conflict and revenge scenes become truly intense.
Tom Hardy takes the role of Harry Da Souza, a well-known fixer in the Harrigan family. Harry will be portrayed by Pierce Brosnan, and he is the head of the family. In the intervening period, Helen Mirren will have more depth to the character of Maeve Harrigan, a strong matriarch who is trying to keep the family together amidst escalating tensions.
Early Viewer Reactions
The audience showed great enthusiasm for the show on the day it was released, but the opinions that followed were not univocal. Both social media and reviews soon were abuzz with positive as well as negative reviews. On the one hand, viewers were thrilled with the show’s thrilling scenes as well as the amazing performances of Hardy and Mirren. On the other hand, some remarks have been picked up by the critics.
One Twitter user wrote: “Tom Hardy, definitely, is the right one for Harry Da Souza. That’s the kind of intensity he just brings. Helen Mirren was just as powerful. However, the plot is hard to be surprised with most of the time.” One Twitter user wrote: “Tom Hardy is perfect as Harry Da Souza. He is just right in the energy he shows. Helen Mirren was as powerful as Hardy, but the story turned out to be evident for them almost all the time.”
Another viewer, on the other hand, expressed frustration as they wrote, “The program raised our expectations in its trailers, but the first episode seemed draggy. I hope the tempo will be better.” Another viewer, however, expressed disappointment, stating, “The show promised a lot with its trailers, but the first episode felt slow. Hoping the pace picks up.”
Critical Reviews and Audience Expectations
Several large publications also took different positions. On one hand, The Guardian liked the characteristic cinematic style of Guy Ritchie. But they also remarked that the series was running out of steam in pacing and storytelling.
It is the opinion of a few of the critics of the show that the line is poor. They argue that ‘MobLand’ could have heavily gone to the cast, and this is it. They don’t feel the same, but the number of the first viewers is the sign that it has the public intrigued.
What Makes ‘MobLand’ Stand Out?
The cast of the series is one of its real strong points. Tom Hardy has already become a household name of dark and action-packed films like ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and ‘Venom.’ His depiction of Harry Da Souza is a great reflection of the character’s complex and tragic nature.
One of the biggest highlights is Helen Mirren’s portrayal of Maeve Harrigan, which is simply amazing. She adds her sophisticated energy to the role of the character, thus establishing the character of Maeve as outstanding from episode one.
Another big attraction for the series is Guy Ritchie, who is the director of the series. Upbeat and full of action as ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and ‘Snatch’ were, the director gives the television format his unique mark. Fans who used to enjoy his previous works are also likely to fancy the visual style of ‘MobLand.’
Should You Watch It?
If you are fan of dark, intense and full drama crime stories with multi-dimensional characters, ‘MobLand’ seems like your best bet. Although not all the first comments have been positive, the brilliant acting team and the mature direction of the authors can well change this situation.
Someone who is looking for more exciting action and greater speed of proceedings might have to watch a couple of episodes of the series to see it pick up the required momentum. The television show has a release schedule of new episodes every week on Paramount+ until June 1, 2025, therefore, ‘MobLand’ can still go a long way in terms of its storyline.
In brief, the show ‘MobLand’ created by Paramount has become popular among the public due to its high-profile cast and a promising plot. In spite of the initial wavering reactions, there are still a number of viewers curious about the fate of the series in the upcoming episodes. The only thing that will say if this very engaging crime drama will be able to maintain its high level of initial excitement or not is time.
