MobLand Review: Tom Hardy shines as the fixer alongside Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan
March 28, 2025
If you are a fan of The Penguin or the Sopranos Paramount+’s MobLand will be the next show-stopping drama for you. The show was written and created by Ronan Bennett and is home to an all-star cast under the direction of Guy Ritchie. The series is centered around the Harrigan crime family in London and tackles the escalating war between the Harrigan and Stevenson families. Buckle up because Ritchie is about to take you on a journey of the underworld.
“Power is up for grabs as the Harrigans and Stevensons, two warring London crime families clash in a kill-or-be-killed battle that threatens to topple empires and ruin lives. Caught in the crossfire is Harry Da Souza(Tom Hardy), the street-smart ‘fixer’ as dangerous as he is handsome, who knows too well where loyalties lie when opposing forces collide. As kingdom goes up against kingdom, lines will be crossed and the only saving grace is a bet-your-life guarantee: family above everything.”
The series began as The Donovan’s, an origin story of Showtime’s Ray Donovan. As the show began to develop more it was reworked into its own standalone story. They even used work titles such as “The Fixer” and “The Associate” which shows you how big of a role Tom Hardy has in this production.
L-R Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan and Pierce Brosnan as Conrad Harrigan in Mobland, episode 1, season 1, Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+
Pierce Brosnan stars as Conrad Harrigan the patriarch of the family crime syndicate alongside his wife Helen Mirren portraying the powerful wife of Conrad, Maeve. Maeve Harrigan is the real brains and wisdom behind the operation. She is the one asked when a problem arises that needs to be handled. Let’s just say the matriarch of the family gets the final say in all precarious situations. Maeve is the driving force keeping everything together, which makes her the most dangerous of them all.
Meet the fixer
Tom Hardy simply shines as ‘The Fixer’ of the entire organization. And as you can imagine in a Mob family there are lots of messes he must make disappear to keep the family who employs him out of jail, and out of harm’s way. It’s a stressful job that reaps little reward besides respect and money. However, there’s something very captivating about Harry that makes you root for the problem solver the minute he comes onto the screen. He’s the badass of the show but there’s a quietly confident calmness about his personality that draws you in.
Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in Mobland, episode 1, season 1, Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+
Harry wouldn’t be able to do what he does without the help of some trusted colleagues like Zosia(Jasmine Jobson). Her role in the story may not be abundant, but she is a rebellious head-turner with a flair for technology and tactical driving.
With any drama on television that surrounds an intriguingly complicated family, you’ll have your successful child, your screw-up child, and others just looking for reassurance. MobLand is no different in that aspect.
Who makes up the rest of the Harrigan Family?
Bella Harrigan(Lara Pulver) is the wife of Kevin Harrington. She’s not related by blood but she’s one of the more interesting female characters of the show. There are layers to her that start to peel back in the first two episodes of the series. You will see the connections she has to each crime family and how she goes about tip-toeing around both worlds. It’s never easy when frustrations and complications arise.
Lara Pulver as Bella Harrigan in Mobland, season 1, Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo Credit: Jason Bell/Paramount+
Brendan Harrigan(Daniel Betts) and Seraphina Harrigan(Mandeep Dhillon) make up the rest of the Harrigan children with Kevin(Paddy Considine). It’s great to see Paddy in another stand-out role. There’s nothing he doesn’t touch that doesn’t turn into gold.
Mandeep Dhillon as Seraphina Harrigan in Mobland, episode 1, season 1, Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+
Conrad Harrigan is also known as the Governor. He’s the boss and the enforcer but behind every great man, there is an equally great woman calling the shots. There is something special and thrilling about watching Helen Mirren swear and make crucial calls while she holds a martini glass and looks as glamorous as ever. Not to mention the coolest grandmother you could ever meet. Worlds different from her other Paramount+ starring role as Cara Dutton in 1923, but equally as pleasing.
Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan in Mobland, episode 1, season 1, Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+
What is going to make MobLand a Paramount+ favorite?
The gripping family drama is enough for an impactful audience for the streaming network but it’s Harry’s world that will give you a deeper connection and understanding to the mob universe. As more of the series unravels you’ll witness the toll that kind of loyalty can have on the people you love the most.
The wheels of business are always turning. You must go where the money is. But greed is the end of all to most empires and you can sense that’s where this story may be headed. Much of the first two episodes centers around Kevin and Bella’s disappointment of a child (Eddie)who brings mob drama right to Conrad’s front doorstep.
When you combine all that with heart-stopping action, thrilling car chases, gun fights, explosions, characters with mind-bending complexity, heartbreak, ruthlessness, authentic London at its core, love, lust, and loyalty it makes the series more than a must-watch on Sundays.
Hardy, Brosnan, and Mirren round out the series regulars along with Paddy Considine, Anson Boon, Joanne Froggat, Alex Fine, Geoff Bell, Daniel Betts, Lisa Dawn, Emily Barber, Lara Pulver, Janet McTeer, Jasmine Jobson, and Mandeep Dhillon.
Episode 1 and 2 grade level: B+
MobLand is set to premiere on Paramount+ on March 30, with new episodes airing weekly until June.
FOLLOW LORETTE ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
About the author: Shay has been writing as a journalist professionally for years. Her most common topics to cover are drama and horror but she looks forward to getting her feet wet with new and exciting genres and projects. @ShaySleighs
