MobLand (1×03) Plan B Review

For our spoiler-free review of the first two episodes of MobLand, click here.

After the reveal at the end of the last episode, it would seem that war is afoot between the Harrigans and Stevensons but before any of that could happen, it was time to do some damage control and who better to do that than Harry? Emotions are still running high therefore neither family were likely to rush into things, therefore they would need to come up with some sort of plan, hence the episode title. With Harry of course working the frontline of this heated feud, however the discovery of Tommy Stevenson’s body was going to play out, he would find a way to steer the situation as needed, not to say that it wouldn’t be easy. Considering the kind of personalities at play, they are primed to present a challenge. Taking a step back and perhaps laying some groundwork for what was to come, this latest episode of MobLand is more cold and calculated in its approach as the characters prepared for the worst, if only to protect their own behinds. Richie Stevenson is such a loose canon, the key would be to keep him in line as to not tip the scales towards a full-on war.

First things first, the focus was getting the Harrigans out of harm’s way, however, some were more receptive to the notion than others. When it comes to Harry, he was more than prepared but was his family? Jan has stood by her husband for so long but this was not the right time for them, aggravating the tension that was building between them. Meanwhile, DC Ivan Fisk (Luke Mably) and DC Mukasa (Gemma Knight Jones) were nipping at the Harrigans with their ongoing investigation into the family, briefly detaining Harry in the last episode and now following Kevin and Harry. 

Confronting his alleged accomplice, Eddie Harrigan’s role in Tommy’s death was clear, despite his many objections, but the question soon became how to handle that information. However, Conrad and Maeve had other plans about what to do next. Throwing the Hail Mary, so to speak, Eddie’s plan was to have Eddie’s accomplicate, for whom he paid to dispose of the body, to take the fall for the murder in front of Richie Stevenson. Whether or not the plan would work remains to be seen. Either way, Maeve different reaction of what he did, and her subsequent treatment of him, suggested that there was maybe more going on between the two. The kind of person that would often rub some people the wrong way, Conrad was well aware but that’s why they clicked at a young age.

Bella’s side dealing through her connecting with her father may have caught up to her as she found herself threatened to be exposed for it. As always, Harry vowed to take care of it but the end of the episode was a different can of worms as Fisk and the police caught an anonymous tip leading them to the location of Archie Hammond’s (Alex Jennings) body. Viewers will remember him getting shot and killed by Conrad for being an alleged traitor, inevitably leading many to believe that there is probably another traitor within the Harrigan organization.

While war isn’t quite on the horizon just yet, I wouldn’t want to be in the middle of whatever this is. There is certainly more at play here as the lying, cheating, and backstabbing is just getting started. Say what you will about Harry, but he’s simply doing his job. Opening the door to a long, troubled history with Kevin Harrigan, the cared for one another, and Conrad cared for Harry. He and Kevin are like brothers. Loyalty is what has kept Harry alive but it may very well be his downfall, though he appears to be the kind of person who can see the writing on the wall. Tom Hardy continues to be the glue that holds the series together, while Mirren’s devious Maeve Harrigan is entertaining to watch. It looks like things are about to get worse before they get better.

still courtesy of Paramount+

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.