MobLand Review

Good evening! The first season of MobLand is finally done and I will break down each episode briefly. This show had ups and downs for me. Sometimes I’m not sure if Paramount+ is worth the money, but MobLand is probably one of its better shows. Check out the details below. 

Stick or Twist- Episode 1
The Harrigans are a formidable crime family, led by Conrad and his wife Maeve. They move into the fentanyl business, sparking a dangerous rivalry with the Stevenson family. 

I can tell the first episode is setting the tone for the show. MobLand is definitely a show about organized crime, including murder and a disregard for human life. Surprisingly, the opening episode has a decent amount of action and violence. Maybe it makes sense because Paramount makes the Missions Impossible films and similar movies. This show appears to feature an ensemble cast, so it will be interesting to see how the relationships and dynamics progress through the story. The first episode was a solid beginning. 

Jigsaw Puzzle- Episode 2
Harry, the Harrigan’s fixer and hitman, finds a way to dispose of Tommy Stevenson’s body. He also suspects a police informant and traitor is hiding within their group. 

I have to admit, this episode feels a bit slower. It has less action and drama. MobLand has a ton of characters and they’re probably not going to have a lot of screen time. That means the show doesn’t have a real protagonist and it might work for  all intensive purposes, but it’s a bit early to know for sure. Some shows are quite successful with ensemble casts, but the story has to be interesting enough. Let’s see how it goes. 

Plan B- Episode 3
Kevin, one of Conrad and Maeve’s sons, evades a mob hit when his house explodes. The situation becomes more complex when the police find a dismembered body.  

MobLand has some really good elements and a few notable weaknesses. I’m really surprised how much dark humor is in this show. It definitely helps the entertainment value. This show has quite a bit of action as well, including car chases, big shootouts, etc. I will give Paramount credit because they placed a lot of effort in this show. Unfortunately, most of the characters are underwhelming. Several of the characters are whiny and annoying. I would say Pierce Brosnan as Conrad and Helen Mirren as Maeve are the best characters with the most personality. Usually, I like Tom Hardy, but he’s just a bland strong and silent type as Harry. 

Rat Trap- Episode 4
Jan, Harry’s wife, develops an unexpected friendship with someone named Alice. Could this new friend be a police informant? Either way, everything continues to become a bigger issue for the Harrigans. 

This show has its fair share of chopped up bodies and headshots. If you can’t handle violence and bloody scenes, don’t watch MobLand. I enjoy good mafia stories, but it seems like the show is devolving into a soap opera. Lately, most of the scenes are just arguments between the various characters. Many of the scenes are focusing on family drama, broken marriages, sibling rivalries, and whatnot. I suppose that might be par for the course in a crime family, although the writing feels a bit weaker than the earlier episodes. There’s a trend in the streaming space. The stronger writers often write the scripts for the first couple of episodes and the final episodes. Weaker, cheaper, and less experienced writers tend to fill in the middle episodes. I believe that’s entirely true for this show. 

Funeral for a Friend- Episode 5
Richie Stevenson, the patriarch of his family, greatly resents the Harrigans. Conrad and the rest of the Harrigan family put on a facade at Tommy’s funeral. The violence between these mob families escalates to more casualties. 

The fifth episode feels like the dullest and weakest episode, so far. Remember what I said about less impressive writers and the middle episodes? This episode is in the middle of the season and it’s super underwhelming. I seriously doubt that’s a coincidence. It’s primarily a funeral scene and some discussions between supporting characters. However, the ending got my attention. So, it’s worth watching the entire episode just to see the final scene. 
 
Antwerp Blues- Episode 6
After Richie’s wife dies in a car explosion, he wages war against the Harrigans. A mutual enemy to Conrad kidnaps two of his adult children, Brendan and Seraphina, during a bloody shootout.

This show is really interesting, but it gets bogged down by a couple of things. It’s still a huge soap opera with drama between the various characters. Most of the content just feels like filler material in these middle episodes. Also, the show has too many characters. I can’t even remember everyone’s names and their exact roles. The sixth episode does improve significantly during the second half. At that point, it feels more like a mob show instead of a lame soap opera. I know it will also create a thrilling opening for the next episode. 

The Crossroads- Episode 7
Harry and the Harrigan family scrambles to rescue Brendan and Seraphina. Harry makes a deal with a dangerous ally. Nothing comes for free in organized crime. 

Now we’re talking. I won’t give away spoilers, but this episode feels like a crime show with actual stakes. It still has some pacing issues. Granted, the writing is pretty good and the main story is heading in an interesting direction. Get ready for more violence. This episode gets downright bloody. 

Helter Skelter- Episode 8
​Conrad and Maeve’s crew rescue Seraphina, but the rival mobsters execute Brendan. This detrimental outcome causes the Harrigans to think about their situation. Meanwhile, Richie considers making a deal with a pair of police detectives. 

Unfortunately, this episode is pretty slow again. I suppose it was probably a necessary transition after the previous episode’s intensity. Honestly, I feel really conflicted about MobLand. Some of the scenes and episodes are excellent. Then everything comes to a total stop with boring dialogue and soap opera elements that eat up time. The writing is hit or miss. I genuinely believe MobLand would be great if it had consistent writing. The show has so many strong elements, but the tone and writing meanders. 

Beggars Banquet- Episode 9
Conrad feels suspicious about Jan’s new friend, Alice. He invites Alice to the family estate for dinner, which becomes a huge scene when the police ambush them. 

As usual, this episode has a slow start and becomes more exciting along the way. I’m not enjoying the subplot about the mole in the Harrigan family. That part doesn’t seem fleshed out or well written. However, the main story is moving along briskly with some big surprises. The penultimate episode gives a huge cliffhanger that will set up the finale. 

The Beast in Me- Episode 10
Conrad and Maeve continue to have criminal sway while they remain in prison. Harry ties up loose ends with Richie Stevenson and anyone who conspired against the Harrigan family. 

​The season finale is pretty interesting, even though it also feels a bit rushed and disorganized. It’s definitely setting up a second season. I assume Paramount will renew MobLand for a season 2. They need a bigger streaming catalogue and this show has a lot of potential. It subverted my expectations by killing a major character at the end. Generally speaking, the show is good. It’s perfectly watchable and fun during some of the bigger scenes, although it’s a generic mob story with a bunch of soap opera elements. That’s just my opinion.

In the end, I think MobLand has many satisfying components. It can be entertaining, fascinating, and brutal during some of the more violent scenes. The characters and parts of the writing are pretty weak. Most of the positive elements are in contrast with something negative. Is MobLand good enough to subscribe to Paramount+? That’s hard for me to judge. I’m already subscribed to Paramount+, but it’s not a cheap streaming service and the app needs a lot more content. I’m not sure if MobLand is strong enough to carry the platform. However, it’s probably worth a one month subscription for a quick binge. Check out the show for a week and unsubscribe. 

That’s the end of my review. MobLand is a lot better than some of the shows I watched earlier this year. There are plenty more shows coming out during the second half of the year, including Alien: Earth on Hulu and Ironheart on Disney+. Have you watched MobLand yet? What are your favorite streaming shows of 2025, so far? Do you think 2025 is a strong year or a weak one for streaming shows? Tell me all about it in the comment section. Thank you very much for viewing my content. Have fun, party responsibly, and keep an eye open for next week’s post. I hope you all have an awesome Father’s Day. Good night!