Last week’s MobLand ended with a bang as the Harrigans struck another blow to their criminal rivals, the Stevensons. Now that the war started, both sides begin hunkering down and setting up their defenses.
“Antwerp Blues’ is a much more focused episode than before. There are less distractions allowing the viewer to concentrate on the lead events. Their is sufficient time to properly develop the conflict and build the suspense without muddling the narrative. When it does detour to the minor subplots, it doesn’t linger and quickly returns back to the matter at hand.
The Harrigan family dynamic on MobLand can be a bit frustrating. On one hand, you have strong character moments such as Kevin standing up to his father. He hasn’t been shown in a flattering light so far and seems too nice for the criminal underworld. However, his defiance is an eye opening scene startling even Conrad. You wouldn’t have expected that kind of fortitude in such stressful times. Kevin is the only rational thinkier and his frustration is tangible.
On the other hand, there is no rhyme or reason to Maeve’s actions. As erratic she has been, she takes it to another absurd level. There is no real benefit for the Harrigans, and it feels as a petty gesture more than anything. It’s a baffling maneuver whose soul reason is to have a convenient means to advance the story.
There is one bright spot from Maeve’s scheme. We receive one of the more exciting action sequences of the season. With so much talk of war, it’s nice to have a proper gunfight. The dark locale and shady business deal help raise the anxiety level that builds to a crescendo when all hell breaks out. It’s a mostly one-sided affair, but the fates of some big players remain up in the air resulting in an impactful cliffhanger that rivals the Tommy reveal from earlier in the season.
Despite all the action in the closing scene, there is another example of MobLand’s excessive characterizations. Brendan has been portrayed as a screw up in the Harrigan family, but he’s even more of a petulant child here. He becomes a caricature, and his closing shot is unnecessary and a poor attempt at humor. The series goes way overboard with both him and Maeve that there is no real depth behind either.
Though “Antwerp Blues” contains inconsistent character work, it looks to be turning the show in the right direction with greater focus, exciting action, and an impactful cliffhanger.
New episodes of MobLand release Sundays on Paramount+.
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