Things aren’t looking so well for Harrigan children Seraphina and Brendan on MobLand. When we last left the series, their precious gemstone deal in Antwerp is hijacked and the pair are taken captive. Can Harry rescue them before they become the family’s first casualties in the war with Richie Stevenson?
“The Crossroads” does a good job expanding the world of MobLand. So far we have predominantly stayed within the orbit of the two main families with glimpses of other parts of the underworld here and there. The episode introduces two new gangs that add color, character, and more grime. The international organizations also put into perspective the influence, or lack thereof, the Harrigan family wields. Though they may be a big fish in a small pond in London, they may not be as big of a deal on the world stage.
Harry’s heroics take centerstage once again. He is a one man wrecking crew working his way one step at a time closer to the captured Harrigan members. The action draws you in and is intense, raw, and clinical. It perfectly matches with the gritty nature and aesthetics of the series.
It may seem repetitive that Harry has a contact or a plan to solve every problem that comes his way. It comes with the territory because he is a professional fixer. His latest scheme has a little more intrigue because rather than outsmarting or intimidating someone into submission, Harry seemingly makes a personal sacrifice to get things done. It’s curious to see how that affects him in the future, and MobLand has been creating an aura of mystery surrounding his new friends.
More importantly, the episode makes the protagonist mortal. Despite his skills and quick thinking, Harry isn’t infallible. There is now more of an unpredictability factor so the series isn’t a cut and dry gang war. At a time when the war is escalating, the stakes are higher and anything could happen.
For a story featuring warring families, violence is expected on MobLand. However, there are some scenes that take it too far. Sure, it’s to demonstrate the sadistic nature of Ritchie and his allies, but it comes off more as excessive and gratuitous. At least the camera pans away during the more graphic moments, but it’s all a little too much torture porn. Even for how quick the scene is, it is still too jarring.
“The Crossroads” builds upon the dark underworld introducing more gangs while featuring the protagonist in both heroic and imperfect ways.
New episodes of MobLand release Sundays on Paramount+.
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