I Only Have More Questions After Another Bizarre Outing With The Harrigans
Warning: This post contains spoilers for MobLand Season 1, Episode 4We’re almost at the halfway point of MobLand season 1, and by episode 4, “Rat Trap”, we’ve yet to reach the modest highs promised by the premiere of the Paramount+ series from Ronan Bennett. Far from having more questions answered this episode, we only have new ones raised. Rather than having odd character quirks and reactions folded into a greater picture, we’re left with even more bizarre decisions and relationships.
Once again, there is just enough to keep you hooked, but the amount of interesting tidbits is steadily decreasing across the season. At this rate, there’s going to be just about nothing to hold on to by episode 6. Without a central driving question, I’m still very unclear about where MobLand is going. There was a direction, but the series neatly wraps that up after only two episodes. This solution admittedly leads to another problem for the Harrigans, but one with seemingly weaker stakes.
The Only Enjoyable Pieces Of MobLand Come From Some Unexpected Revelations
Conrad Used To Sleep With Bella, And Everyone Knows It
In “Rat Trap”, a lot of characters talk to one another. They drive from here to talk to someone, then they drive to there to talk to someone else. Sometimes, while they’re in the car, they talk with their headphones in. With so much talking, you might think that something important would be said. But it so rarely does. Though we’re often told that something important was just said, just like we’re told how evil Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) is, we’re never shown any evidence of this.
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Here’s the important bits of what was said. Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) used to sleep with Bella (Lara Pulver). Kevin (Paddy Considine) knows this, but doesn’t mind much. Maeve (Helen Mirren) knows this and minds a lot. Harry (Tom Hardy) just learned this and has to pretend that he doesn’t mind. I’ll tell you who doesn’t mind at all — me. Bella and Conrad have yet to even appear onscreen together, so I’m not sure what conclusion we’re supposed to draw from this weird fivesome. It was an unexpected revelation, granted. For the wrong reasons, but unexpected all the same.
Kevin Gets An Unnecessary Piece Of Backstory
Richie Wants The Harrigans To Attend Tommy’s Funeral
We had another “IMPORTANT” piece of information revealed as well. Remember that older gentleman Harry recognized at the nursing home, and who was a particularly nasty prison guard at the youth center Harry and Kevin were sent to? No? That’s fair, he was discarded the moment after he was introduced. Harry hasn’t forgotten him, though, and he asks Kevin if he recalls the evil screw. Kevin says no, but the look on his face suggests there’s more.
We don’t have to wait long before a shockingly grim flashback reveals that not only is Kevin familiar with the guard, but he was brutally sexually assaulted by him. If this reveal is supposed to “explain” Kevin, then MobLand is even more of a mess than even I’ve given it credit for. If this is supposed to suggest the prison guard will become a player in this overcomplicated story, then I’ll remind you he was last seen in an old folks’ home, barely able to feed himself.
…The only throughline of the story has been solved.
Like I mentioned, the only throughline of the story has been solved. Richie (Geoff Bell) seems to have fallen for Harry’s ruse. However, they’re not out of the woods yet. Apparently, Richie wants the Harrigans at Tommy’s funeral. The musical cue suggests we’re in for it now. I believe that about as much as I believe Conrad would make Henry VIII blush, as Kevin says; the guy can’t even keep Harry’s wife from talking.
The title of MobLand episode 4 is “Rat Trap” because there’s a growing issue about an informant in the Harrigan crew. However, it’s so inconsequential I nearly forgot to bring it up. I don’t know who’s on whose side, so if one of them is a turncloak, what does that even mean exactly? Perhaps it’s worth theorizing about, or maybe the entire storyline will be solved in the next episode. Such is the way of MobLand.
