In the realm of UK crime dramas, the collaboration between MobLand‘s Tom Hardy and Paddy Considine stands out, not for its frequency, but for its significance. This marks their second partnership in such a series, a notable achievement considering the limited engagements in this genre.
In Paramount+’s MobLand, Hardy plays the role of Harry Da Souza, while Considine takes on the character of Kevin Harrigan. The show delves into the ongoing conflicts between two rival crime families: the Harrigans and the Stevensons. As tensions rise, Hardy’s character, an outsider brought in as a “fixer”for the Harrigans, navigates the murky waters of crime, seeking to broker some semblance of peace amidst chaos.
During a recent conversation with ScreenRant, Hardy and Considine provided insights into their characters’ views on the escalating power struggle within MobLand, paralleling their previous collaboration in a different UK crime series.
Reuniting After Peaky Blinders
“It’s a very different show, in some aspects…”
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Revisiting the collaborative dynamic nearly a decade after their roles in Peaky Blinders, Hardy and Considine find themselves entrenched once more in the world of organized crime with their characters involved in a criminal underworld in MobLand.
Reflecting on their reunion, Hardy remarked, “It’s a very different show, in some aspects.”He contrasted their previous roles—his as the cunning Alfie Solomons and Considine’s as Father John Hughes—with their current characters, stating, “We are a couple of crooks. It’s just a different field to be. Crooks. We’re crooks again.”
Whereas Hardy’s portrayal of Harry Da Souza is more composed than Alfie Solomons’ volatile nature, Harry functions as the Harrigans’ negotiator, tackling family problems through diplomacy or, when necessary, force.
“The majority of it will be negotiation, money, ideology, coercion, corruption, ego, and influence,”Hardy elaborated, highlighting Harry’s preference for resolution before resorting to violence. “You’d give an opportunity to have an off-ramp as many times as needed… in situations that can be understood or come to an arrangement before someone has to get murdered.”
Hardy also acknowledged the realistic portrayal of power dynamics within the Harrigan family, hinting at a hidden network that amplifies the violence typically visible on screen.
Kevin’s Concerns About Eddie’s Rise
“He’s Not Equipped At This Point. It Would Be Chaos…”
Unlike Hardy’s Harry, who consciously chooses to engage with the turmoil, Considine’s character, Kevin, is a product of his environment. As the son of Pierce Brosnan’s Conrad Harrigan, Kevin grapples with the pressures of his lineage while contending with his rebellious son, Eddie (Anson Boon). Eddie, a teenager enticed by the allure of power, is yet unprepared for the responsibilities that accompany it.
“I think Eddie’s a liability as far as Kevin’s concerned,” Considine expressed. He worries about Eddie’s readiness to potentially take over the family business, stating, “He’s not equipped at this point… it would be chaos.” Kevin perceives the disorder surrounding Eddie as a critical threat to their family’s stability.
Kevin acts as a lens through which the audience views the disintegration of the Harrigan family structure. “Kevin, almost throughout the show, becomes the eyes of the audience… observing this family going, ‘This is falling apart,'” Considine noted. He recognizes a shift in his father’s character from organized chaos to outright madness, a change that heightens Kevin’s sense of urgency to regain control.
MobLand releases new episodes every Sunday on Paramount+, presenting a gripping narrative of loyalty, power struggles, and the underbelly of organized crime.
Source: ScreenRant Plus