Guy Ritchie’s new television venture, MobLand, is receiving highly favorable reviews, signaling a potential high point in the director’s recent work. Set against the gritty backdrop of London, the drama revolves around Harry, played by Tom Hardy, who finds himself entangled with a notorious crime family led by the enigmatic duo of Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren. With an ongoing power struggle between the fictitious crime syndicates—the Harrigans and Stevensons—Harry navigates the treacherous waters of organized crime. The series stands out not only for its intense narrative but also for its stellar cast, featuring remarkable performances by Paddy Considine, Lara Pulver, and more.
This partnership marks a long-awaited reunion for Ritchie and Hardy, who previously collaborated on the criminally divisive film RocknRolla in 2008. In that film, a botched real estate deal draws the attention of London’s most infamous criminals, who scramble to cover their tracks and gain profit. Although RocknRolla is seldom listed among Ritchie’s top films, it did include memorable scenes that raised anticipation for whether MobLand would refine the successful elements of their earlier work.
Comparison of MobLand’s RT Score and Critical Reception
Acclaim from Critics
MobLand has shown a marked improvement over RocknRolla, as evidenced by their Rotten Tomatoes ratings. Where their earlier collaboration garnered a score of just 60% from critics, the new series has achieved a commendable 74%. This is a promising start for MobLand, especially considering the often mixed reactions critics give to Ritchie’s projects.
| Project | RT Critics Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
| RocknRolla | 60% | 71% |
| MobLand | 74% | 65% |
Interestingly, the audience ratings for RocknRolla and MobLand are inverted. While RocknRolla enjoys a 71% approval rating from viewers, MobLand sits at 65%. This discrepancy highlights Ritchie’s tendency to polarize viewers with his distinctive filmmaking style. Nonetheless, the climactic conclusion of MobLand‘s first episode sets a thrilling tone for the remainder of the season, which could well enhance its ratings further.
MobLand: A Testament to Ritchie’s TV Success
Ritchie’s Flourishing Television Career
Currently, Guy Ritchie is enjoying considerable success, particularly in his transition to television, where he seems to be thriving. Following the success of Netflix’s The Gentlemen, MobLand appears to be another step in the right direction. This shift may allow Ritchie’s intricate storytelling approach to flourish within a more expansive episodic format.
Despite varied success in his cinematic endeavors—where he only faced one “rotten”outcome with Operation Fortune—films like Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant and Wrath of Man have maintained critical approval ratings of 83% and 68%, respectively. Ritchie is evidently on a creative upswing, and there is excitement surrounding how future installments of MobLand will unfold.