In the explosive third episode of MobLand, the tension between the Harrigans and the Stevensons escalates as Richie launches a brutal retaliation following the discovery of his son Tommy’s death. Meanwhile, Harry Da Souza (played by Tom Hardy) works tirelessly to prevent an all-out gang war, balancing family loyalty, cunning negotiations, and his signature wit. Let’s dive into the chaos and see if Harry succeeds in keeping the peace.
The episode opens with a devastating blow: Richie (Geoff Bell) orchestrates an attack that obliterates Kevin’s house, signaling his intent to destroy the Harrigans. Harry, ever the protector, immediately springs into action, waking his wife Jan and daughter Gina to evacuate their home, fearing they’re next on Richie’s hit list. He contacts Kevin, instructing him and Eddie to rendezvous at the yard, where Tommy’s body is hidden. However, Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) pushes for the entire family—Seraphina, Brendan, O’Hara, and others—to seek safety in the Cotswolds, believing it’s the most secure location.
Amidst this, a heated exchange between Conrad and Maeve (Helen Mirren) reveals family tensions. Maeve criticizes Conrad for prioritizing Seraphina, whom she dismisses as the product of Conrad’s affair with a prostitute, over their “legitimate” son, Brendan. Conrad counters that Seraphina contributes positively to the family, unlike Brendan, who has caused significant losses. This spat, laced with Brosnan and Mirren’s electric chemistry, highlights Maeve’s obsession with blood purity and her manipulative streak.
As Harry escorts Jan and Gina to safety, he spots a suspicious SUV with masked gunmen sent by Richie. In a brilliantly tense yet comedic scene, Harry disarms the situation—literally and figuratively—by wielding his outdated QWERTY phone instead of a gun. He calls Conrad, leveraging the Harrigan patriarch’s influence to make the gunmen back off. The would-be assassins agree to lie to Richie, claiming Harry and his family had already fled. Harry’s quip to Jan that the gunmen were “trick-or-treating” is a masterstroke of dark humor, delivered impeccably by Hardy, keeping his family calm while masking the danger.
Harry relocates Jan and Gina to a boat owned by his “friend” Mike, a gambler and author indebted to Harry. The interaction is laced with humor, as Harry feigns enthusiasm for Mike’s kittens while subtly ensuring his family’s safety. Jan, unaware of the full stakes, asks Harry to handle their maid Maria’s issue with placing her mother in a care home. True to form, Harry later secures a spot for Maria’s mother by charming (and slightly strong-arming) the care home director, showcasing his ability to juggle personal and criminal responsibilities.
At the yard, Harry unveils Tommy’s dismembered body and a battered Valjon, the club manager, to Kevin and Eddie. Valjon drops a bombshell: Eddie paid him to dispose of Tommy’s body after allegedly stabbing him 50-60 times. Eddie denies the accusation but offers no alternative explanation, leaving Kevin furious and beating him. Maeve, eavesdropping as usual, intervenes during a call with Conrad, insisting Eddie is a “true Harrigan” and should be protected. Her fixation on Eddie and Brendan, whom she sees as pure-blooded Harrigans, underscores her questionable motives. Is she power-hungry, bored, or both? Her actions suggest she’s stoking the feud for her own amusement, possibly to see the Harrigans and Stevensons destroy each other.
Maeve’s influence creates tension. She pushes Conrad to support Eddie, even suggesting they kill Richie’s wife, Vron, to cripple the Stevensons. Conrad, more cautious, urges patience to see if Harry can resolve the situation, though Maeve seems to hope he fails, giving her an excuse to escalate the conflict.
Harry orchestrates a plan to pin Tommy’s death on Valjon to protect Eddie. He sends Kiko to secure leverage over Valjon’s family and Zosia to escort Eddie to the Cotswolds. Meanwhile, Harry uses reverse psychology to convince Valjon to take the fall, promising his family’s safety. When Harry informs Richie of Tommy’s death, Geoff Bell delivers a gut-wrenching performance, portraying a father shattered by grief. This moment reveals Richie’s humanity, suggesting his threats were driven by paternal love rather than just gangland ambition.
At Moody’s gym, Harry and Kiko present Valjon to Richie, where Valjon spins a fabricated tale: he found Tommy after a stabbing, killed him in self-defense, and dismembered the body to cover it up. Richie, skeptical, vows to torture Valjon to test his story. If Valjon cracks and implicates Eddie, the Harrigan-Stevenson war will reignite.
Back at the Harrigan residence, Maeve continues to champion Eddie and Brendan, dismissing Seraphina’s legitimacy with cruel jabs about her mother’s past. Conrad, prioritizing merit, comforts Seraphina, highlighting the family’s fractured dynamics. Maeve’s obsession with “pure” Harrigans and her disdain for capable members like Seraphina and Harry suggest a deeper agenda. Could she be orchestrating chaos to secure power for her favored heirs?
Elsewhere, Bella, unperturbed by the gang war, attempts to outmaneuver her father, Lord Pennock, in a sting operation with Antoine to expose his bribery. When the plan falters, she tries to seduce Harry, who brushes her off to focus on the larger crisis, promising to deal with Antoine later.
The episode closes with DS Fisk and DC Mukasa discovering Archie’s body, potentially tracing it back to Harry via the coffin’s maker. This development threatens to land Harry in jail, derailing his efforts to maintain peace. A bold theory emerges: Maeve might be feeding information to Fisk to undermine Harry, ensuring his arrest so she can manipulate the feud unchecked. While Harry has postponed the gang war for now, Maeve’s machinations and the looming police threat suggest the real battle is between her and Harry, not just the Harrigans and Stevensons.
Episode 3 of MobLand is a masterclass in tension, humor, and character-driven drama. Tom Hardy’s Harry balances menace and charm, while Helen Mirren’s Maeve steals scenes with her unsettling mix of maternal pride and cunning. Geoff Bell’s raw portrayal of Richie’s grief adds depth to the antagonist, and the ensemble cast keeps the stakes personal and intense. Has Harry succeeded in averting the gang war? For now, yes—but with Maeve pulling strings and the police closing in, the peace is fragile. What are your thoughts on Maeve’s motives or Harry’s next move? Drop them in the comments below![wide]
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