S02E08 - When revenge no longer has limits
Episode 8 of MobLand trod somewhat shallow waters for me, let's say. We don't get any huge revelation or a twist we didn't see coming. In my review of the previous episode, I had already noted that Harry seemed likely to use Frankie's son in some way, though I didn't expect it to play out quite like this. In essence, Harry orchestrates his murder inside prison, proving there are no longer any boundaries left in this clash. It's a game-changing move, as the feud is no longer just about business, power, and deals—it strikes straight at family.
Frankie tried in the last episode to act like he didn't have much of a relationship with his son, but in practice, that turned out to be a lie, and Harry read right through it. After all, Harry is a man who has learned to spot his rivals' weaknesses and exploit them at just the right moment.
It remains to be seen how recklessly Frankie will react in the next episode, as revenge is always a poor counselor. And especially in a world like MobLand's, an impulsive move can cost far more than you originally bargained for.
At the same time, Medusa's son moves more into the spotlight—the Irish mobster Harry killed to protect his daughter and Eddie. Kelly, also known as Mad Dog, looks poised to play a major role going forward as he seeks revenge for his father's death. It's yet another storyline thrown into an already tangled war. The question is whether he'll turn out to be a genuinely formidable new adversary or just another link in an endless chain of retaliation.
The scene with Paul was also pretty hilarious: he thought they were taking him out to execute him, when in reality Harry and Kevin were just winding him up to shove him into a shipping container and force him to dismember Donnie, who had been killed by Harry's wife. It’s a classic taste of the show’s humor, balancing right on the tightrope between pitch-black comedy and something genuinely skin-crawling.
Here, I want to take a moment to talk about the show’s violence. Given Guy Ritchie’s signature style, it’s often presented in an almost breezy way—packed with humor, snappy editing, and witty one-liners—when in reality, we’re watching extremely violent situations. My wife happened to catch a bit of that scene while I was watching and asked me, "What on earth are you watching?" And honestly, she has a point! What’s played almost like a dark comedy is actually a world of extreme violence, completely stripped of any moral compass. It’s fascinating how Ritchie manages to get the audience laughing at situations that, if divorced from his specific directorial style, would be genuinely shocking. As we say in Greece, he pulls no punches.
Otherwise, Conrad continues to show that the situation is slipping beyond even his control, while his dynamic with Kevin takes an especially interesting turn. Maeve keeps playing her own manipulation games, while Bella and Serafina seem to have been making moves behind the scenes since the last episode—we'll likely see in the next one if they push ahead with something more concrete. The show continues to juggle several plot threads at once, which adds intrigue, but occasionally undercuts the momentum of the main story.
What the Critics Said
Reactions to the episode were positive, though not without some reservations. Forbes' Erik Kain singled out Harry's decision to hit Frankie where it hurts most, viewing the turn of events as a pivotal moment in their ongoing clash. On the other hand, Ready Steady Cut noted that the show is starting to stack up too many side stories, making it struggle at times to maintain the same intensity across all fronts. Seat42F gave it an 8/10 rating, highlighting Pierce Brosnan's performance as well.
My final verdict
It wasn't a bad episode, but personally I was expecting a bit more after the intensity of the last one. The murder of Frankie's son is a major development, but it feels more like setup for what's to come rather than a climax in its own right. I would've liked a little more weight given to the fallout of that decision, rather than it just serving as the next stepping stone in escalating the conflict.
There are now just two episodes left in Season 2's 10-episode run. With Frankie having every reason to out for blood, Mad Dog entering the frame, and the Harrigan family looking more fractured than ever, I expect things to pick up the pace significantly from here on out.
The main question is whether Harry can contain the fallout of his own choices. He might be masterclass at anticipating his rivals' moves, but sooner or later, even the coolest player on the board can make the one misstep that costs them everything.
