S02E09 - Nervous Breakdown

Before I begin, a quick reminder: I don't add a Spoiler warning to my episode reviews, because the entire review contains details that you shouldn't read before watching the episode!

I was pretty certain that the ninth and, most likely, the tenth episode of this season would be absolutely HOT!

The ninth episode I just watched could easily be the best one of the season so far, but I'll hold my judgment until we reach the final turn next week. It had everything. Harry taking out the hitmen Frankie sent to his house, doing it naturally but with a proper plan. He locked Jan in the bathroom, secured the exits and back doors to delay anyone trying to get inside, and instead of passively waiting for the attack, he went out and started taking them down one by one!

And then we have the Harrigans, continuing their usual madness but failing to achieve what they set out to do, as Conrad is clearly no longer in a good place mentally, and that becomes increasingly obvious. Paul, on the other hand, now gets to see firsthand just how much of a psychopath young Eddie really is. It will be particularly interesting to see how this develops in the final episode.

Of course, we also got another game of chess! At first, I thought Frankie—who has proven he won't hesitate to go to extremes to avenge his son's death—would sacrifice Gina. And Harry's near-zero chance of survival going alone to his meeting with Frankie felt like a deadly revenge trap for Michael.

But once again, Harry was right. Yes, Frankie could have killed his daughter, but before his men could even make it into the room, Harry would have killed him! So he made the only sensible decision and let Frankie leave with Gina.

During the phone call with Kat, my impression was that she expected Harry to put a definitive end to the Frankie situation. However, the real revelation was something different: Kat told him that the Harrigans were finished and that she now had a new job for him. And this is perhaps the most interesting point to consider heading into the next episode.

But as we already saw during his conversation with Kevin, Harry doesn't rush into anything. Everything is planned!

The Story – When Revenge Comes Knocking

"Nervous Breakdown" opens with Frankie taking things to an entirely different level. His personal vendetta against Harry has now become an obsession, and he no longer seems particularly concerned about the cost. He wants the man he considers responsible for his son Michael's death to pay.

Harry tries to get Jan and Gina away from danger, arranging to move them somewhere safe. But Frankie has already made his move. His men arrive at Harry's house, leading to one of the best action sequences of the season.

Harry turns his own home into a battlefield. This isn't just a random exchange of gunfire. He locks Jan in the bathroom, calculates the intruders' movements and uses the layout of the house to his advantage. What follows is a bloody cleanup, with Harry taking down the attackers before they can reach his family.

His success, however, is only temporary. Gina returns and falls into Frankie's hands. He takes her to his house and locks her inside a hidden safe room, a place connected to the childhood memories of his late son, Michael.

This is where the episode takes on an entirely different dimension. Frankie doesn't see Gina simply as a bargaining chip. We are looking at a man who is still grieving for his son, but has transformed that grief into a dangerous need for revenge. Gina tries to face him without showing fear, while their interaction creates an especially unsettling tension.

Meanwhile, Maeve continues playing her own game. Her attempt to manipulate Gina and drive her away from Harry fails, as Gina manages to escape the situation Maeve has created for her. Maeve, however, has no intention of giving up.

This time, she turns her attention to Eddie. She gives him one final assignment to prove that he deserves to become a true member of the Harrigan family: kill Harry.

Eddie approaches Paul and asks him for explosives. Paul realizes that the kid isn't joking, but he wants no part in it. That's when Eddie plays his strongest card: he knows Paul revealed information about Ireland to Harry and threatens to expose him to Maeve.

This is where we begin to understand that Eddie isn't simply a kid trying to prove his worth. He is starting to use blackmail, threats and manipulation, adopting exactly the worst traits of the family he so desperately wants to belong to.

Conrad & Maeve – A Dangerous Duo Beginning to Fall Apart

The other major storyline in the episode revolves around Conrad and Maeve.

The two receive information from Jojo about a major drug shipment at Tilbury Docks. The tip leads them towards what could be a significant success, with the potential to give them another major advantage in the ongoing war.

But Conrad's psychological condition is getting worse. His hallucinations and inner conflicts return at the worst possible moment. During the journey, he loses touch with reality, starts shouting at everyone to leave him alone and effectively destroys the operation.

What makes this particularly interesting is Maeve's reaction. For once, she doesn't treat him with her usual cruelty and contempt. Instead, she tries to calm him down.

That doesn't necessarily mean her character has changed. But perhaps she is beginning to realize that the man standing beside her is no longer capable of functioning the way he used to.

And when Conrad can no longer control even himself, let alone an entire criminal empire, Maeve's position becomes even more complicated.

Harry vs Frankie – Seven Seconds That Change Everything

The episode's defining confrontation comes when Harry meets Frankie. However, there's a small directorial detail right at the beginning of the scene that deserves our attention. As Harry enters the building, we see him looking behind him, first to the left and then to the right, almost as if he is checking whether someone is in position to cover him or whether someone already has him in their sights. This movement gives me the impression that Harry hasn't actually gone to this meeting alone. It's almost as if the show is subtly suggesting the possible presence of two snipers, ready to intervene if necessary. I find it difficult to believe they could be Frankie's men, considering the positions implied seem to be further back, outside the building. We don't get any clear confirmation, but the direction leaves plenty of room for this interpretation.

Frankie is holding Gina hostage and believes he finally has Harry exactly where he wants him. His men are ready to intervene, and he thinks he has complete control of the situation. But Harry isn't there to beg. Instead, he explains that Frankie has completely misjudged the situation, believing that having his men nearby guarantees he will walk away from this encounter alive.

And then comes the explanation of the seven seconds.
That’s how long it takes Harry to kill Frankie before his crew can get into the room and intervene. Sure, they’ll probably take Harry out too, but by the time that happens, Frankie will already be dead. In other words, Harry isn’t trying to convince his rival that he’s out of danger. He’s making it clear that even if he loses his life, he’ll have already accomplished exactly what he wanted. And that’s the essence of the scene: Frankie has his daughter, his men, and complete control of the room, but Harry knows none of that actually guarantees him anything.

There's another small detail that caught my attention, though. Harry actually smiles during this confrontation. It may seem insignificant, but throughout an entire second season filled with tension, threats and constant danger, I honestly can't remember seeing him smile like this before. It doesn't look like a smile of relief or nervousness. It feels more like the expression of a man who knows he has already calculated every possible outcome, while his opponent hasn't yet realized just how bad his position really is.

Eventually, Frankie backs down and Gina is released. Harry doesn't need to pull the trigger to win this confrontation. All he has to do is make Frankie understand that if he chooses to push things any further, the outcome will be catastrophic for both of them.

The Chessboard – Everyone Has a Different Target Now

What's particularly interesting about "Nervous Breakdown" is that none of the main players are truly in a safe position anymore.

• Harry: He is trying to protect his family, but now finds himself facing an entirely new professional and criminal reality.

• Frankie: His desire to avenge Michael has driven him into a personal conflict with Harry, without considering the consequences.

• Maeve: She wants to control the future of the Harrigans and is using Eddie as her next weapon.

• Conrad: His psychological condition threatens to destroy everything he has built.

• Eddie: He has moved beyond simple obedience and into manipulation, and he is preparing to strike at Harry.

• Kevin: He is beginning to openly question his father's ability to lead.

• Kat: She is preparing to change the entire balance of power with the move she calls Black Flag.

And, of course, there's also the body recovered from the lake in the Cotswolds. Its identity is not revealed by the end of the episode, leaving us with yet another major question heading into the finale.

Behind the Scenes & Trivia – Black Flag

The title "Nervous Breakdown" has an interesting musical and cultural connection.

It is also the title of the historic EP released in 1979 by Black Flag, the American hardcore punk band. Its title track became one of the defining songs of the early hardcore punk scene.

The connection is not entirely coincidental, as Kat uses the phrase "Black Flag" in the same episode to describe the full-scale activation against the Harrigans. The expression works as a declaration of all-out war.

There's another interesting detail: Kat invokes the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations when Frankie invades her premises. This reference adds a real legal dimension to her threat, since violating diplomatic protection is not simply a matter of trespassing on private property.

The hidden room where Gina is held also has particular emotional significance for Frankie: it is a place associated with Michael's childhood. In this way, the direction transforms what should be a safe room into something much darker, a space filled with the memories of the person whose death started this entire vendetta.

What the Critics Said

The episode received particularly positive reactions, with several critics highlighting the Harry–Frankie confrontation and the performances of Tom Hardy and Johnny Flynn.

Esquire paid particular attention to Hardy's performance, emphasizing how terrifying Harry can become even through his facial expressions. The meeting with Frankie was one of the highlights of its review.

Ready Steady Cut also singled out Johnny Flynn's performance, as he manages to combine Frankie's grief with his unpredictable and violent behavior. The review highlighted how the series maintains an interesting balance between drama and raw violence.

Seat42F gave the episode a 7.8/10, highlighting the scenes between Gina and Frankie and the added emotional depth of his character. However, it also pointed out that certain developments, such as the final confrontation at the pub, are resolved rather quickly, leaving several storylines for the finale.

On the other hand, some reviews were more critical of the plot and the decisions made by certain characters, particularly Jan, suggesting that some situations could have been avoided with more logical reactions.

The Best Episode of the Season? – Nervous Breakdown and the Storm Ahead

“Nervous Breakdown” is exactly what I expected from the penultimate episode of such a strong season. It has action, suspense, personal confrontations, outstanding performances and, above all, the feeling that everything is building towards a major explosion. For me, it is the best episode of Season 2 so far, not only because of what happens on screen, but also because of the way it sets the stage for everything that is still to come.

Tom Hardy is once again exceptional as Harry Da Souza. He doesn't need to be the strongest, the angriest or the one who talks the most. He is the man who has already calculated what is going to happen before everyone else even realises the game has begun. His confrontation with Frankie is a perfect example. Even when facing someone who has every reason to want him dead, Harry never loses his composure. In fact, he seems to enjoy the moment for once, smiling as he explains to Frankie that he has just seven seconds to kill him before his men can intervene. A scene that perfectly captures the difference between them: one is driven by revenge, the other by calculation.

Johnny Flynn also deserves recognition. Frankie could easily have become just another unpredictable and violent antagonist, but his connection to Michael and his personal need for revenge make him a much more interesting character. And the fact that he eventually releases Gina doesn't necessarily mean his story is over. On the contrary, he remains a threat who could return with unpredictable consequences.

And, of course, I cannot overlook Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren. Conrad and Maeve have become a duo that seems to be falling apart from within, and that could prove far more dangerous than any external enemy. Conrad's deteriorating mental state, their failed moves and Maeve's influence create an explosive combination. Meanwhile, Paul is beginning to see Eddie for exactly what he is, while the balance of power within the family becomes increasingly fragile.

What interests me most, however, is Harry's next move. Kat didn't approach him by chance. She knows what he can bring to the table and seems to have decided that he is far more useful as an ally than as an opponent. The activation of Black Flag and her declaration that, from that night onwards, there are no more Harrigans completely change the game. She doesn't explicitly tell him to kill Frankie, but her words, thanking him for what he is about to do for them, leave plenty of room for interpretation. Personally, I wonder whether Harry's new assignment also involves finally settling his unfinished business with Frankie.

And as if all that weren't enough, the final montage reminds us that there are still secrets waiting to be uncovered. The police recover a chained body, in an advanced state of decomposition, from the lake on the Harrigan estate. This isn't something that comes out of nowhere. We had already been given a glimpse in the previous episode, when Eddie was throwing pebbles into the lake and the camera followed one of them beneath the surface, revealing something resting at the bottom. We had also seen Colin Tattersall approach Kavanagh, the police officer who had been removed from the investigation, with information about bodies hidden in the lake. Everything points towards the possibility that the body belongs to JoJo, the man Conrad and Paul tortured to extract information about the drug shipment at Tilbury Docks. His identity, however, is never clearly confirmed on screen, so I'll reserve judgement. Either way, this discovery could become another serious problem for the Harrigans, especially now that Kat appears to have launched an operation to bring them down.

And then comes “MTT 420 RR” by IDLES. The track accompanying the final montage couldn't fit better with everything we've just witnessed. Its recurring question, “Are you ready for the storm?”, sounds almost like a warning. As if Guy Ritchie is telling us to get ready, because the real storm hasn't even started yet. With Kat opening a new chapter, Harry now facing a different kind of alliance, Conrad gradually losing control and Maeve still pulling the strings, the next confrontation seems inevitable.

The next episode has a truly prophetic title: The Queen Is Dead. And I don't know whether it refers exclusively to Maeve or hints at something much bigger for the Harrigan family. What I do know is that after a penultimate episode like this, expectations for the finale have reached dangerously high levels.

Let's see whether it can surpass Episode 9, which is unquestionably the best episode of Season 2 so far, at least in my opinion. As for me, I'm waiting for the final game of chess. And something tells me that this time, there won't be many pawns left standing.