Stick or Twist

The movie star power of this new Paramount+ series is most impressive, backed by topnotch ensemble acting. Add A-list writer/creator Bennett fresh from the success of his "Day of the Jackal" remake and the project is safely in good hands.

Hardy's self-assured performance and his character's ability to juggle and handle whatever situation falls in his lap to sort out reminded me of the streamer's current hit "Landman", and its central rock of Gibraltar played by Billy Bob Thornton. However, in that series the big-names of Jon Hamm and Demi Moore were only sparingly involved in the first season's drama, while here the gang patriarch and matriarch of Brosnan and Mirren are indelibly important figures.

Brosnan was terrifically evil in the pilot, while Mirren, as usual, makes every moment in her limited screen time count. I remember her first major international splash (opposite Bob Hoskins) in the Brit gangster classic "The Long Good Friday", and she brings wry black humor to her role here.

I see from future episode cast lists that in the Harrigan clan, daughter Seraphina (Mandeep Dhillion) will figure most prominently. In the Ritchie-directed pilot her role is only teased, with Mirren not on her side, so we'll see how that story arc works out. But the rest of the cast is credible, and the suspense generated by Hardy's take-charge attitude is intense.

Captivating first episode. Capturing the energy of London, a supreme quality of London is MobLand I'm sure next episods also. I just look who may be is director and cast and love ya London, Tom Hardy maybe his best acting play performances staying alive with a vibrant spirit and convivial soul. This is Guy Ritchie style of London matches its pace, stride for stride. Welcome to London. Harry Da Souza /Tom Hardy/ is member of a powerful wealthy family and plays as like fixer in the centre of it all, with this lively, welcoming community shaped by the dynamic spirit of London. Admirations to all cast and crew..!?

The editing is pretty mental, genuinely incompetent at parts, like huge gaps between characters reacting to an event, through cutting between them sequentially. Tom Hardy is usually pretty decent but it just feels like a worse Alfie Solomons here.

Helen Mirren is fine as hell and honestly? Zero beers.

Plus she's good in the show.

Pierce Bronson gives a shockingly poor performance here. I feel bad cause I like him in Lawnmower Man and Bond memes, I just feel like his character is so underwritten and one-dimensional he cannae do anything to salvage it.

The script is unbelievably whack. No dosser on planet earth speaks like that, even funny cockney fellas.

Considine is the best part of this so far, fire actor to be fair. Might watch more if only for your man Paddy.

They've certainly set up a good start for the rest of the show and i am VERY intrigued so far.

Acting is impeccable as expected from said cast and Guy Ritchie oh my oh my, he is built for this kind of storytelling or in this case ( directing ).

This episode was nearly one hour and i dare say my eyes were GLUED to the screen which is a testament to how good the show is given the recent drought of quality television we have right now.

My one and only tiny nitpick is the amount of characters and names they introduced but i'll get used to them as the episodes go on.

Anyway, Good episode.. Fantastic start and looking forward for more...!

I also hate Turkish Delight, but I love the start of this new series from Ronan Bennett.

The dialogue and the action are thick and fast, so you had better pay close attention. I recommend turning on the subtitles!

Tom Hardy (Harry Da Souza) is always great, and he shines herein. But, for me, it's Pierce Brosnan (Conrad Harrigan) who steals the show.

Helen Mirren (Maeve Harrigan) also brings her steely charms.

Originally, this series was going to be a 'Ray Donovan' prequel and tell the story of the Donovan's in the old country. But, the producers and Paramount decided not to limit the story and so the family name was changed.

This has all the hallmarks of a hit and a water-cooler-discussion series on Monday. Here's me hoping, innit!