Warning: Major spoilers for episode 4 of MobLand ahead
This article contains a discussion of rape.
Episode 4 of the Paramount+ crime dramaMobLandsaw the steadily-brewing war between the Harrigans and the Stevensons appear to pivot towards peace, but only on the surface. In reality, the seemingly inevitable conflict between the two London-based crime families is as close to popping off as ever, and may have taken a huge step towards eruption at the end of the episode. Episode 4 added color and background to several ofthe show’s main characters; with the cast and storylines introduced, the show is beginning to add some depth to both.
Each separate subplot branches off from the central narrative arc surrounding the Harrigan crime empire attempting to overtake the fentanyl trade in London, which is currently run by Richie Stevenson and his rival crime family. Harry Da Souza’s entire job has been ensuring the misdeeds of the Harrigans don’t lead to bloodshed, while also doing his best to keep himself andthe entire Harrigan familyout of prison. However, it’s become increasingly clear that the greatest threat in regard to either outcome is coming from within the walls of the Cotswolds.
Who’s Really Behind The Death Of Tommy Stevenson
Eddie Did The Stabbing, But It Wasn’t His Idea
Maeve Harrigan (Helen Mirren) has been alarmingly protective of her grandson,letting Eddie Harrigan get away with everythingand meeting his misdeeds with congratulations and open arms. That was especially true of his murder of Tommy Stevenson, the son of the Harrigans' hated rivals. Her manipulation of her husband Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) has also been a noticeable pattern, and it’s heavily implied thatshe’s a metaphorical Lady Macbeth character, pulling the strings from behind the scenes of the Harrigan crime empire. One scene in episode 4 ofMobLandremoved all doubt about the level of influence Maeve Harrigan has on everything.
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“The Beast In Me”
Sunday, June 1st
In a private moment with his grandmother, Eddie Harrigan reveals his own misgivings about whether what “they” were doing was a mistake, referring to his murder of Tommy Stevenson, which basically guarantees the Harrigans go to war should Richie Stevenson ever find out. Maeve reassures him that it was the correct play, and that it made him look strong. It’s clear that while the volatile Eddie is a very willing participant in the scheme,it’s actually Maeve Harrigan who is urging the Harrigans towards war, and claims that she and Eddie are about to send another message to the Stevensons.
There is virtually no doubt now that Maeve has grander ambitionsthan remaining an obedient matriarch to her crime lord husband. In episode 4, Maeve denigrates her husband’s apathy, noting that while he used to never leave the house without a gun or a blade, he now is content to sit on his phone, monitoring his portfolio. Whether it’s as simple as wanting Conrad to make the Harrigans a feared entity once again, or if it’s some long-gestating vengeance plot for his constant adultery, Maeve does not seem to have her husband’s best interests at heart anymore.
Why Richie Wanted Harry To Kill Valjon
Richie Stalled Any Further Conflict With The Harrigans For Now
Richie brought Harry (Tom Hardy) in to his facility alone one more time in episode 4, this time noting that after “speaking with” Valjon, the man who supposedly killed his son, something didn’t feel right. Because he likes Harry,Richie agreed to put the issue to bed if Harry finishes the job with Valjon, as that would put his mind at ease. He hands Harry a gun, planning to watch the interaction and see if there is any flicker of recognition or hesitation between Valjon and Harry.
In an effort to remove any trace of doubt, Harry forgoes the quick death of a gunshot, and instead breaks off a piece of wood and uses it to violently stab Valjon in the stomach until he expires. It appeared to be enough to ease Richie’s suspicions, but he did have one final request: that the Harrigan family attend Tommy’s funeral. It’s clearly intended to act as a symbolic truce between the two families, but in reality it could be a trap for the Harrigans, given that the audience doesn’t know what Valjon actually told Richie about Tommy’s death.
He Put His Hands On Her In Her Own Home
The ending of episode 3 ofMobLandrevealed that the police had been tipped off about the location of Archie’s body after he was murdered in episode 1. The shocking death occurred in plain view of the entire Harrigan family, along with their trusted lawyer, O’Hara. While they were all witnesses to the murder,Conrad tells Maeve that only he and Harry knew where the body was buried. Whoever anonymously tipped off the police aboutthe location of Archie’s bodyhad to have either been Harry himself, or been told by Harry, as Conrad knows he didn’t tell anyone.
That leads him to believe thatthe person who can’t be trusted is actually Jan (Joanne Froggatt), Harry’s wife, as he believes with all his heart Harry would never betray him. It prompts Conrad to visit Jan at her home, where she was entertaining her friend Alice with some midday wine. After Alice leaves, Conrad intimidates Jan in the form of a stern look, unsubtle implications of danger, and a strong grip on her thigh. Conrad knows she talks to a therapist, and is menacing her specifically to ensure that she doesn’t betray the Harrigans to anyone.
Why Kevin Denied Remembering Rusby
He Lied When Harry Asked About The Former Guard
Harry and Kevin (Paddy Considine) have a one-on-one chat while waiting for Richie to callafter his personal questioning of Valjon, and it births some major revelations about the history of the Harrigan family. The biggest is that Kevin’s wife Bella actually used to be one of the girls Conrad had on the side, when he was in his 50s and she was only 20-21. It explains why she is rarely seen around the rest of the family, and perhaps whyBella is still trying to push a deal throughwith the mysterious Frenchman Antoine despite Harry’s strict instructions against it.
They speak about their time together in a juvenile detention facility, which is the likely explanation of how the two men met and how Harry became involved with the Harrigans in the first place. Harry saw one of their former jailers named Rusby in the nursing home in episode 3, and when he mentions it to Kevin, he denies ever remembering him. However, it’s later revealed thatnot only did Kevin remember him, he was (at least once) actually raped by that particular guardwhile in the detention facility; he lied to hide the truth of his experience from Harry.
Who Jan’s Friend Alice Really Is
Jan Met Her After A Therapy Session
When Conrad arrived at Jan’s home to confront her, she was entertaining her new friend Alice, who she had met seemingly at random and connected with. Alice lobbies to stick around when Conrad enters Jan’s home, only to quickly be rebuffed by a look from Conrad. It’s revealed thatAlice is actually an undercover informant for DCs Fisk and Mukasa, and she is clearly trying to get information about the Harrigans from a more unsuspecting source in Jan. Her cover was still intact at the end of episode 4 ofMobLand, but we’ll see how long that stays the case.
