Guy Ritchie's MobLand Season 2 Garners Critical Acclaim, Praised as 'Mind-Blowingly Perfect'

Guy Ritchie's London-set crime drama, MobLand, has returned for its second season on Paramount+, with critics largely hailing the new installment as a success. The series, which premiered Friday, delves back into the world of the Harrigan family and their fixer, Harry Da Souza, played by Tom Hardy.

Season two picks up in the aftermath of the first season's violent events, finding Harry navigating increasingly perilous factions and striving to prevent the Harrigan operation from collapsing. The central figures of Conrad Harrigan, portrayed by Pierce Brosnan, and Maeve Harrigan, played by Helen Mirren, remain at the core of the family, though their relationship and control over the organization are reportedly under significant strain as new rivals challenge their criminal empire.

Reviewers have largely responded positively to the new season, with Metro's Tom Percival awarding it four stars and describing it as "hooked after five minutes." He noted the characters' humor and larger-than-life nature, comparing the show's violent spectacle to "Gangs of London" but with a more stylized approach.

Empire critic David Opie also gave the series four stars, commending its immediate immersion into the Harrigan's world and the blend of absurdity and power. Opie highlighted Tom Hardy's anchoring performance amidst the chaotic narrative, calling him "the anchor to this maelstrom."

Radio Times' Jack Seale awarded four stars, characterizing the season as "perfect TV entertainment" that nimbly balances "good and stupid" elements, ensuring it is "never, ever dull." The Up Coming's Andrew Murray gave the season four stars, describing it as "fast-paced" and "darkly funny," with a standout ensemble cast.

TechRadar's Jasmine Valentine offered a five-star review, deeming the season "relentless" and "the most violent workout for the mind possible." She praised its intricate plot and the addictive nature of the viewing experience.

Digital Spy's Janet A Leigh also provided a four-star rating, suggesting that fans of the first season would "fall deeper" into the second. She described the initial episodes as an "adrenaline-charged flurry" and expressed hope that the season would maintain its momentum. The Times' Ben Dowell, awarding four stars, noted the show's ability to match the previous season's pace, attributing its success to strong performances that add "bite and subtlety." He singled out Hardy's "utterly mesmerising" portrayal of the gruff killer.

However, not all reviews were overwhelmingly positive. The Guardian's Sarah Dempster awarded only two stars, finding the season "deathly dull" and lacking the charm or wit to make the gangster narrative bearable. Dempster criticized the characters as unlikable and their banter as strained, suggesting the show relies too heavily on violence and profanity.

MBLAND SEASON 2: WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

"It’s not quite as gritty or realistic; it’s more stylised, but there’s a real charm in the often frantic, gore-flecked bursts of action we see" - Metro's critic Tom Percival

"MobLand is rip-roaring fun, and even when it feels like a little too much is going on, Tom Hardy expertly pulls it all together, the anchor to this maelstrom" - Empire critic David Opie

"The result is something close to perfect TV entertainment: it’s sort of good and sort of stupid, but now there’s more of a sense that it’s nimbly hopping from one to the other at will. It’s never, ever dull" - Radio Times' critic Jack Seale

"It’s darkly funny at points and carried by an A-list ensemble that’s made even better by standout turns from Hardy and Flynn" - The Up Coming's critic Andrew Murray

"Throw yourself into it at full-throttle and you'll never want the grip of MobLand to let you go" - TechRadar's critic Jasmine Valentine

"If you fell in love with the dark and brutal world of MobLand in season one, then prepare to fall deeper in season two" - Digital Spy's critic Janet A Leigh

"After the frenetic action of the last season, you might think it’s impossible to match the sheer bloodstained pace, but they pull it off; the performances are key, adding bite and subtlety to the more conventional gangster moments and another complex series arc taken from the playbook of pretty much every drama in the genre" - The Times' critic Ben Dowell

"Blimey, it’s dull. For all the guns and flying CGI viscera, it’s absent either the charm or wit that makes these sorts of fist-based capers bearable" - The Guardian's critic Sarah Dempster