MobLand - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
The Thames River
The River Thames serves as a visual metaphor for the constant, murky, and powerful undercurrent of London's criminal world. It represents the flow of dirty money, the hidden secrets, and the unstoppable momentum of the conflict. Its presence in shots of Harry's apartment suggests his proximity to and immersion in this dangerous world.
The river is frequently shown in establishing shots and is visible from Harry and Jan's luxury apartment. Key deals and clandestine meetings often take place with the river in the background, reinforcing its symbolic connection to the city's criminal lifeblood.
Family Portraits/Photographs
Throughout the Harrigan home, portraits and photographs symbolize the family's carefully constructed image of unity and power. They represent the legacy and tradition they are fighting to uphold, but also serve as an ironic counterpoint to the deep-seated dysfunction and betrayal that lies beneath the surface.
In several scenes within the Harrigan household, the camera lingers on family photos, especially during moments of intense conflict or private turmoil. This juxtaposition highlights the chasm between their public facade and their private reality.
Philosophical Questions
Can true loyalty exist in a world governed by self-preservation?
The series constantly tests the bonds of its characters. Harry's loyalty to the Harrigans is his defining trait, yet it is continually pitted against his own survival and the well-being of his wife. The show explores whether his allegiance is a genuine emotional bond or a professional code that can be broken when the price becomes too high. The internal betrayals and shifting alliances suggest that in the brutal calculus of the criminal underworld, loyalty is often a temporary convenience, ultimately subordinate to the primal instinct to survive.
Is family a source of strength or a destructive cage?
MobLand presents the Harrigan family as a powerful entity, its strength derived from its name and collective will. However, the series delves into how this same institution stifles individuality and perpetuates a cycle of violence. Characters are trapped by their lineage, forced into roles and conflicts they might not have chosen. The narrative questions whether the benefits of belonging to such a powerful clan outweigh the loss of personal freedom and the moral compromises required, framing the family unit as both a fortress and a prison.
Core Meaning
At its heart, MobLand is an exploration of the paradox of family within the brutal ecosystem of organized crime. Created by Ronan Bennett, the series posits that the very bonds of kinship that provide strength and identity are also the catalysts for destruction and betrayal. It scrutinizes the concept of loyalty, not as a noble virtue, but as a volatile and often transactional commodity. The creators seem to argue that in a world built on violence and dominance, the institution of family becomes a gilded cage, its traditions and expectations twisting individuals into roles they are forced to play. The series ultimately suggests that power is a corrosive force that inevitably consumes not only rivals but also the very foundations of the family that wields it, leaving a legacy of trauma and ruin.