While the main storyline forMobLandSeason 1 was focused on the war between the Harrigan family andRichie Stevenson (Geoff Bell), the human narratives that explored generational trauma and what family means to different people were probably the most fascinating aspect. Perhaps no subplot better conveyed this thanJan’s (Joanne Froggatt)frustration with Harry’s (Tom Hardy) lack of communication, as well as his criminal world dragging her and their daughter, Gina (Teddie Allen), into the fray of violence. It showed the true inability of Harry to confront the issues in his life and made Jan feel incredibly isolated, until it exploded withJan unintentionally stabbing Harry in the final episode ofMobLandSeason 1, “The Beast in Me.”
This was a brilliant moment that combined shock, anger, and love with Harry’s gentle response telling Jan what she has done is okay, but what it could mean for the show moving forward is even more exciting. In a recent interview Froggatt didwithScreenRant, she explored how her character felt at that moment and what she may learn from this experience. In the end, itcould mean a dark turn for Jan, which would be welcome with the looming threat of other criminals seemingly only growing, especially as Harry feels closer to the top with his alliance withKevin (Paddy Considine). How Harry would feel about Jan embracing her anger would be equally intriguing to watch, as he is yet to find someone who can truly outmatch him as she did in the season finale.
Joanne Froggatt Believes Jan Stabbed Harry as the Only Way Left to Communicate With Him in ‘MobLand’
In the ScreenRant interview, Froggatt was asked about that shocking moment against her character’s husband, and she had a fascinating and nuanced response. Froggatt said that, while Jan stabbing Harry wasn’t “intentional in a premeditated way,” she did acknowledge that the motives behind the act were “something deeper than just an accident” and it was a case of her character asking herself “How do you get a man like Harry’s attention? You speak to him in his own language.” This implies that Jan had exhausted all of her options for communicating with Harry and that all that was left was ferocious anger about being shut out.
It is fascinating that, of all the relationships in Season 1, this is the one that we have seen end with violence. DespiteMaeve (Helen Mirren)andConrad’s (Pierce Brosnan)toxic and manipulative dynamic andEddie (Anson Boon)briefly hooking up with Gina, it is arguably the relationship that one would consider the most typical that could not sustain itself through words alone. Froggatt also stated that she felt Harry left Jan “off the hook” with his smile at her afterward, which also meant she had gotten his “complete attention.” Therefore, it would make sense thatJan may be encouraged to continue the use of brutality, but not just against Harry.
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Jan May Need to Use Violence More in Season 2 of ‘MobLand’
While the war between the Harrigans and Stevensons ended with a Harrigan victory after therat was discovered as the lawyer, O’Hara (Lisa Dwan), the family is arguably in more danger than ever before.Kat McAllister (Janet McTeer)represents a different level of power that could overwhelm the Harrigans after Harry rejected her proposal in the season finale, and this even pushed McAllister to threaten his wife and child. It is unlikely Jan will have much interaction with someone on McAllister’s level, thoughprotecting herself and Gina from hitmen would not be a surprise.
Furthermore, there aremore threats closer to home that will most likely be coming for the Da Souzas. These include Maeve, Conrad, and Eddie, and they may have different reasons for their grudges. Of course, Maeve and Conrad will want to take back their empire from Kevin and Harry once they are out of prison, but Eddie represents an even scarier proposition. With the reveal of his true parentage, he seems to have lost all morality, even trying to kill his own mother,Bella (Lara Pulver), andhe may see Gina as his property, as Conrad views other women he has been with in the past, such as Bella. If Jan were to protect herself from these people, she would arguably have no better teacher than Harry, but the question would be how does Harry respond to this change?
Harry’s Reaction to a More Violent Jan Could Be Unexpectedly Emotional in Season 2 of ‘MobLand’
Harry may feel like the last person who should be preaching that Jan should find a better path than violence, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for him to adopt a “do as I say not as I do” approach to his wife and child, seeing himself as some kind of martyr who sacrifices his soul to keep them safe. While Froggatt believes that Harry’s smirk after being stabbed was him saying to Jan, “Okay, you beat me at my own game,” this also felt like a moment of his character appreciating the ludicrous nature of his lifestyle. If the Harrigan empire keeps crumbling away with bigger foes to face, an arc of his character exploringhow his actions are not only affecting but changing those around him would feel like a natural progression.
However, that is something we will have to wait untilSeason 2 ofMobLandto find out. This gives us plenty of time to speculate about how our beloved and not-so-beloved characters may react to the events of Season 1, and Jan and Harry’s future together is perhaps the most in doubt out of the lot. Simply put, we don’t know if Harry and Jan will be able to cope together after this stabbing. It may push Jan to seek out a darker side of herself, and that could push Harry and Gina away. In the end, thisdescent of good people into illicit activities is a staple of the genreand one that could be given a fresh look in Season 2 ofMobLand,and I, for one, would not complain if it was.
All of Season 1 ofMobLandcan be streamed on Paramount+ in the U.S.
