Movies

Sean Bean’s epic new BBC crime drama is definitely not what you think it is

BBG News

Contrary to how it may appear at first glance, the latest Sean Bean-fronted crime series by the BBC, titled “This City is Ours“, deviates from the norm of typical gangster shows.

Indeed, there are hushed discussions and disconcerting smiles abound. It’s also a hotbed of drugs, brutality, and homicide, with a hint of high stakes at play. Yet, despite its familiar gangster narrative, This City is Ours offers a unique twist.

The central character, Michael (played by James Nelson-Joyce), serves as the primary means through which this unforeseen aspect is delved into.

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The main narrative unfolds as the family patriarch and leading mobster, Ronnie (Bean), starts considering retirement. This doesn’t sit well with his son Jamie (Jack McMullen). To make matters worse, Ronnie chooses his trusted ally Michael to take over his position, causing tension. Matters escalate when a cocaine shipment mysteriously disappears and Ronnie hints at an imminent betrayal from within their close-knit group, causing turmoil.

Michael finds himself in a tricky situation as he’s assigned to eliminate a problem, which happens to be a rat. However, the circumstances take a turn for the worse for both Michael and his partner Diana (played by Hannah Onslow), and the future they are nurturing together becomes uncertain.

This series, titled “This City is Ours,” delves deeper into the gangster genre by offering a unique perspective. Instead of focusing on the peril that often accompanies a gangster’s significant other or the usual portrayal of chilling violence, it explores the theme of masculinity in an unconventional way. Specifically, it examines this through the struggles faced by the couple as they try to conceive naturally.

According to Michael, not only do I have a lower-than-normal number of sperm, but also the sperms that are produced are poor swimmers.

This narrative delves deep into masculinity, particularly focusing on how Michael perceives his value in his relationship following his discovery of his fertility issues – an aspect seldom explored in depth.

In contrast to his cold, strategic persona within the shadowy realm he lives in, there’s a tender, exposed side of him when it comes to being a father, which gives a more nuanced picture to the grim, stark world he is part of.

In fact, there are alternative topics that delve into what seems ‘masculine’ – such as ambition (its allure and the roots of it) or self-importance. However, these subjects align better with the typical discussions found in a series like this.

The characters equally maintain their significance within the group. Diana from Onslow stands out as a relatively unseasoned member amidst the gangster WAGS, and her apparent innocence towards their lifestyle introduces an additional narrative layer when another WAG, Cheryl (played by Saoirse-Monica Jackson), starts offering cautionary advice. Prolong this storyline and This City is Ours subtly explores the underlying dissatisfaction of these women, despite being surrounded by opulence.

Bean also carries the role of wary, but unmistakably terrifying, gangster well.

As Michael ponders his involvement in the game, the stakes grow higher and higher, as he compares it to the life he might share with Diana. Simultaneously, Jamie, feeling hurt, is hot on Michael’s trail, eager to usurp him using whatever methods necessary.

This story brews a mix of suspicion and deceit amidst an unsettling violence, with the key relationship between Diana and Michael serving as the tantalizing drama that keeps viewers hooked on this captivating television series.

All episodes of This City is Ours are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

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2025-03-24 19:49

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