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Mc Mafia?

488 replies

Clawdy · 01/01/2018 22:18

Anyone watched it? Well acted and gripping, James Norton good as usual. Also nice change to see so many new faces. But I'm not sure about watching seven more episodes........

OP posts:
Bostin · 02/01/2018 22:13

It’s a bit too grim for me. Not what I like for a Sunday evening.

LizzieSiddal · 02/01/2018 22:16

Oh I had high hopes for this but am didsapointed.
I’ve loved JN since Happy Valley and especially War And Peace, but he’s very wooden in this but thought I’d persevere.

However, I switched it off half way through tonight. Hated the trafficking, story line Sad

LizzieSiddal · 02/01/2018 22:17

Boston hate to break it to you, but it’s Tuesday today Xmas Grin

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 02/01/2018 22:17

If Sidney Bloom is the ethical face of capitalism I guess Kleiman is the ethical face of human trafficking.

thenightsky · 02/01/2018 23:30

I'm enjoying it so far, but I suspect that I'll have forgotten who everyone is by the time they show episode 3 next Sunday.

AgentProvocateur · 02/01/2018 23:37

I’m loving this - can’t wait for next episode. A bit confused about the Prague set-up. Who arranged for the guy in the pants to be murdered - his ex-policeman assistant or the Russian in Israel?

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 03/01/2018 00:10

It was the ex-policeman - it hadn’t occurred to Kleiman (the Israeli) that that was a possibility. It was all James Norton’s idea.

MsGameandWatching · 03/01/2018 00:36

I really enjoyed it. He looks great in a tux and then like a teenager when he wears shorts. No more shorts, they don't work for him.

CIssieB · 03/01/2018 04:30

Im having trouble keeping up with the plot. Who is James Norton now in bed with financially after the 600.000 euro transfer?

The human traficking aspect of the storyline is upsetting.

Slartybartfast · 03/01/2018 08:27

there is a helpful recap in guardian about this- going to watch it and read recap

Bostin · 03/01/2018 08:38

Lizzie I know. It will be on Sunday nights from now onwards.

Gweidjen · 03/01/2018 09:06

Complicated plot, but interesting. Am finding James Norton's slightly fey voice a bit of a turn-off, though.

ReelingLush18 · 03/01/2018 09:44

Watched last night's episode before ep. 1 so struggling to fully understand what was going on.

Perhaps James Norton's wooden acting is purposeful - the sense that we/family/friends/enemy are not supposed to be able to 'read' him (as Alex).

From the helpful resume in The Guardian though it looks as if Kleiman (with whom he currently seems to be in cahoots) was partly responsible for his family's exile from Russia? How does that work?

sothatdidntwork · 03/01/2018 09:50

Why does James Norton cave so quickly though? - he didn't seem to need that much persuading to go over to the dark side!

Was it because V killed the uncle? but after all, uncle had just tried to damage JN's company by spreading rumours, so on the face of it you wouldn't have thought JN would feel quite so much loyalty to him that he would turn into a money launderer!

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 03/01/2018 09:51

No it was Vadim who was behind the Godmans being exiled. Vadim also exiled Kleiman which is why he wants to work with the Godmans.

Vadim is ex-KGB and those guys basically banded together and kicked all the other gangsters out and took over their Russian networks. Now they are infighting among themselves though (hence the dog show guy naming his dog after Vadim).

sothatdidntwork · 03/01/2018 09:59

Yes I thought Kleiman was exiled at the same time as the Godmans, which was why uncle and Kleiman had been associates.

Did JN know what he was doing when he went over to speak to the ex policeman at the airport - I mean did he know that was effectively an invitation to kill off the Prague boss? If so he has fallen from the pedestal rather quickly! Juliet Rylance is getting a bit suspicious about the secret phone calls - I forsee that relationship may not last!

EmmaStone · 03/01/2018 10:01

Oh God I've found it so dull. My parents are staying with us at the moment and were raving about it and all the hype around it, so we all sat down to watch it both nights. Urgh. I'll not be going back to it on Sunday. And haven't seen the fuss surrounding James Norton either.

ReelingLush18 · 03/01/2018 10:05

sothatdidntwork maybe you can take the gangsters out of Russia but not the 'gangster' out of the man (wherever he's based)? Presumably, despite his English public school 'persona', Alex would have been brought up by his family with their value system simmering under the surface?

Thanks for answering my question HoldMeCloserTonyDanza - obviously scanned The Guardian article too quickly Blush. It makes more sense now knowing that both Kleiman and Godman on the same side having been turfed out by Vadim.

sothatdidntwork · 03/01/2018 10:12

It's true that the uncle may not have been a wholly positive influence on child Alex, Reeling!

What's the point about the sister - I'm a bit lost there. What is her 'character' - fun-loving, irresponsible for leaving the window unlocked, what does she do otherwise?

User843022 · 03/01/2018 10:20

'Was it because V killed the uncle?'
I agree with reeling I think it's because despite his posh persona he is basically still the son of a russian gangster.
It is a stretch though to believe such a mild mannered man would turn so quickly, but then he is protecting his parents too. Although you'd think he'd have realised opening that can of worms will have them all getting their throats slit or chucked off buildings.

ReelingLush18 · 03/01/2018 10:22

What's the point about the sister - I'm a bit lost there. Reckon she might be the loose cannon whose lax attitude lands the Godman family in more trouble?

sothatdidntwork · 03/01/2018 10:26

JN also needs to save his business I suppose - though he had Alan to help out there. I realise Alan was highly unpleasant but still would have thought you'd go for him if the alternative is becoming a money launderer and murderer. Or just accept the business going under?
Maybe not though.

You may be right about the sister Reeling - she'll forget to turn the burglar alarm on or something, with disastrous consequences. I hope it goes the other way though - seemingly vacuous party girl turns into the quick thinking saver of the day. Six episodes to go!

buggerthebotox · 03/01/2018 11:24

Thanks for the explanations. I'm still not really clear on what's what.

Why did the father jump out the window? Or was he pushed? Is he ill? What'swrong with him (I get he's grieving over Boris, perhaps)..

There's obviously some backstory I'm missing.

ssd · 03/01/2018 14:52

I think JN's girlfriend is secretly on Vadims side, somehow or other, she seems to be around when Alex is taking phone calls or asking how his business is doing

shes dodgy