Paddy Considine Just Gave an Emmy-Worthy Turn in ‘MobLand’s Most Brutally Heartbreaking Scene
Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for MobLand
When looking at the cast list of MobLand, one could be forgiven for struggling to choose their favorite actor. From Pierce Brosnan to Janet McTeer, it is heavy hitter after heavy hitter, with each bringing decades worth of experience that provides a sense of assurance throughout the series. However, Paddy Considine, playing the role of Conrad (Brosnan) and Maeve’s (Helen Mirren) son, Kevin, just put himself head and shoulders above the rest and should win an Emmy in the latest Episode, “Beggars Banquet” for this one scene alone: his confrontation with the prison guard who raped him during his teenage years, Alan Rusby, who is played by absolute legend of British acting for his role in Four Lions, Nigel Lindsay, further showing the incredible depth of actors this show presents us with.
Previously, in his role as King Viserys in House of the Dragon, Considine excelled as a weak and insecure king who found the strength to stand by Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock and Emma D’Arcy), his daughter, but was brutally snubbed by the Emmys that year. In this scene, Considine once again puts his hat in the ring for Best Supporting Actor, but with a performance that is very different. While we saw similar intensity in Considine’s portrayal of Viserys, the vulnerability and rage within the character of Kevin show the range of the actor, and the final execution in the scene is heartbreaking due to how Considine coldly plays it.
Considine’s Hesitancy When Kevin Meets Alan Builds the Tension of the Confrontation
This meeting between assaulter and victim is something that MobLand has been building up to all season, with Kevin taking small steps to learn how he should cope with the resurfaced memories of the sexual abuse he suffered. Therefore, when he finally finds Rusby, posing as a taxi driver, there is the expectation that the scene will blow up at any moment. However, both the audience and Kevin have their expectations subverted when this piece of filth that Kevin has built up in his head turns out to have no memory of Kevin at all. He is remarkably friendly and polite to him.
Throughout the scene of Kevin driving Alan, Considine’s tiny face twitches and eye squints communicate the shock and intensity of the moment. Like us, he cannot figure out if Alan is playing dumb, and now, rather than the monster he expected, Kevin is framed as the villain, killing what could be seen as a harmless old man.
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The series also stars Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan.
With the extreme subtleties and layers of subtext present within these niceties of Kevin and Alan exchanging small talk, it would be so easy for us to misinterpret Considine’s performance and therefore the tone of the scene. We might think Kevin is constantly certain of killing this man and has no qualms.
But, because Considine conveys his character’s indecision so effectively, especially his longing yet almost fearful look at Rusby as he walks away after getting out of the taxi, we know that this is anything but an easy decision for Kevin to make, and he is not a psychopathic killer such as Eddie (Ansom Boon), Conrad, or even Harry (Tom Hardy) who would kill this man very easily.
Kevin’s Vulnerability Makes Us Heavily Conflicted About Him Killing Alan
When Kevin tells Alan why he is there, and we establish that Alan doesn’t remember him, Kevin takes it upon himself to remind both Alan and the audience why he is so hellbent on revenge. Recently, Andor was rightfully praised for its brutal and blunt portrayal of sexual assault, and MobLand leans into this exploration of what can sometimes be considered a subject that victims are even less likely to want to speak about: male sexual assault. Considine’s portrayal of Kevin’s PTSD bubbling towards the surface is heartbreaking, and his bitter, spite-filled delivery of the word “rape” is spat out in a way that forces Alan to understand just what he did to this man.
This is key because, as previously mentioned, there was a danger that we could begin to feel sorry for Alan due to his memory problems. However, Considine’s sobs bring all the sympathy back to Kevin, as we stop seeing him as a hardened gangster there for revenge. Instead, when he is doubled over, seemingly letting Alan walk away from him, he is framed as a scared and isolated child in desperate need of support — the same position he was in during his days in prison, bringing him full circle.
Considine’s Coldness Reflects the Tragedy of His Character
I believe we all knew what was coming when Alan decided that, rather than walking away from Kevin the second he thought about letting his abuser live, he would stay and try to earn forgiveness from his victim. Alan’s moments alive were numbered. Therefore, it is impressive just how impactful Kevin’s pulling of the trigger was, considering how obvious it arguably was. The impact of the moment comes not from the sound design of the bullet firing, Alan’s corpse hitting the table, or the contrast of a bright domestic kitchen splattered with blood. The significance comes from Considine’s unflinching expression of apathy as he does it.
It would be all too imaginable for this scene to fail in its task of exploring the ramifications of sexual assault on a victim’s mental health by framing this revenge as a victory. Instead, Considine frames Kevin as almost resigned to the fate that forgiveness is not possible. We see already how this will not heal his PTSD in any way. Rather than it pouring out, Kevin has frozen shut and may look stronger, but is far more likely to shatter into a million pieces when it comes to processing the trauma of this magnitude again.
Overall, it would be a crime for the Emmys to snub Paddy Considine again. He deserves acknowledgment for his range of emotions portrayed in such a short space of time. At no point during the meeting between Kevin and Alan do you mistake how Kevin is feeling, and it is all down to one man’s beautiful and tragic performance. It would be a mistake to think this would be the last time we see a fascinating scene from Considine. Now that he is somewhat freed from focusing on Alan, where will his attentions turn next, and could it be to his own family, who have set him on this path of torment?
MobLand streams on Paramount+ with the Season 1 finale airing June 1.
