Key Points
-
Mandeep Dhillon weighs in on the latest episode of MobLand.
-
The actress breaks down Seraphina’s big pitch.
-
Dhillon also teases the “mess” still to come in season 2.
This article contains spoilers from the season 2 ofMobLand.
Sorry, Seraphina (Mandeep Dhillon), the Harrigans are outlaws, for life.
In the new episode of MobLand, the dysfunctional criminal family is on the run due to an attack by Frankie Cooper (Johnny Flynn). Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) confronts his daughter about how she knew the enemy was coming for them, and Seraphina confesses her involvement with Kat McAllister (Janet McTeer), insisting that she was infiltrating their rival’s empire to protect their own. With the locations of their safe houses exposed, Seraphina suggests they go to Mallorca to hide out with her glamorous mom, Priyanka (Koel Purie Rinchet), and her wealthy stepdad, Charlton (David Bedella), much to the dismay of Maeve (Helen Mirren).
Once there, Seraphina presents her plan for how the Harrigans move forward and become “more powerful than ever.” She reveals that Charlton controls space at the local ports and has authority over anything that arrives, while also being politically protected, allowing the Harrigans to dominant the drug market. “This is how you become something larger, something untouchable,” she tells her pops.
But Conrad isn’t buying what she is selling. “This family, it’s lost itself,” he declares. “It’s forgotten who it is. I know what it isn’t, and it isn’t Coca F—ing Cola. We’re no corporate brand. We’re outlaws. We’re born outlaws, and we’ll die outlaws.” He does at least seem reinvigorated, adding that this night has reminded him of who he is and who they are.
To recap Seraphina’s big disappointment, we chatted with Mandeep Dhillon about peeling back the curtain on Seraphina’s scheme and the “mess” that is still to come in season 2.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When you first got the script for episode 6, what most excited you about this big Seraphina episode?
MANDEEP DHILLON: There were a few things. One, Mallorca. Two, getting to introduce my mom, who Maeve absolutely despises. And three, her master plan. Even though we know how it ends, I was like, “Well done, Seraphina.” I was genuinely impressed with her mind.
Were you long waiting to hear more about Seraphina’s life outside of the Harrigans?
Before we started filming season 2, I went for lunch with [showrunner] Jez [Butterworth] and he told me bits and bobs about what was gonna happen and his overall arc for Seraphina. He just goes, “We get to meet your mom, and Maeve and your mom are in the same house together.” The whole business plan of it all was news to me. I’ve known that Seraphina’s smart, so I know that she is always probably thinking about the bigger picture, but even I had to Google stuff to make sure that I knew what she was saying. Like, “Wait, what is that?” Every time I get a new MobLand script, I’m like, cancel everything, I’m sitting down and reading the episode — and I have the best time.
One of my favorite bits from this episode was Serapina’s mom constantly firing back at Maeve. Considering that Seraphina is usually facing Maeve’s wrath, was it a welcome sight to have Maeve be the one on the receiving end of shade for once?
I loved it. It was like, Yeah, got my back up now, what do you got to say? [Laughs.] And it was really nice actually to go for dinner with Koel, who played my mum, and just connect with her. So we had that sort of, we’ve got each other’s backs vibe. And it’s nice for the audience and the Harrigans. It’s probably the first time they’ve ever witnessed, Oh, she’s got a mom. Oh, they’re pretty close. I think it’s important for Seraphina that they’ve seen that for her.
What’s it like getting to play that typical Seraphina and Maeve back and forth with Helen? It’s a fun dynamic, and even though they’re being mean to each other, the characters are kind of also having fun with it at the same time.
It’s the best. Helen is just so great at playing Maeve — too great, actually. She’s just a lovely woman but a brilliant actress, and she’s not lost that spirit or joy for acting. She’s playful, so we will improvise, ad lib, really have fun. And it’s really interesting that you say that, because they do have fun even when they’re cussing each other. It’s like they both get to be each other’s little punching bag every now and then, but they’re quite enjoying it. And when I know that I’m gonna have a scene with Helen, there’s nothing but pure joy and excitement for the day because I know that we will smash it and have a lot of fun doing it.
Seraphina is going with the story that she was infiltrating Kat’s operation to help the family. Should we take her at face value there? Like, as an audience, should we be thinking she was making a move for herself or truly protecting the family?
If I was the audience, I’d be like, “I don’t know if you’re coming or going, Seraphina. What is what? Are you lying? Or are you now double lying? Or are you triple lying? Where are we?” I think it’s good for the audience to be working that out. So should they believe Seraphina? Who bloody knows at this point? As Mandeep, I’ve absolutely loved doing the secret lying and then, Oh, okay, now I’m on the other side. Okay, now I’m on both sides. But I can also say that I could never be in a show like Traitors, because I would be s—. I’m just grateful that I’ve got such an incredible writer like Jez Butterworth writing the words for me, because, if it was me and I was having to do all of that lying, you’d know straight away.
It’s this weird thing with Seraphina where she’s somehow both the favorite and the outcast at the same time.
I know, and I love it. And she knows it too, which I also love. It actually spurs her on even more. She’s got a bit of cockiness to her, which I really admire. I wish I was a bit more like her.
Speaking of her cockiness, do you think that she’s overestimating herself, or are people underestimating her?
I think it’s both. There’s parts of her where she slipped up massively, like when she gave Harry (Tom Hardy) information she was not meant to give him, telling him Frankie’s name. Even when I watched the episode, I’m like, “No, Seraphina, what are you doing?” So there’s that side of her where it’s like, Ah, okay, you’re not quite cut out for this. But then her plan is great, and if they were on board, they’d all be sitting on a yacht somewhere sipping champagne, living their best lives. And she’s aware that people know that. Yes, her plan falls on its ass, but not because everyone’s like, “That’s a s— plan.” Conrad wants to be an outlaw, he wants his hands dirty. He’s got too much pride to sit and accept that whole champagne life. So she comes away more so disappointed, thinking she’s just annoyingly talking to a brick wall sometimes.
Do you think Seraphina really thought they’d all jump at her plan? As a viewer, it doesn’t seem like Conrad’s cup of tea.
I think there was always something deep down in Seraphina that knew it would take a lot to convince Conrad — she knows her dad. She probably thought he would have been like, “Let me think about it.” At least you get a week of him thinking about it. The fact that he shut it down straight in the moment, that hurt, and especially in front of Maeve and everyone. I think she’ll let herself be disappointed, but then she’s the type of person to go, I’ve had my little moment, now what? She’s very strong, she won’t back down, and she’s 100 percent not gonna go down with that ship.
With four episodes left in the season, how would you tease what we should expect down the homestretch?
God, it’s chaotic. I just watched episodes 7 and 8 — so good. Seraphina and Bella (Lara Pulver) have quite a lot of fun stuff coming up together, which is nice because we’ve not really seen those two properly connect. As you get towards the end of the season, the whole family is forced back together even though they don’t want to be. They’re the Harrigans, so there’s always gonna be chaos and mess. And they’re gonna need help getting out of the s—. It’s just about who’s gonna help them.
New episodes of MobLand premiere Fridays on Paramount+.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
