Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for MobLand, Season 1.

Summary

Eddie discovers Conrad is his real father, not Kevin, in the MobLand Season 1 finale.

Anson Boon talks to Collider about Eddie’s journey, betrayal, trust issues, and potential as an heir.

Eddie’s relationships with Maeve, Harry, and his future aspirations are key to MobLand’s story.

MobLand just finished up its first season, but while we wait for the announcement of a new season, we need to break down that explosive finale. From Harry (Tom Hardy) turning on O’Hara (Lisa Dwan) and killing Richie Stevenson (Geoff Bell), to Kevin (Paddy Considine) and Bella (Lara Pulver) finally reconciling and revealing their pasts, the series has undoubtedly left the door open for more storytelling. However, the biggest surprise of the season lies with Eddie (Anson Boon), who not only started the war between the Harrigans and the Stevensons, but finds out in the final episode from Maeve (Helen Mirren) that his biological father isn’t Kevin, but his grandfather, Conrad (Pierce Brosnan). Of course, we know from the previous episodes that Conrad once had an affair with Bella, and when Maeve told him to stop, he essentially gave his mistress to his son. However, the reveal that Eddie is Conrad’s son comes as a final shock. This is most true in Eddie’s case, who is utterly shaken by the news as he leaves his prison visit with Maeve. Returning to the Harrigan home, he nearly kills Bella in a crushing hug after finding out the truth. We spoke with Anson Boon about this finale and Eddie’s journey throughout MobLand. Now that it’s been revealed that he’s Conrad’s son, he’s even more viable as a potential heir alongside his father/brother Kevin and Seraphina (Mandeep Dhillon). Boon also discusses his reaction to these major reveals, his feelings about his character, and how he sympathizes with him, and also where he wants to see the character go in the future.
Anson Boon Reveals His First Reaction to Eddie’s Birth Reveal

“I can’t even comprehend what it must be like to be told something like that.”

Image via Paramount+

COLLIDER: I need to know your reaction when you were reading that finale and you found out the truth of Eddie’s whole origin story, and how this all plays out. I’m very curious what you were thinking at that time. ANSON BOON: The way that I sympathized with my character, who was someone that could be quite hard to sympathize with, is that he has these really strange relationships with the other people in his family, the people that are raising him, the people that are supposed to be teaching him to be a good person. The thing is, you could count on one hand, probably, the amount of times where you see my character and either of his parents in a scene together, which speaks volumes because they’re never there. They’re never with him. They don’t take any interest in him. The way that Bella talks about her son sometimes to Tom Hardy’s character is really not very nice. Kevin isn’t very nice to him. He gets up to some bad stuff, but it’s like he doesn’t really have anything from his parents. And then his grandfather, although he looks after him, can be kind of rude to him, as well. So, all he’s got is Maeve. All he’s got is his grandma, who is constantly in his ear. Eddie really isn’t stupid. I think Eddie understands slightly what’s going on, and he knows that she’s doing some very questionable things to put this family in danger. She’s telling the police where Archie’s body is buried. She’s telling Richie where Seraphina and Brendan are in Antwerp. She’s doing all these things that really make Eddie question her actions. But she’s also saying all the right things to him. She’s telling him that this is going to be his throne one day. He’s going to be the head of the family one day. She’s the only one who’s nice to him, so it’s all he’s really got to go off. Then, when he goes and sees the prison and finds out that his whole life has been a lie, I mean, I can’t even comprehend what it must be like to be told something like that. Especially when you’ve been having this very intimate relationship with this woman that you thought was your grandmother. You see multiple times in the series, she just about crosses the line of what is normal between a grandmother and a grandson. Oh, I think she definitely crosses that line. BOON: Yeah. She crosses the line. [Laughs] So, to then be told that they’re not even blood related and that everyone around him has been lying his whole life, and he already clearly has trust issues in this family, because in the Harrigans, with the exception of Maeve and Seraphina, everyone is nice to each other’s faces, but you never know who’s stabbing who in the back. To find out that they’ve all been lying to him his whole life, I think it just sends someone who was already having this mental turmoil well over the edge, which is why he does what he does with Bella. It’s like he can’t believe that she’s lied to him his whole life, and it just tips him over the edge. Who knows where that’s going to go? I can’t wait to find out as much as everyone else can’t wait to find out!
How Will Eddie’s Relationship Change With Kevin and Bella in ‘MobLand’?

“The fact that his whole life had been a lie was enough to tip him over the edge.”

Image via Paramount+

I’m going to talk to you about that moment because I’m so curious about how his relationship is going to change with his parents moving forward. Obviously, he nearly murdered his mother, which I feel like if somebody didn’t stop him, he might have at least knocked her out. How is his perspective going to change on seeing his father and his mother? We kind of know with his mother, but we haven’t seen him interact with Kevin at all yet. BOON: I think that what happened with him and his mother was a very reactionary thing. It’s very in-the-moment. He’s gone from the prison straight there, no time to cool off, no time to think things through logically. So, I think it was a very guttural reaction. What was really important for me in that moment was to show somewhat of his brain doing that, like I talked about him tipping over the edge. Because to do that to your own mother is crazy. So, it had to be something really bad. The fact that his whole life had been a lie was enough to tip him over the edge. The way that we rehearsed it and then the way that they shot it was great because it allowed me to have the private moment that she can’t see my head over her shoulder as she’s hugging me. First of all, he saw her when he comes into the room, and he knows he’s got to do something. He’s got to hurt someone because they’ve all hurt him so badly. So he attacks her with these words. He calls her a horrible word, but she tells him how loved he is, and she gives him a hug. For a second, I really wanted to show that that means something to him. It’s the first time you see anyone other than his grandma hug him in the show. She hugs him, and he has that moment, and I wanted to see that in the eyes, and the edit has kept that. Then you see the moment when he remembers the betrayal. It’s about betrayal. He can’t help himself, and he does what he does to her. I think with his grandfather, it will be different because that’s a different relationship, and he’s very scared of it. But when he comes face to face with Kevin, he will perhaps have had some time to cool off. But you never know with Eddie. He may not be blood related to Maeve, but he’s definitely got Maeve’s energy. Let’s just say that. BOON: 100%. Yeah.
What Does Eddie Ultimately Want From the Harrigans?

“Their currency is power. Their currency is who is in charge.”

Image via Paramount+

What do you think Eddie ultimately wants at the end of the day? Does he want to sit at the top of the throne, or is that really just Maeve influencing him? What do you think is his greatest desire at the end of this? BOON: He definitely thinks that he wants to sit on the throne is what I think. But that is like the default in that family, because they’re not like any other family. Their currency is power. Their currency is who is in charge. And like you say, the trust in that family is so weak in many ways. It’s like power is really the only thing you have on your side. So, that story of succession, that race to the throne, is so important. And, as you’ve said, that’s been really reinforced by his grandmother. The reason that his relationship with Harry Da Souza deteriorates throughout the show… What I always like to mention is that I’ll never forget mine and Tom’s scene in Episode 2, where he comes into Eddie’s bedroom at the Cotswolds house, and he says, “Sit down, Eddie. I know you’re lying, that you were with Tommy Stevenson last night.” I remember Guy Ritchie saying, “You both need to enter this scene like it’s Uncle Harry. That’s what it is. It’s Uncle Harry. There’s no animosity as of yet.” The reason that the animosity builds between these two characters is that every time Eddie sets alight a fire that he’s been told to do by Maeve, Harry puts it out. It’s a really intense version of cramping his style, if you like. He knows the things he has to do to get his grandfather’s respect, to earn the respect of his grandmother, which will put him as the heir to the throne, and every time he does one of those things, Harry’s there to stop it, to squander it. So, that’s where that animosity builds. But definitely for now, Eddie sees himself as being the heir to the throne that’s currently inhabited by his dad.
How Does Eddie’s Relationship With Gina Affect His Relationship With Harry?

“And perhaps they do find in each other that they’re both lost souls, and perhaps they find a bit of comfort in each other…”

Image via Paramount

It’s funny because he kind of went from “cool Uncle Harry” to a schoolmaster. There’s no more warmth. I don’t think it helps that he’s sleeping with his daughter at the moment, and I’m curious where you think his head is at. Is that just for fun? Is it to spite their parents? Is there anything genuine in that connection? BOON: It’s interesting. It is something that I’ve thought about a lot, and I discussed a lot with Jez Butterworth, the writer. I think that the moment that annoyance and dislike towards Harry from Eddie turns to hatred is at the wake after the funeral, when Helen Mirren’s character, Maeve, has clearly set up a plan with Eddie that, at some point, he needs to cause trouble at the wake. That’s what she’s directing him to do. She always gives him a list of things to do in secret that the audience sometimes gets to see, and the audience sometimes doesn’t get to see. But she’s clearly established she’s going to give him a nod at some point if he needs to cause trouble. So, he’s turned up to this wake, and you saw a little moment in the funeral where he looks at the order of service, and he sees the picture of Tommy. It was kind of his friend, frenemy, if you like, and he turns and looks at Harry, and there’s a moment where of, “Oh my god.” I’m realizing the gravity of what I did. Like, “This is crazy. I can’t believe I did this. Was it the right thing to do?” And Harry just gives him a look of, “Calm down.” So, I think Eddie’s head is kind of scrambled, and he turns up to the wake, and he goes to the bathroom, and again Harry turns up, and he’s on him again. What Harry says about, “Come downstairs and at least pretend to be a man,” that’s the worst thing he could have said to Eddie, because, as I said about power being currency and about him seeing himself as being the king one day, to say that just totally stripped Eddie. It’s worse than beating Eddie up. That sucked the oxygen out of him. So, that’s the moment I think dislike turned to hatred as far as Eddie and Harry’s concerned. And at that point, Eddie knew he had to do something. Then later on in the episode, when you see Eddie lying down vaping, Eddie was thinking, “How can I get him?” And then he thought, “Gina.” I think that’s what it was to start with. It’s all totally an act when they’re sat drinking coffee around the lake with Gina, and Eddie talks about his family, and then he talks about his confusion growing up and stuff. He’s saying everything he thinks Gina wants to hear. She’s more intelligent than that, and she knows that, but she’s like, “Oh, I’m bored anyway. Sure.” And perhaps they do find in each other that they’re both lost souls, and perhaps they find a bit of comfort in each other, so that’s nice.
Where Will the Eddie and Maeve Alliance Go Moving Forward After the Betrayal?

“She’s the only one that’s nice to him. So, who knows whether he’ll believe or not?”

Image via Paramount+

Obviously, throughout the season, Eddie and Maeve have had this sort of alliance, but then he does betray her to Conrad and spills the beans. In the future, is he going to try to align himself a little bit closer to his grandfather’s father instead of Maeve? Because she is sort of in control, but Conrad is still the head of the family. BOON: Full disclosure, I’ve not read the future scripts, so I don’t know for sure, but what I can say is if you charted Eddie’s journey according to how happy or sad he is, in Episode 9, when when Conrad’s come into the bedroom and he’s like, “Tell me everything,” he couldn’t lie to his grandfather. A.) He’s too scary, and B.) he respects him too much. So, he’s told him everything. Then, you see Eddie can’t even talk to Jan as he’s pouring his coffee. He pours loads of whiskey into his coffee. He’s really going through it. Then he goes and talks to the dogs, and he’s like, “Who’s better off? You or me?” These dogs that are kept behind a cage and kept on a lead, and then Eddie, who is just being pulled from pillar to post by his grandmother and his grandfather. So, he does betray her, but then when she calls into the prison, despite the fact that they’re not blood-related, despite the fact that he has betrayed her trust, she says, “This is the future. You’re going to be the king, and I’m going to be the queen.” Whether he can believe her or not, who knows? But like I said, she’s the only one that’s nice to him. So, who knows whether he’ll believe or not? But I believe Maeve’s character when she says, “None of you see it. He’s smarter than all of you think.” I think he is slightly smarter and slightly more resourceful, and he’s only going to work on that now that he’s experienced this level of betrayal from all of them with this lie. So, who knows who Eddie will ally himself with next? But it will be interesting to see.

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“There’s a lot of life and death within this family and these storylines.”

I did like that scene where she said she’s going to be the queen, and he’s like, “What do you mean by queen?” BOON: He’s like, “You’re my grandmother.” [Laughs]
Anson Boon Considers Whether Eddie Can Trust Harry After ‘MobLand’ Season 1

“They are so intertwined, the Da Souzas and the Harrigans.”

Image via Paramount+

I really like that little talk that Harry has with Eddie, where he’s like, “One day you’re going to be at the top and I’m going to be next to you, and then I’m going to push you over.” It was so funny. Where do you think Eddie’s head is with Harry after that conversation and moving forward? Because it does seem like Harry and Kevin are making some moves, potentially. Do you think there’s any more trust? Is there still a flicker of Uncle Harry, or is this man not to be trusted? BOON: I think that there is still a flicker of Uncle Harry. With families, you can obviously fall out with family members. Anyone can fall out with family members and never talk to them again, of course, but often with family, you fall out with them, but at the end of the day, you’re still tied by the fact that they are blood, they are family. It’s not like with friends where you could just forget it forever. And although yes, Harry isn’t blood related, they are so intertwined, the Da Souzas and the Harrigans. Literally, Eddie’s now sleeping with Harry’s daughter, so they are literally so intertwined, these families. I think that despite this intense animosity and this hatred between them, what I love is when you see Harry, he says it a couple of times throughout the show, he’s actually, other than Maeve, the only one who sticks up for Eddie. When Bella says, “Is it my fault that he’s such a fuck-up? That he’s so awful?” And Harry’s like, “No. I think he’s a fuck-up because he’s a kid.” I think Harry does remember that. I think, in a way that Eddie doesn’t realize yet, but that perhaps he’ll come to realize in the future, maybe he’s learning a lot from Harry, from watching Harry, and Harry probably knows that. Harry is supremely intelligent. I do believe that’s why he’s so good at his job. So, I’m really excited to explore the way that Eddie could grow into a man, and what he can learn from old Uncle Harry. I think he’s the best influence out of that bunch.
Where Does Anson Boon Hope His Character Will Go in the Future?

“When we all look back on our early 20s or our teen years, the things you did, you would never do now.”

What is something that you hope for in the future for this character? What is something that you want to do, or a storyline you want to pursue? Give me an idea of where your brain is at for what you want. I know you don’t know where the future of the show is going, but you know. BOON: I feel very lucky that I’m playing this character who is very much still coming of age, and I’m very aware of that. Like I say, Harry is the only other one that says it: He’s just a kid. And although Eddie doesn’t think of himself like that yet, I’m quite excited to reach the point in Eddie’s life where he’s like, “Oh god, I was just such an annoying kid back then.” When we all look back on our early 20s or our teen years, the things you did, you would never do now. You become a different person in your later 20s, don’t you? I’m 25, and I’m realizing that now. I’m excited to get to grow with this character and see what kind of man he becomes. I really hope that he does learn from his Uncle Harry, and that he learns the best bits from his grandma/the queen to his king, and he learns something from his grandfather because his grandfather, despite being this terrible criminal, is a formidable man — Conrad the Dread “Hundred Guns” Harrigan. So, I’m really excited to see what Eddie picks up from all these people and what kind of man he ultimately will grow into. Last night, I went to an event for MobLand, and someone came up to me and they were like, “Do you hate your character as much as I do?” I’m like, “Of course not!” As an actor, you don’t think like that about your character in the first place, but then I spoke to her about everything that we’ve spoken about, all these things that are Eddie’s reality being brought up by these kinds of people. She was like, “Oh, yeah!” I was like, “He is just the kid that is being so impressed upon by people doing terrible things.” So, I am excited, to your question, to grow with this character, and watch him grow and see what kind of man he becomes. All episodes of MobLand are now available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

MobLand

Release Date

March 30, 2025

Network

Paramount+

Pierce Brosnan

Conrad Harrigan