In the latest episode of MobLand, the tension between Frankie Cooper (Johnny Flynn) and the Harrigan family reaches a boiling point. After sending Harry (Tom Hardy) a recording of his wife Jan (Joanne Froggatt) with another man, Frankie is clearly playing a dangerous game. But according to Flynn, this is just the beginning of a much larger chess match.
Speaking with Collider, Flynn described the dynamic between Frankie and Harry as a high-stakes poker game. "It's like they're playing a game of poker, and Frankie's poking to see who gives a tell," he said. "Harry is the one who doesn't give anything away, and that's what makes him so intriguing to Frankie."
The episode, titled "Blank Curtain," also sees Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) retaliate against Frankie's crew, shooting up his men and kidnapping one. This escalation only fuels Frankie's determination to break Harry's composure. Flynn noted that Frankie's tactics are personal and ruthless, designed to force Harry to lose focus on the bigger picture.
"Frankie's thing is to try and find out people's limits," Flynn explained. "Harry's superpower is keeping his cool, so Frankie is making these very personal threats to see if he can crack him." The actor hinted that both characters are willing to sacrifice personal ties for the empire they're building, making their conflict all the more terrifying.
Flynn also delved into Frankie's surprising loyalty to his own men, despite his mercurial nature. "He's actually loyal to his foot soldiers," Flynn said. "I always tried to maintain a connection with them. He inspires like an incredible general—these people would lay down their lives for him."
As the season progresses, Flynn teased that the stakes will only get higher. "The ruthlessness around it is what makes it so terrifying," he said. "How they're both willing to sacrifice personal stuff and family ties for the game they're playing."
Fans of the show can expect more explosive confrontations as Frankie and Harry's rivalry intensifies. For more on the chaos, check out our recap of Episode 3 and Tom Hardy's other recent project.
