James Norton plays Alex Godman, an English-raised son of Russian mafia exiles, in McMafia, a crime drama about a man who tries to build a legitimate life and fails spectacularly when his family’s past catches up with him. The series, created by Hossein Amini and James Watkins, premiered on BBC One in the UK on 1 January 2018 and ran for one season of eight episodes, ending on 11 February 2018. It was also broadcast on AMC in the US on 26 February 2018.
Trailer, via BBC.
Alex Godman’s Struggle
Alex has spent his life trying to escape the shadow of his parents’ criminal past. He builds a legitimate business and tries to forge a life with his girlfriend Rebecca, played by Juliet Rylance. But when a murder forces his family’s past to return, Alex is drawn back into the criminal underworld. The series follows him as he confronts his values to protect those he loves.
The central tension is simple: Alex wants to be normal. He wants a wife, a house, a steady job. His family, led by his father, lives off the proceeds of organized crime. The show spends its runtime showing how impossible that separation is.
Faye Marsay plays Katya Godman, Alex’s sister, and Kirill Pirogov plays Ilya Fedorov. Together, they represent the pull of the old world that Alex is trying to leave behind. The show is structured around Alex’s attempts to hold onto both worlds at once, and the tension between them drives every episode.
Juliet Rylance and the Supporting Cast
Juliet Rylance gives Rebecca a grounded center to the show. She is the anchor Alex holds onto, the person he is willing to lie to and hide from in order to keep her safe. Her presence is the reason the show’s moral stakes land at all. Without her, Alex’s choices would feel abstract. With her, they feel personal.
Kirill Pirogov’s Ilya Fedorov is the most dangerous figure in the series. He is Alex’s cousin, and he represents the purest expression of the criminal lifestyle. Where Alex is constantly questioning himself, Ilya never questions anything. That contrast is the engine of the show’s dramatic tension.
What the Show Gets Right
The show understands that crime dramas are not about criminals being clever. They are about criminals being human. Alex is not a monster. He is a man who made bad choices, who got in too deep, and who is now paying for it. The show treats him with genuine compassion, even when he is doing terrible things.
The pacing is relentless. Each episode moves quickly, jumping between London, Moscow, and other cities as the plot unfolds. The show trusts its audience to follow along, and it rarely slows down to explain itself. That confidence is mostly earned.
What the Show Gets Wrong
The show leans heavily on stereotypes about Russians. The villains are all wealthy, all cruel, all utterly without conscience. This is a problem. It turns a complex story about family and loyalty into a simple story about evil foreigners. The show is better than that, and it occasionally shows it, but the stereotype is never fully abandoned.
The show also struggles with its tone. Some episodes are tense and gripping. Others are overlong and talky. The shift between the two can be jarring. A scene that should be thrilling can become tedious, and a scene that should be quiet can become exhausting.
The Production and Its Legacy
The show was co-produced by BBC, AMC Networks, and Cuba Pictures. It is based on the non-fiction book McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld by journalist Misha Glenny, published in 2008. The book is a work of non-fiction. The show is a drama. The two are related, but the show is not a faithful adaptation of the book.
The show’s cancellation after one season is a shame. The story had room to breathe, and the characters were just starting to find their footing. Ending it when it did feels like a missed opportunity.
Comparing Alex’s Choices
| Character | Role | Relationship to Alex |
|---|---|---|
| Rebecca Harper | Alex’s girlfriend | The person he is protecting |
| Katya Godman | Alex’s sister | The family member who understands him |
| Ilya Fedorov | Alex’s cousin | The pure expression of the criminal lifestyle |
These three figures represent the three forces pulling at Alex. Rebecca represents the future he wants. Katya represents the family he cannot leave behind. Ilya represents the path he is already on. The show’s strength comes from letting all three of these forces exist at once, and letting Alex navigate between them without ever resolving the conflict.
The Final Season
The last few episodes of the season raise the stakes considerably. Alex’s business is threatened, his family is in danger, and the people he thought he could trust turn out to be unreliable. The show ends with Alex making a choice that will define everything that comes after.
It is a strong ending, but it leaves the door open. The show’s cancellation means that door will never be opened. That is a disappointment, but it is also a reality of the situation.
Our Verdict
McMafia is a solid crime drama with a weak script. James Norton is excellent, Juliet Rylance grounds the show, and the production values are high. But the story leans on stereotypes and the tone shifts uncomfortably. It is worth watching for Norton’s performance alone, but the overall package is less than the sum of its parts.
We score it 7.1 out of 10.
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