Kin (Season 2)

Available on BBC iPlayer

What Peter McKenna and Ciaran Donnelly’s Kin lacks in originality, it makes up for in entertainment. This sophomore season picks up shortly after its predecessor’s bloody finale, which saw the Kinsellas overcome the odds in their gangland war against Ciarán Hinds’ antagonist. Predictably, the sweet smell of success doesn’t permeate their corner of Dublin for long and new threats emerge, initially in the form of Öykü Karayel’s Turkish mob and then, more pressingly, the return of unhinged family patriarch Brendan (Francis Magee).

Once again, Charlie Cox and Clare Dunne excel as Michael and Amanda respectively, whose clandestine union continues to be key to staving off their family’s destruction. In particular, Dunne is impressive in a role which juxtaposes genre convention, albeit in a way that is far from groundbreaking. Aidan Gillen and Maria Doyle Kennedy’s roles are also elevated in this series due to the presence of Magee’s frightening villain, who proves to be the source of their previously unreferenced childhood trauma.

While anyone who has seen crime staples such as The Godfather trilogy will find it relatively easy to foresee Kin’s various twists and turns, the performance of a stellar cast ensures it always remains engaging, tension-inducing, and mostly rewarding viewing.