James Norton plays a Russian-British banker who has stayed away from his family’s links to organized crime. When his fund is threatened, he accepts a shady investor recommended by his uncle, which introduces him to the world of international crime as a money launderer.
It’s very well-made, and successfully juggles many stories at once. However, its weakness might ironically be that the main storyline, as well as Norton’s character, are less interesting than a lot of the other stories that are going on.
The series is written by Hossein Amini, who also wrote the script for Drive.
"It's still a compelling journey, and many ways the narrative arc is an inevitable one. But with so many fascinating peripheral characters and universes in its purview, it feels as if "McMafia" stakes its narrative on the most boring one."
— Sonia Saraiya
Alex Godman, the English-raised son of Russian mafia exiles, has spent his life trying to escape the shadow of their past, building his own legitimate business and forging a life with his girlfriend Rebecca. But when a murder forces his family's past to return to threaten them, Alex is drawn into the criminal underworld and must confront his values to protect those he loves.