BBC crime drama Mint has climbed the iPlayer top ten, following its release on Monday. The eight-part series boasts an impressive cast, led by The Brutalist’s Emma Laird and Ben Coyle-Larner (also known as hip-hop artist Loyle Carner).
Laird plays Shannon, described as “naïve and fiercely romantic”, who is “desperately searching for love in the shadow” of her gangster father Dylan, mum Cat, brother Luke, and grandmother Ollie.
The synopsis continues: “We’ll experience the obsession of first love as Shannon falls hard for Arran, a member of a rival crime family who has newly arrived in town. Their love story presents an undeniable connection that changes both of their lives for good, but not everyone in their lives sees it the same way.”
BBC
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As the pair’s forbidden romance blossoms, Shannon’s family begins to implode as Dylan decides to step down as its head for “mysterious reasons”, with his second in command Sam stepping up before his “diverging tactics start to raise alarm”.
The synopsis adds: “In the wake of Dylan’s decision, instead of focusing on the crime world or the politics of succession, we’re swept into the distinct emotional worlds of Shannon’s family – her parents, Dylan and Cat, her older brother Luke and her indomitable grandma Ollie.”
The series’ cast also includes Maleficent‘s Sam Riley, Breaking Bad‘s Laura Fraser, Black Mirror‘s Lewis Gribben, and Sherwood‘s Lindsay Duncan. It was written and directed by Charlotte Regan.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Mint currently holds an 86% Fresh rating from critics.
BBC
Related: Is BBC’s new twisty crime drama Mint worth your time? All 8 episodes are streaming right now
In their review, The Guardian wrote: “If you’re suffering from gangster fatigue, this oblique spin on the genre might not be quite enough of a departure to win you over. Nevertheless, Regan’s TV debut remains an undeniably impressive feat with an incredible payoff.”
The Times added: “The performances are strong and Regan should be commended for trying something new, even if style sometimes triumphs over substance.”
While The Telegraph wrote that Mint “is interested in family fault-lines most of all, but it eschews the usual childhood trauma, sins-of-the-father narrative for something far less predictable.”
All eight episodes of Mint are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
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