James Norton’s BBC iPlayer series has been hailed as a ‘thrilling watch’ that rivals The Night Manager, with fans demanding more episodes
It focuses heavily on the work of the Russian mafia(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
While less widely recognised than other crime dramas, this brief series is equally “thrilling” and has left viewers clamouring for additional episodes.
Spanning eight episodes, this critically acclaimed television programme explores the perils of organised crime, immersing audiences in the realm of the Russian mafia.
McMafia features James Norton as Alex Godman, son of a Russian mafia boss residing in London, whose father is attempting to break free from the organisation. When his family’s sinister history comes to light, he finds himself compelled to confront a shadowy world of criminal syndicates, money laundering, and compromised political figures.
Critic James Croot praised the programme, saying: “A thrilling watch that’s filled with provocative gestures, portentous moments and the same gripping tension that made fellow recent British series like Bodyguard and The Night Manager so binge-worthy.”
The series was cancelled after one season(Image: BBC/Cuba/Nick Wall)
Originally broadcast in January 2018, fans anxiously awaited a continuation of the compelling narrative, but were ultimately disappointed when no further episodes materialised beyond the initial eight-part run.
One admirer of the series expressed their enthusiasm on Rotten Tomatoes, saying: “McMafia was the best and smartest TV show about money laundering I’ve ever seen on TV. The writing was well researched; the writers knew their subject matter.
“The scripts were very good, and James Norton’s performance was awesome. I hope Norton is strongly considered for the role of James Bond before he gets too old.”
Norton leads the cast, supported by McMafia stars Juliet Rylance as Alex’s fiancée, with Aleksey Serebryakov portraying his father. David Strathairn, Merab Ninidze and Faye Marsay round out the ensemble, though it’s Norton’s turn that has viewers lavishing praise.
James Norton plays the lead role(Image: BBC/Cuba/Nick Wall)
Audiences have highlighted how the performers “disappear” into their roles, creating something “fascinating to watch”. Norton brings considerable experience to crime dramas, having previously embodied characters such as Tommy Lee Royce in the acclaimed Happy Valley and Sidney Chambers in the detective series Grantchester.
One McMafia fan said: “Well-put together show with a strong plot that constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat. Props for casting real Russian actors with authentic accents! Disappointing that there are only 8 episodes in the very first season, I want more!”.
Yet those additional episodes never materialised. Despite favourable reception upon release, the series wasn’t commissioned for a second run, and any plans in development were abandoned by the BBC.
Following years of uncertainty, Misha Glenny, whose book formed the basis for the programme’s narrative, confirmed in 2025 “with great sadness” that McMafia had been axed and came “close to filming” the second series on two occasions. The precise reasoning behind its cancellation remains unclear.
All eight episodes of McMafia are available to stream now for free on BBC iPlayer.