The first episode of new BBC crime drama, This City Is Ours, aired on Sunday night and viewers have been quick to share their thoughts about the new series
This City is Ours trailer
The BBC has dropped the first instalment of their new crime thriller, This City is Ours, on Sunday evening.
Taking place in the heart of Liverpool and captured on the city’s very streets, the gritty eight-part saga features Sean Bean as the formidable gang boss Ronnie Phelan, with James Nelson-Joyce as his mate Michael Kavanagh, Hannah Onslow playing Michael’s other half Diana Williams, Jack McMullen portraying Ronnie’s lad Jamie Phelan, and Julie Graham as the mobster’s missus Elaine.
This City is Ours tells the story of Michael, who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime while working for gang leader Ronnie.
However, when Ronnie begins to hint at retirement, Michael too begins to imagine another life with his partner Diana as they plan to start a family. Now Michael has something to lose – how far will he go to keep it?
In a synopsis it teases: “This is a story about family, and love destroyed and corrupted by ambition, pride and greed. It’s a story about power: what we will do to secure and keep it”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Sunday night saw the first episode air on BBC One with the whole series up for grabs on BBC iPlayer. Twitter, now X, was buzzing after the first episode with viewers quick to give their opinions.
One person said: “Just watched them all on iplayer and i have to say its fantastic #thiscityisours”, a different account put: “Just watched first episode. Very very good start”, adding: “Very realistic look at a crime family drama. Good acting. Good pacing. Hooked already. #ThisCityIsOurs.”
Elsewhere, another fan wrote: “Omg loving it 4 episodes in held my breath for half of it though,great work everyone involved #seanbean #jamesnelsonjoyce #bbc #thiscityisours”, a different viewer put: “#thiscityisours watched the whole series on @BBCiPlayer this is amazing tv fantastic acting from everyone and shows Liverpool off #liverpoolfilm”, another wrote: “Very good start to this #thiscityisours” while a different fan joked: “#thiscityisours off to a promising start, just by keeping #SeanBean alive past the first episode!”
However, some viewers, while loving the first episode, found that the music was too loud during some scenes. One person said: “The background sound/track is drowning out the speech. #thiscityisours”, a different account wrote: “I’m having to zoom the volume up and down all the time, is it my TV, my hearing, or just poor sound editing and muffled dialogue? #thiscityisours” while another added: “#thiscityisours Fed up already with turning the sound on the tv up and down.”
Talking about the show, actor Sean Bean, who plays Ronnie Phelan, summed up the new series in three words “Unique. Exciting. New”, adding: “Unique – because it stands out in a strong field.
“Exciting – because you will be on the edge of your seat. New – because the storytelling is so fresh.
“At the end of the day, it’s a love story – but not your normal romance, it’s a brand new love story for now. People watching are going to love it, too.”
This City is Ours continues next Sunday at 9pm on BBC One with all episodes available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.