BBC iPlayer’s Kin has been hailed as the ‘best series’ by viewers, with the Irish gangland drama achieving a flawless 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes
Kin aired between 2021 and 2023, but it continues to win new fans on Netflix and iPlayer(Image: RTÉ/BBC)
BBC iPlayer’s gritty crime drama Kin has been winning rave reviews from audiences. The gangland thriller, which follows a Dublin criminal family embroiled in an underworld feud, has left viewers clamouring for more despite running for just 16 episodes.
Originally aired between 2021 and 2023, the show continues to win over new fans on Netflix and BBC iPlayer. The Irish-made series has also impressed critics, securing a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first series.
The show’s synopsis states: “A boy is killed, and his family embarks on a gangland war with an international cartel. But the Kinsellas have something the cartel does not, the unbreakable bonds of blood and family.”
The impressive cast includes Charlie Cox, famous for playing Marvel superhero Daredevil, alongside Game of Thrones star Aidan Gillen and Ciarán Hinds, who play rival gang leaders.
The drama kicks off with Michael Kinsella, the black sheep of the family, walking free from prison. The Kinsellas rely on local drugs kingpin Eamon Cunningham (Hinds). But tensions are rising as they grow weary of being under his thumb, and before long, all-out gang warfare erupts.
One viewer confessed: “I binge-watched all of Kin series one on Netflix yesterday, didn’t finish it until 3am,” continuing, “Really enjoyed it. When will series two be released? I need to do more bingeing into the wee small hours.”
One glowing review on Rotten Tomatoes gushed: “Best series I have seen, could not stop watching it, brilliantly written, acting superb, a must watch for me.”
A viewer took to IMDb to counter the negative reviews, asserting: “Surprised by the negative reviews because this is an excellent series, with great performances, realistic action and a good plot. None of your Hollywood 10-minute fight scenes; the violence is short, sharp and decisive.”
They continued: “The first season held my attention throughout, and I looked forward to every episode, even though I could see the ending coming a mile off. You could look at it as the copying of a great ending to a great movie or just a nod to that movie.
“I wasn’t sure about season two, but warmed to it after the first couple of episodes. I’m not fond of endings that leave parts of the story hanging for next season, but in this case, I’ll forgive them because it was, otherwise, the perfect finale to the main plot line.”
Another fan praised: “The series is deeply character-driven, with standout acting, sharp dialogue, and nuanced interactions that will have you on the edge of your seat, hanging on every word when things get real.”
They wrapped up their review by saying: “The action sequences are seamlessly incorporated, as one critic noted. Even as someone who doesn’t enjoy drama, I found this a fantastic watch.”
Meanwhile, viewers have been making comparisons to Love/Hate, the acclaimed Irish crime drama which ran from 2010 to 2014. One fan suggested: “Watch love/hate instead, especially S2 + S3. Up there with the best shows I’ve ever watched”.