McMafia (2018)

McMafia (2018): A Modern Drama of Crime, Family and Global Finance

McMafia is a 2018 British crime drama television series that explores the intersection of organized crime and the global financial system. Inspired by Misha Glenny’s 2008 non-fiction book, the show follows Alex Godman, a British-raised son of Russian émigré parents, who has worked hard to build a legitimate life and career in finance. When a family tragedy and pressure from criminal forces pull him back into the orbit of his family’s past, Alex must navigate moral compromises, violent criminal networks, and the seductive power of illicit money. The series treats international corruption and money laundering as systemic phenomena rather than isolated crimes, using sleek production and international locations to convey the scale and sophistication of modern organized crime.

Narrative and Themes

At its core, McMafia examines identity, loyalty, and the compromises required to survive in a world where personal ambition collides with inherited ties. The show contrasts the orderly, regulated world of legitimate finance with the chaotic, brutal logic of criminal networks. Alexander’s journey highlights how legal and illegal economies interlock: shell companies, opaque banking, and global transaction networks allow crime to flourish alongside legitimate commerce. Themes of family duty, the seduction of power, and the costs of moral compromise run throughout the eight-episode series.

Characters and Performances

James Norton leads the cast as Alex Godman, delivering a restrained performance that conveys a man pulled in conflicting directions. The supporting cast includes notable performances from Maria Shalaeva, David Strathairn, and Aleksey Serebryakov, among others, each portraying actors in different criminal or institutional roles across Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Britain. The ensemble cast helps create a credible, globe-spanning web of interests and alliances that feel both personal and geopolitical.

Bastian Schwind-Wagner_Follow "McMafia is a polished, globe-spanning crime drama that examines how family, identity, and modern finance intertwine with organized crime. James Norton’s subdued central performance anchors a series that is as much about systemic corruption as it is about personal compromise."

Production and Style

Produced with high production values, McMafia features cinematography that emphasizes location and atmosphere: London’s financial districts, Moscow flats, Istanbul streets, and other international settings are used to underline the story’s transnational scope. The pacing is measured, often favoring tense conversations, procedural detail, and the slow build of conspiratorial intrigue over fast-cut action. The series blends elements of traditional crime drama with thriller beats and political commentary, and its polished aesthetic aims to reflect the professional gloss that often masks criminal activity.

Reception and Impact

Critics praised McMafia for its ambition, production design, and James Norton’s lead performance, while some reviews noted a deliberate pace and moments where complexity overshadowed character depth. The series sparked conversations about modern money laundering, the role of global finance in enabling crime, and how immigration and diaspora identities intersect with transnational criminal opportunities. As a television adaptation inspired by investigative non-fiction, McMafia brought wider public attention to the mechanisms of global corruption and the human stories entangled within.

Conclusion

McMafia is a thought-provoking drama that uses a personal story to illuminate larger systems of criminal finance and power. It stands out for its international scope, moral ambiguity, and the way it frames organized crime as an embedded part of global economic structures rather than an external aberration.