A British crime drama hailed as 'outstanding' by audiences is generating significant buzz, particularly amongst fans of hard-hitting and authentic gangster productions. Drawing comparisons to iconic works such as The Godfather and The Sopranos, the Liverpool-set gangster drama has captivated viewers.
What Is 'This City Is Ours'?
Developed by Stephen Butchard for BBC One, This City Is Ours made its television debut in March 2025, with confirmation of a second series arriving in May 2025. Featuring Sean Bean, James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Onslow, Jack McMullen, Darci Shaw, Julie Graham, Laura Aikman, and Stephen Walters, the ensemble cast have received widespread praise for their exceptional work in the programme.
Nelson-Joyce earned a Best Actor BAFTA nomination this year for his performance, while the series itself received a deserved nod in the Best Drama category at the 2026 BAFTAs, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Season 2 Update
Shot across locations including Liverpool and Spain, Nelson-Joyce recently confirmed that production on the second series has wrapped, having begun in October 2025. During a recent appearance on the Wayne Rooney Show, the actor offered some thrilling news for the programme's followers: 'We finished filming last week. We've been doing season two for the last seven months.' When asked about the anticipated premiere date for the new series, Nelson-Joyce shared: 'We think the beginning of October.'
Reflecting on his experience with the programme and his colleagues, the 37-year-old said: 'You spend 14 hours a day with each other. It's like a team camaraderie feel. When we knew we were getting a second season, all these people who I love, I knew they were getting employment for another 6/7 months. That's what I get a lift from. It's nice to know they can pay the mortgage because you never know when the next job is.'
Plot and Reception
The series' official synopsis reads: 'Michael, a longtime member of organized crime, falls in love with Diana, prompting him to reevaluate his life and contemplate a future beyond his criminal activities. His newfound love becomes both a motivation and a potential liability.'
Boasting an impressive, near-perfect 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes, acclaim for This City Is Ours has been pouring in from numerous sources, despite the series remaining relatively overlooked within the crime drama landscape. One reviewer explained why they believed the gangster drama distinguished itself from its peers: 'In a world of boilerplate crime dramas populated by cookie-cutter criminals, this willingness to embrace moral ambivalence prevents This City is Ours from feeling like more of the same.'
Meanwhile, another critic shared: 'Of course this show isn't as good as The Sopranos, so let's dispense with that comparison. But it's cracking. I binged all eight episodes in two days, and I'm not a big fan of dramas about drugs and guns.'
Both Bean and Nelson-Joyce have drawn widespread critical acclaim, with one reviewer writing: 'Bean, as ever, is a charismatic presence right from the first moment when playing golf, badly. But then so is James Nelson-Joyce as Michael, Ronnie's second in command, who can speak volumes with one unnerving, piercing stare.'
Fan Reactions
Audiences have been equally bowled over by the gangster drama, with one viewer commenting: 'Outstanding crime drama with a great cliff hanger! Everything you want in a family run drug empire, can't wait for season 2.' Another review said: 'This City is Ours is raw, gritty, and everything a Liverpudlian crime drama should be. Nelson-Joyce's performance is second to none. He has you on the edge of your seat and gritting your teeth from start to finish!'
While one IMDB user review reads: 'Proper Gritty Gangster That Only The Brits Can Do. It's a series where every episode is brilliant, they even have mustard the art in how to end the series on a high and not make you feel disappointed in a weak ending, this is gritty, it's violent, it's aggressive, it's realistic, it's brilliant!'
Another fan of the series said: 'Totally Fantastic! This is the only series I've watched 1 episode of and couldn't stop watching it... I watched 5 episodes in one night, and the remaining 3 the next morning on iplayer.. I've never done that before! Every scene in it leaves you wanting more! The acting is brilliant and the characters totally believable. I was blown away by the gritty performances of EVERYONE in it! This is a show that could go on and on... I was gutted that there wasn't more episodes (there's 8) it's the best thing I've watched in years! I dare you to watch this and not be hooked! 10 out of 10.'
Another review of the show reads: 'A True Masterpiece. Absolutely fantastic !! A gripping drama from beginning to end. Exceeded all expectations with its wonderfully written script, so skillfully directed and the characters so realistically portrayed by such great actors. I haven't enjoyed anything this much since Peaky Blinders and so hope that there will be more to come, as I just want to continue the pleasure.'
This City Is Ours is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
