Kin, the Irish crime drama hailed by fans as 'up there with Peaky Blinders', is streaming free on BBC iPlayer. The series, which premiered in 2021, became one of Ireland's most-watched programmes and has returned after initial uncertainty over its future.
What is Kin about?
Co-created by Peter McKenna and Ciaran Donnelly, Kin is set and shot in Dublin. It follows a fictional family caught in a brutal gangland conflict. The cast includes Aidan Gillen and Ciarán Hinds as rival gang leaders Frank Kinsella and Eamon Cunningham, alongside Charlie Cox as Michael Kinsella, Clare Dunne as Amanda Kinsella, and Emmett J. Scanlan as Jimmy Kinsella.
Critical and fan reception
Kin holds a perfect 100% overall rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One fan wrote: 'Tense, riveting drama. Strong performances. Highly recommend.' Another said: 'Best series I have seen, could not stop watching it, brilliantly written, acting superb, a must-watch for me.' A third reviewer added: 'A brilliant gangster crime drama with a lot of suspense thrown in for good measure.' Comparisons to Peaky Blinders are common, with one viewer stating: 'Absolutely brilliant, one of the best I've seen up there with Peekys.'
Future of the series
After season 2 aired in 2023, fans feared Kin had ended. Reports now indicate filming with the complete cast is scheduled to commence in July 2026 in Dublin. However, no official announcement about a third series has been made. An RTE spokesperson told the Irish Mirror: 'Kin has been an extremely popular series for RTE and if and when there's something to announce, we will be delighted to do so.'
Where to watch
All 16 episodes of Kin are available to stream on BBC iPlayer and Netflix. The show also boosted careers: Sam Keeley later appeared in HBO's Task, and Scanlan landed a role in Netflix's Fool Me Once.
