A British crime drama, This City Is Ours, is drawing comparisons to The Sopranos and The Godfather, with audiences hailing it as superior to Peaky Blinders. The series, set in Liverpool, has earned a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received two BAFTA nominations in 2026, including Best Drama and Best Actor for James Nelson-Joyce.
Created by Stephen Butchard for BBC One, the show premiered in March 2025 and was quickly renewed for a second series. Filming for season two concluded in October 2025, with an expected release date of early October 2026. The cast includes Sean Bean, James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Onslow, and Julie Graham, among others.
The plot follows Michael, a longtime member of organised crime, who falls in love with Diana and begins to reconsider his life of crime. The official synopsis describes his love as both a motivation and a potential liability. The series was shot across Liverpool and Spain.
Critics have praised the show's moral complexity. One reviewer noted: '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.' Another added: 'It's cracking. I binged all eight episodes in two days.'
Audience reviews have been equally enthusiastic. One viewer wrote: 'Outstanding crime drama with a great cliffhanger! Everything you want in a family-run drug empire, can't wait for season 2.' Another said: 'This City is Ours is raw, gritty, and everything a Liverpudlian crime drama should be.'
