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Category: KIN

KIN

Written By: Peter McKenna

Year of Release: 2021

I was so looking forward to watching Kin, a crime drama set in Dublin, focusing on a family of drug dealers, the set up was not too dissimilar to Love/Hate which I really enjoyed. But, as with a lot of these kinds of dramas, the fashion now appears to be to make them as cold and as distant as possible, there was a warmth and a sense of humour running through Love/Hate which is severely lacking here.

Essentially it is the story of a grieving mother seeking vengeance on those who killed one son whilst trying to protect the other.  Most of the action takes place in the home of Amanda and Jimmy Kinsella, as one tragic event leads to a war between the Kinsella family and drug lord Eammon Cunningham. The Kinsella family find themselves in over their heads, being Dublin drug dealers and going to war with the head of an international cartel.  One wrong move could lead to another member of the Kinsella family being killed, with the children being particularly targeted.

As you would expect given the subject matter Kin doesn’t hold back on the violence, as the feud between the Kinsella’s and Eammon Cunningham escalates so does the tension which leads to bursts of violence. Dublin really is insignificant here; you could be in any city anywhere really; the city being shot as drab and uninspiring. The Kinsella’s homes are also rather understated, and that adds to the depressing nature of the show.

Aidan plays Frank Kinsella, a man who appears to be in over his head, trying to keep the family together whilst his more violent elder brother is in prison.  As with many of Aidan’s characters cocaine plays a part in Frank’s downfall as he is unknowingly manipulated by several female members of the family. I do think Frank is a little more complicated and intriguing than some of the characters Aidan has played, and I hope we see more of him in season 2.

I think one of the problems with Kin is, there are only 8 episodes in the first season. But there are so many different characters that, aside from Amanda, whose son’s death is the catalyst for the events of the series, you don’t really get to know anyone. Obviously, we will learn more in season two and I guess the series was pitched as developing over several seasons. But the slow pace of the season and the lack of anyone to empathise with left me cold.

However, the series has been a roaring success, winning Best Drama at the 2022  Irish Film and Television Academy awards, with a number of the actors also winning awards. Aidan was nominated for Best Actor, but he lost out to Sam Keeley who played his son Eric. There will be a second season which will start filming in Dublin in the summer.

Now that we have met the Kinsella’s I am hoping in season two we will learn more about them and their backstories, but as for season one, it isn’t one of my favourites of Aidan’s projects.