Why Harry Is Quietly Planning His Way Out of the Harrigan Family in MobLand

Harry has been the number one pillar holding the Harrigan family together, and yet this family still treats him as if he is no part of it. He is slowly planning his way out, and why not? Maeve is telling him to pick sides between Conrad and Kevin, he is losing his own family, and now he has a bigger problem coming with Kat.

I now understand the saying blood is thicker than water. However many sacrifices you make for a family you do not belong to, they will later be seen as effort rather than loyalty. That is what is happening to Harry at the moment, and it is the major reason I am writing this. As I will get to later in this piece, I also have a specific theory about how his exit could play out.

Harry cleans up the Harrigans' messes, and gets no gratitude

Remember when Harry was carrying out a job for Bella on the man she was dealing with? That man betrayed her by keeping a copy of what Bella filmed of her father and making copies of it, which put Bella right at his mercy. If not for Harry displaying his qualities, things would have fallen apart. And still Bella treated Harry like a mere worker, with no gratitude at all.

Even before that mess, when Harry warned her not to go ahead with that man, she told him, "You can't tell me what to do." Harry was only giving Bella direction so that no further problems would be caused, since he is the one who always cleans up the messes this family makes. Conrad and Maeve in particular do most things carelessly, and once the mess is created, they call Harry to fix it.

I understand that as a worker your main role is to fix things and do as you are told. But after this many years of consistent loyalty and sacrifice, they should have designed him a very nice medal to recognise his efforts. Instead, nothing. If I were in the show, I would have him write a contract to end things between him and the Harrigans. That would be a relief rather than a burden.

But mind you, leaving does not guarantee his freedom. Kat has a problem with him, and the Harrigan family would take his leaving as disloyalty rather than a genuine termination.

Harry was shut out of the dog track meeting

Compare the structure of Harry's job now with the past and there is a big difference. When Maeve and Conrad went to the dog track meeting, they did not include Harry. When he confronted Maeve, she told him his closeness to Kevin was what caused that decision. Since when was Harry excluded from a meeting? Somebody tell me, because I am lost here.

After Conrad, Harry is like the final say in the room. His conclusions and contributions are so important that the other members would speak no further. His quick decision making would really have helped push the Harrigan family further if he were the head instead of the tail. But his place in the organisation is seen as just a worker on a payroll, so even when he makes the most sensible contribution of all, his place stays the same.

The Harrigan family is split into three, not two

Most people think the family has divided into two parts, but it is actually three. Conrad and Maeve are on one side, Kevin is on another, and Eddie is on his own. Eddie is something of a free bird, because he is using his very own contacts to keep his business going. Yes, Maeve is secretly meeting him on the side, demanding £50,000 and wanting Gina out of it, but Eddie is not standing with Conrad or with Kevin.

The tension exists between Kevin and Conrad, because both want to lead the family. For Harry, that makes it very difficult to work smoothly, because choosing one side will feel like a betrayal to the other. And that is bad for business.

Eddie's "eye for a toe" insult was unnecessary

During the funeral arrangements, Harry told the family that their rival does not want a war, because if he did, he could have started by killing Harry himself. Out of nowhere, Eddie said that killing Harry would not even count as an eye for an eye, since he is not a Harrigan: "That's an eye for a toe." So to Eddie, Harry's life is worth a toe, and he said it right after Harry spoke.

Sometimes I pause and ask myself how Harry does it. The way he stayed composed and calm while Eddie showed that disrespect is epic. If it were me, Eddie's head would have been used as a World Cup ball. Why on earth would you say that to Harry after all the effort and hard work he has put in to give you a life in this business?

I am not sure the Harrigan family would have got this far without Harry's sacrifices. Some jobs need him to swallow his pride and pretend nothing is happening. I am not sure Eddie, with his arrogant and entitled nature, could do that.

Harry cannot simply walk away, and Kat's offer shows why

So why should Harry stay after all this? From where I sit, it is not that easy for him to leave. He might have the right reasons, but given what leaving could cause, especially with a mafia family, he cannot just walk out grateful for his time with the Harrigans. It does not work like that. Someone whose presence matters that much would not be given his freedom so easily, since no one is actually available to replace the kind of work he does.

Before Harry could decide whether to accept Kat's offer, she brought his family into the deal. That made the whole offer predictable to Harry: accepting could harm his loved ones, and that is not a price he is willing to pay. When Kat says it is about his family, Harry asks, "My family? Which family?" Is it the Harrigans, or Jan and Gina? Harry treats the Harrigans as his very own family, while for them it is the other way around.

An offer that comes with threats to your loved ones is like throwing your family under the bus, only to discover afterwards that you made a big mistake. Kat is a simple but detailed woman who handles her business with professionalism, and when she makes your family part of a deal, you should run. I know nothing will happen if he does not betray her. But including this already looks like possessive control. Even after the job is done and Harry wants out, Kat might still use his family to stop him leaving, or that could happen while he is still in her service.

For Harry, loyalty matters more than money

As I have always said, Harry has the ability to read situations and interpret them quickly. He is very intelligent when it comes to business. He turned that job down not only because of his family, but also because of his loyalty to the Harrigans. That loyalty is something he cannot give away, whatever amount of money is offered.

And yet the family he is fighting for does not recognise his hard work. That is how life can be: sometimes the people you would do everything for will not return the same energy. That should not stop you giving your best, and despite all the bad treatment, Harry is still working for them. But that does not mean you should stay in a toxic environment for long. Know your limit, and when it is time to leave, leave without looking back.

Jan's divorce came faster than I ever expected

In season 2, Jan tells Harry she is filing for divorce, and I never expected that. It was so quick I nearly thought it was a prank. I know the family has had problems, and I will not deny it, but I never thought it would come to divorce. In their conversation, she tells Harry she knows he loves her and loves Gina, but it is not enough.

Look at how Harry took that punch: composed and calm. If my wife asked me for a divorce, I would be asking how she could leave after everything I had done and all the love I had given. Harry acted as if nothing was happening. Maybe I understand why he did not try to win her back: he knows most of their problems come from his work. He could explain why the problems keep coming, but that would not stop them.

One thing I also thought about is that Jan could have asked for space, because she truly loves Harry. Space would give them time to understand, forgive and find better ways forward. Instead she opted for divorce. I covered Gina's hand in this previously, so I will leave that there. Whoever pushed it, the words came from Jan, and Harry is the one left holding them.

If Harry truly wants his freedom, he has to stop playing hero for the Harrigans, because that does not mean they will see him that way. He should leave it all behind and start dealing with the traumas it left. It will not be easy to face those demons, but it is necessary. And quitting does not guarantee enough change for Jan to take him back. He can stop the job, but can he deal with what he went through with the Harrigans?

Playing peacemaker between Conrad and Kevin is a dangerous game

In his current role, Harry is just a worker solving problems for two opposite sides, like a lawyer trying to stop a war between two gangs. When Conrad disagrees with Kevin, Harry comes in and resolves it. When a big issue could destroy both, Harry helps manage it. That might be the role he is playing now. But is it worth it? Playing both sides does not sound safe to me. With two rival groups, it is a death trap.

Remember the lawyer who worked for the Harrigans? Harry later found out she was playing both sides with Richie, and when he confronted her, she did not deny it. You saw what happened to her. In criminal organisations, never play both sides of a rivalry; you will get killed before you realise it. I understand why she did it, though: fear took hold and she backed the side she thought would win.

Harry, however, would not be playing both sides out of fear or greed. His main motive is to prevent a war between Conrad and Kevin, because that war could destroy everything the family has built, along with his sacrifices and efforts to keep the family business going. If Harry leaves, there is no one left to manage the family's conflict, and that could trigger the war.

Why Harry would rather work for Kevin than Conrad

Honestly, Harry really wants Kevin to take over from Conrad, because that would reduce his stress and let him focus on one problem. Working for Conrad means he goes out, causes a scene without thinking, then calls Harry to fix it. Harry can fix the problem, but not Conrad's mind. Conrad does not care how tired or depressed you are; as long as you are on his payroll, you do what he says. Kevin is more considerate about things like this.

One thing I see Harry starting to accept is that Kevin is getting closer to taking control from Conrad, even as he keeps waking up with more difficult reasons not to accept it. Harry might still stay in the family business even while his own family faces problems, or he could leave. The choice is his alone.

Without Harry, the Harrigans are a building without a foundation

If he leaves, I am not sure anyone can replace him. His calm nature and ability to stay reserved while others panic is hard to match. You could be that, but better than Harry? I do not think so. That is why he remains the most important character in the family. Without him, it is a building without a foundation that will collapse years later. He is the pillar holding it to the ground, like Jesus carrying the cross. Imagine him saying, "You know, I am done for you all. Carry your own cross." No one would come forward.

Some people have special abilities not through luck but because of the pain they went through to get them, and that is what built Harry. Pain turned him into a machine no one can compete with. Look at how he handled the witness to Conrad's killing at the dog track: perfect and simple. I still believe he is the best man for the job.

My theory: Harry learns to accept the limits of his control

What I cannot say yet is that Harry has chosen freedom. I cannot confirm that. What would make my theory false is Harry getting job offers from both sides of the family and ignoring them, because that would mean he has already chosen freedom outside the job, which is not what I am talking about. My theory will be true if Harry starts to see limits on the control he has over the Harrigans, and surrenders control to choose peace.

I do not expect a big speech about betrayal on his way out. I expect him to accept something hard: placing a limit on his control of the family business. He knows his limits but keeps going. Accepting them gives him more control over himself and lets him prepare for what comes, and a man who prepares ahead of time always wins. He could still help Kevin face consequences from Kat and still have problems at home. What changes is how he thinks: every call becomes a strategic decision, and refusing one makes him responsible for what follows.

I think Harry could break free of Conrad by letting Conrad deal with his own issues. For the first time, Conrad would realise how important Harry is. He will call Harry a failure for leaving him to clean up his own mess, but at least we can call that a victory for Harry.

Do you think Harry will finally set limits on the Harrigans, or will he keep playing the pillar that holds them together?