McMafia Is About To Premiere In The USA, But It’s Losing Viewers In The UK

So, have you been watching McMafia then? Nearly 5.6 million people in the UK tuned in to see the first episode on New Year's Day and this Sunday the show reached the half-way point of it's eight-episode run.

In that time, it's been picked up by American network AMC for a February release date, and James Norton (who stars as financier/Russian mafia trainee Alex Godman) thinks that the show will be a big hit in the US, following in the footsteps of 2016's The Night Manager.

The show definitely won't be doing Norton any harm, as the Happy Valley andGrantchester star attempts to strengthen his claim to be the next James Bond in the slick, international drama.

However, not everyone is so sold on the idea of the show, and people are apparently starting to vote with their feet.

BBC

After the first installment there was a drop-off of around 750,000 viewers, and now after four episodes the viewing figures are apparently 2m less than at the beginning.

These things can be misleading, but make no mistake, these are worrying numbers for the show.

Luckily we live in the era of 24-hour-a-day connectivity, where any person capable of operating a computer can log on and give their two cents on every miniscule detail they think was slightly off about the show - and luckily for the show's creators, they have.

BBC

Quite a few have noticed that it can be a bit slow moving at times. One viewer tweeted: "Was James Norton only contracted to say 100 words an episode or something?"

Another added: "Missed McMafia last night. Hope it was scenes of him having dinner with his wife/taking tiny sips of wine between scenes of him looking anxiously at a monitor then clicking 'Authorise Funds'."

Some have said that it is a bit complex, perhaps not what they're looking for in a Sunday night watch. One said: "I wish they'd make McMafia a bit more complicated or I'll have to go back to my Advanced Nuclear Physics text book for some light relief."

Not everyone thinks it is bad though, although seemingly everyone is confused by at least one aspect of the show: "McMafia is very good and all that but the title sounds like it's about Scottish gangsters. Or gangster burgers."

Topics: TV and Film, BBC

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a freelance journalist and LADbible contributor. He graduated from University of London with a BA in Philosophy before studying for a Masters in Journalism at the University of Salford. He has previously written for the M.E.N Group as well as working for several top professional sports clubs. Contact him on [email protected]

@TPWagwim