A gangster love story with a Romeo and Juliet twist
Mint is the BBC drama rapidly emerging as the must-watch new BBC thriller, thanks to a hook that sounds classic but plays distinctly modern. The British crime series centres on Shannon, the only daughter of feared crime boss Dylan Evans, who falls for Arran, a newcomer tied to a rival gang. What begins as a spark-filled love-at-first-sight encounter quickly becomes a dangerous liaison as tensions between the two crime families simmer and succession questions swirl. Creator, writer and director Charlotte Regan openly leans into a Romeo and Juliet crime framework, with “two households” locked in an “ancient grudge” on the streets of Glasgow. Yet instead of obsessing over the mechanics of Dylan’s criminal empire, Mint trains its lens on Shannon’s yearning for love and the emotional fallout when that desire collides with gangland loyalties.
Why Mint is already being called ‘the best TV in months’
Early reaction has positioned Mint as a new TV obsession, with critics praising it as “the best TV in months” and even “BAFTA-worthy”. Reviewers highlight how the show fuses gangster grit with an unexpectedly tender coming-of-age romance, creating a hypnotic tone that feels both dangerous and oddly hopeful. Across its short run, Mint deploys striking cinematography, an atmospheric score and flashes of magical realism to keep the story from sinking into bleakness. Regan has said she never wanted the series to be relentlessly grim, instead aiming for something fun, energetic and full of joy even when events turn dramatic. That tonal tightrope, plus sharp writing that prioritises character over body count, is helping Mint stand apart from more conventional crime fare and fuel word-of-mouth buzz on streaming and broadcast alike.
The women at the centre: cast and creative team
One of the biggest reasons Mint feels fresh is its female-led focus. Charlotte Regan, known for Scrapper, set out to make a gangster show where the women aren’t sidelined but are the backbone of the story. Emma Laird plays Shannon as a blend of naivety and brazen determination, a young woman adored by her family yet shielded from their darker dealings. Laura Fraser’s Cat and Lindsay Duncan’s sweary, steel-spined grandmother Ollie anchor the Evans clan, their evolving, foul-mouthed friendship becoming one of the show’s standout arcs. Sam Riley’s Dylan brings stern gravity as a patriarch contemplating abdication, while Ben Coyle-Larner’s Arran offers a softer, introspective counterpoint from the rival family. Together, the ensemble and Regan’s stylistic choices reshape the gangster love story into an intimate study of mothers, daughters and lovers negotiating power and loyalty.
Reinventing Romeo and Juliet for a modern crime world
While Mint clearly echoes Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, it smartly retools the Romeo and Juliet crime template for a contemporary audience. The feud between Dylan Evans and Liangelo Denson’s gangs provides the familiar backdrop of rival houses, but the show refuses to be solely about turf wars. Instead, it explores how women navigate and sometimes quietly steer male-dominated criminal structures, asking what it means to inherit violence you never chose. Compared with recent British crime hits like This City is Ours and Reunion, Mint is less interested in procedural plotting and more in how love, friendship and family obligation collide. Its hints of magical realism and playful visual language also differentiate it from the “mad gritty” tone typical of the genre, offering something more offbeat and emotionally layered than a standard gangster saga.
How to watch Mint – and who will love it most
Mint has been positioned as one of this year’s most talked-about TV events, with the first two episodes airing back-to-back on BBC One from 9pm, and the full series available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Spanning eight episodes, it’s designed to be devoured quickly, with propulsive storytelling and a romance that escalates as gang tensions rise. Fans of character-driven British crime series, particularly viewers who embraced the emotional heft of This City is Ours or relationship-focused thrillers like Reunion, are likely to be hooked. If you love a gangster love story that mixes sharp humour, family drama and a fresh, Romeo and Juliet crime spin, Mint belongs at the top of your watchlist. It’s equally suited to crime aficionados seeking a new BBC thriller and viewers drawn to messy, heartfelt, high-stakes romance.
