Bad Blood

Montreal's criminal alliances provide the setting for Bad Blood, with Anthony LaPaglia as Vito Rizzuto and Kim Coates as Declan Gardiner. Its opening run draws on the real Rizzuto story, but the series mixes historical material with fictional characters and increasingly fictional plotting.

LaPaglia is the main reason to start. His authority does not depend on shouting; an apparently reasonable business conversation can carry the threat of something much worse. Coates gives the operational side of the organisation a different energy, making Declan more than someone standing beside the boss.

The distinction between the two seasons matters to the recommendation. The first has the weight of the Rizzuto material behind it. The later run gives Coates more room but moves towards a more conventional crime melodrama. Enjoying his presence is a better reason to continue than expecting the same historical focus throughout.

For a longer and more demanding account of a criminal organisation, Gomorrah is the stronger starting point. Bad Blood offers a shorter, more straightforward mob drama with two appealing leads.