Why Kevin Changed His Mind & Killed Rusby in MobLand Season 1, Episode 9

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Warning: Major spoilers for episode 9 of MobLand ahead

One intriguing subplot in the Paramount+ series MobLand involves Kevin Harrigan’s reunion with his former jailer and tormentor, Alan Rusby. The long-awaited confrontation between them unfolded at the end of episode 9. Throughout the show, viewers have been given glimpses into Kevin’s past, particularly his time in prison, which was a crucial period not only for Kevin personally but also for the Harrigan crime organization. During his incarceration, Kevin crossed paths with Harry Da Souza, which indirectly led to Harry’s association with the Harrigans due to Kevin’s prison term.

Initially, Harry encountered Rusby in the care home of his cleaner’s mother, a man he recognized from his past as an abusive prison officer. However, Kevin initially refused to acknowledge him. This denial was a disguise to conceal the fact that he had suppressed his true encounters with Rusby for decades, which encompassed not only beatings and verbal abuse, but also instances of rape. Meanwhile, Harry, Conrad, and Seraphina were meeting Jaime Lopez, and Kevin’s long-term plan to find Rusby for a personal confrontation finally came to fruition during this encounter. The tension between them had been growing for years before this confrontation occurred.

Why Kevin Originally Spared Rusby

Kevin Appeared To Have Gotten The Catharsis He Needed

As a devoted cinephile, I recount my undercover mission to confront Rusby about the past wrongs he inflicted on me. Disguised as a ride-share driver, I tricked my way into his home, eager to finally address the decades-old abuse I endured. The amiable senior had no recognition of me, attributing his forgotten past as a prison guard to spiritual enlightenment. He audaciously asserted that perhaps the traumatic event was just a figment of my imagination, maintaining he only disciplined with a firm hand and could not recall any instance of sexual assault.

In a different phrasing: Kevin took out his gun and added a silencer, showing that his initial intention was to murder Rusby following their encounter. However, instead of shooting, he broke down in tears and asked Rusby to just leave him be. This incident suggests that Kevin isn’t the cold-blooded, unstable murderer like his father. Instead, Kevin understood that killing Rusby wouldn’t heal the emotional turmoil he was still grappling with due to his past experiences. The confrontation with Rusby seemed to provide him a release of some kind, enabling him to at least recognize and address his pain, and potentially move forward.

Kevin Only Killed Rusby After He Mentioned His Child

Kevin’s Demeanor Changed On A Dime

Instead of leaving when given the chance by Kevin, Rusby instead returned to the kitchen and carried on their conversation, potentially intending to aid Kevin as he recovered emotionally. However, as soon as the topic of children came up, a dramatic shift occurred in Kevin’s demeanor. Upon being asked to repeat himself, Kevin abruptly stopped crying and his facial expression turned stark, seemingly detaching from his body while raising the gun and firing at Rusby. The mere mention of Kevin’s child triggered this transformation, causing him to swiftly transition from a state of forgiveness (or at least non-confrontation) to a calculated act of cold-blooded murder.

Does Kevin Killing Rusby Further Support Eddie Being Conrad’s Son?

Kevin’s Now Had Two Sudden And Extreme Reactions

In the world of MobLand, I found myself taken aback yet again by Kevin Harrigan’s emotional response. During episode 8, even the mere suggestion that the Harrigan crime empire could pass to him or his brother sparked a sudden outburst. This time, it was his mother who triggered this reaction, and her words seemed to ignite a fierce emotion within him, causing him to let loose with an intense curse. Although he was quickly interrupted, the raw intensity of his response left no doubt about his feelings on the matter.

Rusby’s reference to Kevin’s child stirring up a heated reaction adds weight to the suspicion that Eddie Harrigan, whom many believe to be Kevin’s son, might actually be Conrad’s illegitimate child with Bella. It’s worth noting that Conrad had a relationship with Bella before she married Kevin, and Bella’s secret pursuit of Harry further supports the idea that Kevin may have wed her to conceal Eddie’s true paternity. The Harrigan family, central figures in “MobLand”, appears to be more intricate than it initially appears.

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2025-05-28 04:38