Hardcore Pawn

Shakedown! is a 60‑minute episode from the British crime anthology Edge of the City, first shown on terrestrial TV last night. Jamie Bell leads the pack as a slick hustler trying to rope Les (Lesley Manville), the weary landlord of a rundown pub, into a deal that sounds too good to be true. Opposite them are the Gold family – three gritty siblings headed by David Morrissey – who aren’t about to let a shady customer walk away with the spoils. Think of it as a love‑child of “The Sting” and a grittier “Peaky Blinders” opener, with a proper London‑back‑alley vibe. The episode rolls out with the hustler flashing a tempting offer to Les, promising cash that could save the pub from closure. As the Golds sniff out the con, they start pulling strings of their own, turning the tables in a series of tense stand‑offs that keep you guessing which side will end up on the floor. There’s a decent amount of banter, a few surprise allies, and a climax that feels like a chess match where everyone’s moving the same piece. No major spoilers, but the back‑and‑forth between the three parties builds a nice, knotty tension. Honestly, it’s not a masterpiece, but it’s surprisingly good for a one‑off. The pacing drags a touch in the middle, and the colour grading looks a bit dated, yet the script is sharp and the dialogue feels genuinely British – dry, quick‑witted and a little bit nasty. If you enjoy morally ambiguous characters and a bit of street‑level scheming, it’s worth a watch; if you’re after slick, high‑budget production values, you might find it a bit rough around the edges. Rated 15, with moderate violence, some strong language and a few scenes of intimidation that could be unsettling for younger viewers. Fair warning: the Golds’ retaliation is pretty mental, so brace yourself for a few tense moments. It’s the first terrestrial broadcast of the episode, so if you missed the streaming debut you’re getting the fresh cut tonight.