Shannon is 22 years old. Her father is a fearsome gangster. Her mother seems like a strange mix between a perfect Stepford wife and a mafia wife. Her brother is a computer nerd, while her grandmother – strong and unfiltered.
Shannon herself doesn't have a job, hobbies, or much of a social life. She wanders around her parents' house on the outskirts of an anonymous Scottish town, waiting to fall in love. And "Mint" begins on the very day that it does—love at first sight, in an abandoned train station.
The sparks are immediate – both figuratively and literally. Director and screenwriter Charlotte Regan, known for the film “Scrapper”, brings here a television project that bears the stamp of the auteur. With a mix of VHS-style footage, surreal dreams, unusual framing and bold visual effects, “Mint” becomes one of the most visually beautiful series in recent years – an experience reminiscent of the iconic atmosphere of “Twin Peaks”.
However, beyond this aesthetic beauty, the world of “Mint” is dark and violent. Not many details are given about the criminal world that Shannon’s father, Dylan, runs, but he comes across as a brutal and ruthless figure. Shannon is so focused on her new love, Arran, that she initially ignores this reality – until her mother discovers that he belongs to a rival clan.
At first, the story resembles a modern version of “Romeo and Juliet” in a criminal setting. But the series doesn’t quite follow that path. Without revealing too much, the relationship between Shannon and Arran quickly comes face to face with reality, and the narrative turns into a deeper analysis of trauma, power, loyalty, and betrayal.
The characters are complex and damaged in different ways: Shannon by the false reality she grew up in; her mother by an imposed marriage she romanticized; and Dylan by expectations and distorted ideas about masculinity. The series tries to penetrate beyond the glamour of the criminal world, and often succeeds in doing so.
The performances are strong: Emma Laird brings a fragile and headstrong Shannon, while Laura Fraser stands out as a woman lost in a life she doesn’t control. Unlike many crime dramas, “Mint” eschews classic clichés – there are no heroic detectives, spectacular heists or usual scenarios – opting for a more introspective approach.
However, this choice makes the series a little less emotionally accessible to the general public. The characters are hard to identify with, and sometimes one wonders if we really need more stories that humanize the underworld.
Despite this, “Mint” remains an impressive television debut – visually stunning, narratively bold, and with a memorable ending. If you’re looking for a different and aesthetically powerful experience, this series is definitely worth it. /GazetaExpress/
t7 live
