Sean Bean Dies Again? This City Is Ours Drops Predictable Twist

Warning: This article contains spoilers for This City Is Ours episode 2.

This City Belongs to Us is an excellent new drama from the BBC that I hope will be back for a second season. In fact, I eagerly anticipate its return.

Screenwriter Stephen Butchard crafts an exhilarating narrative filled with captivating characters, dotted with several unexpected twists, some joyful and others unsettling.

Unfortunately, one of the initial surprises, if you could even label it as such, appears to be quite foreseeable, potentially causing audiences to roll their eyes or, even more problematic, leading them to tune out altogether.

Yes, folks, Sean Bean’s character dies – and it’s frustrating for several reasons.

Above all else, it’s important to acknowledge the numerous fans of Bean who have been eagerly awaiting to witness him fully immerse himself in a role again, much like he did during his time as Sharpe which concluded in 2008.

Absolutely, an actor gains a unique creative liberty through his frequent character deaths, enabling him to explore numerous roles and realms, thereby solidifying his status as one of the UK’s most renowned screen personalities.

Nevertheless, in today’s Golden Age of Television, many performers have had long, six to nine-year stints portraying one character, all while innovating, stunning audiences, and garnering multiple awards during this time.

It’s uncertain if Bean’s frequent departures from projects are deliberate career moves or instances of unfortunate stereotyping. Personally, I’d rather not witness another dramatic finale of his character, as it seems repetitive now.

Frequently quoted figures suggest that Bean has only been involved in about two dozen on-screen deaths. However, if we include his recent roles in the less popular manga adaptation Knights of the Zodiac and This City Is Ours, the total rises dramatically to an impressive 26.

Various fatalities have occurred, such as throats being cut, multiple stabbings, two hangings, a decapitation, and at least nine gunshots. Additionally, he depicted scenes of falling from a cliff, drowning, freezing, and being buried alive. It seems there’s little left to portray.

This discussion isn’t fresh by any means! Over a decade back, the American network TNT aired an advertising campaign for the brief crime drama “Legends” from Beans, where they promised that the main character wouldn’t meet his end in the show.

In the context of This City Is Ours, when Michael, who is under the guidance of gang leader Ronnie Phelan (Bean), stabs him in episode 2, it doesn’t evoke shock, but rather a weary response instead.

After Ronnie manages to make it through the entire first episode of the series without a scratch, I found myself foolishly thinking that he could potentially survive up until the season 1 finale, much like Ned Stark. However, the denouement turned out to be rather underwhelming.

This significant death scene was expected to pack a powerful punch, yet it failed to deliver due to the actor’s off-screen persona overshadowing the performance. However, both Bean and Nelson-Joyce delivered strong performances in their roles.

I can’t help but ponder over the reason why the series creator, Stephen Butchard, decided to cast Bean for such a crucial part. It seems likely that he foresaw the role would subtly hint at the direction the story might take, sparking curiosity among viewers.

A diverse array of mature male actors, outside of Liverpool where the story predominantly takes place, could convincingly portray the character Ronnie Phelan, excluding those who might carry the connotation of being symbolic of death.

Since Bean hails from Sheffield and maintains his native accent throughout the series, it’s clear that actors from many Northern or Midlands cities who fit the appropriate age could potentially portray Ronnie. Take a look and see!

In a striking parallel, the sudden demise of Stephen Graham’s character, John Corbett, in the fourth episode of Line of Duty season 5, left viewers with a palpable shock akin to a collective gasp.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but ponder: Could the dramatic resonance been comparable if someone else had portrayed that role instead of Bean? Regrettably, it seems that the moment he steps onto the stage or screen, his character becomes an immediate focal point, drawing attention wherever he goes.

Fortunately, our city boasts an abundance of gifted individuals who are poised to shine once Bean departs prematurely. Notable talents like Nelson-Joyce, Jack McMullen, Julie Graham, and Hannah Onslow are particularly noteworthy in this regard.

Following Ronnie’s demise, a power gap emerges that could lead to intense conflict, and indeed, Butchard effectively portrays this in the subsequent six episodes. However, I can’t help but wish that the main event triggering the season wasn’t so obvious from afar.

In the world of gang dramas, the brutal murder of a crime boss is often expected, but casting an actor less associated with death might have kept us guessing for slightly more time.

2025-03-24 23:04

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