The episode opens with Gene Lord (Jack Rowan) working in a newspaper printing room when he notices the time. He encounters a girl in a nightclub. She admits to being intrigued by his family name. When he suggests she’s pegged him as the wrong Lord boy, she leaves to powder her nose. Cindy Carter (Tahirah Sharif) buys him a drink to mend his broken heart. She asks what drew him to the blonde. He admits to momentarily believing she was the most beautiful girl there. She tells him that her shift ends at midnight.

Wimpy – While listening to music, Gene sensually pushes Cindy’s hair away from her face. He admits to lying about being a newspaper editor. She asks why he confessed. He says hoping she would stick around when she lays a kiss on him. During intimacy, he professes to love her.

Black Dog Public House – Leonard “Len” Lord (Lex Shrapnel), Albert Lord (Jason Flemyng), Carly Lord (Eliza Butterworth), and Mint Ma Lord (Martha Plimpton) are having a drink when Anthony Lord (George Jaques) playing five finger fillet grabs their attention. Len demands to know where the knife came from. Mint Ma gives him money to play a casino game. Albert suggests a 12-year-old should be playing Pac-Man when Cindy and Gene approach. Mint Ma asks Gene to say hello to his father for her.

Cindy tells them about her strange experience at Camber Sands. Mint Ma says her sister, Rosemary is with a black man before briefly introducing her to Gilbert and Wesley. Gene announces his engagement to Cindy when Kelly Lord (Daniel Sharman) says he was stabbed. Kelly claims the Peckman gang threatened to clear them out if they didn’t pay their debt. Albert says it’s only a flesh wound before ordering his sons to take care of it. Gene warns they’ll be annihilated if they go in unannounced. Grabbing him by throat, Albert reminds him that he is a Lord. Mint Ma demands he stop. Albert orders his sons to go over the Peckman gang. Cindy’s pleas fall on death ears as Gene leaves with his family.

The Battle Of Bermondsey – Len leads his brothers into the junkyard when they’re met by Barney (James Nelson-Joyce) and his gang. Another group of men joins before the fight breaks out. Len finds himself surrounded by Barney and several other men. Barney orders his men to set the building on fire with Len inside. The building burns as the police arrive. Gene busts in to save Len. Joined by Anthony, they climb a tower of old tires. Gene doesn’t get far before he’s nabbed by DI Russo (Luke Tumber). Cindy mows him down with her car. DI Lindsay (Leanne Best) watches as they drive away. Russo is still alive.

Albert orders Cindy and Gene to go live with Uncle Tony (Dougray Scott) in Spain. Mint Ma tries to convince Gene to hand Cindy over to the police but he refuses. Carly picks them up. Lindsay rubs a pencil across a piece of paper to reveal Malaga.

Cindy’s call to Eddie Carter/ Eddie Smith (Josh Tedeku) is cut short when the Malaga flight is announced. Lindsay can only watch their plane leave the tarmac. Uncle Tony picks up Gene and Cindy from the airport.

Club Paradiso – Uncle Tony warns Cindy and Gene that they’re about to witness paradise. He tells Genes that his surname will get him any woman there. He describes himself as a “millionaire” with 96 acres, golf courses, swimming pools, and apartment complexes. Cindy suggests they should stay on the low. He assures her that the police won’t get her there because he nearly owns the coast. She reminds him of her injuring a police officer. He says, “Freedom” before rushing off to greet Ernesto Alvarez (Ramiro Blas). She tells Gene that they can’t stay there.

Casa Noncerella – Uncle Tony hits the pool in the buff. Gene tries to reassure Cindy that he’s safe but she isn’t having it. He reminds her of why they’re there. She says he would be locked up if it wasn’t for her. With Gene in the toilet, Uncle Tony takes the opportunity to insult Cindy.

Albert informs Gene that Cindy is facing a murder charge because Russo succumbed to his injuries. Mint Ma tries once again to convince him to let Cindy go. He professes to love her. He and Cindy agree to find another place to stay.

Club Paradiso –  Gene and City ask to speak with the owner, Tony. A bartender asks if he’s referring to the entertainer named Tony. They look around to see him performing with two women. Uncle Tony’s smile turns to shock when he sees them.

Gene asks why he never told them the truth. Uncle Tony admits to not wanting Albert to think he is a “skint boat.” He offers them his money but they refuse. As they prepare to leave, he pleads with him to not say anything to Albert. Gene suggests he sell his 96 acres. Uncle Tony says it’s his fortune.

Uncle Tony claims to have acquired property from local farmers. He says Ernesto’s two acres prevent him from building his dream hotel. Cindy sarcastically suggests he plant potatoes. He tells her to disappear. She gives him a tip before walking away. After asking Gene to partner with him, he admits to having little empathy for bitter Albert. Gene informs Cindy of Russo’s death before asking her to trust him.

Ernesto admits to not liking Uncle Tony. Gene assures him that he is nothing like him before suggesting the property could be worth millions.

Uncle Tony tells Cindy that it’s time she started showing him some respect. Holding a knife to his throat, she threatens to slash his face if he crosses her again. He suggests making it good because it will be her only chance.

DC Davidson (Joe Hughes) informs Lindsay that Gene’s travel companion purchased a plane ticket under the name Cindy Carter. He says there is no Cindy Carter in their database.

The Battle of Ecobells – Uncle Tony and Gene meet with Ernesto to discuss the deal. Ernesto introduces them to Farmer Juan (Domingo Beltran) and Farmer Carlos (Juan Antonio Lopez). Uncle Tony cheated Carlos’ family, an olive oil exporter, out of its property. Ernesto says he’ll never do business with the “puta.” Carlos escorts them off the property at gunpoint when Uncle Tony shoots him. He orders Gene to start the car while he returns to the house to find Ernesto gone. Cindy is abducted at gunpoint. He kills Juan.  She attacks her assailant and takes his gun.

After killing Ernesto, Uncle Tony searches the house for property deeds. Cindy approaches from behind with a gun. He assures her that she hasn’t got what it takes to kill him when she pulls the trigger. She tells Gene that Ernesto killed Uncle Tony. They prepare to leave but Gene rushes back into the house to retrieve the property deeds. The police arrive at the crime scene as the episode comes to an end.

A Town Called Malice Cast

• DI Lindsay (Leanne Best)
• Albert Lord (Jason Flemyng)
• Anthony Lord (George Jaques)
• Mint Ma Lord (Martha Plimpton)
• Gene Lord (Jack Rowan)
• Carly Lord (Eliza Butterworth)
• DC Davidson (Joe Hughes)
• Kelly Lord (Daniel Sharman)
• Eddie Carter/Eddie Smith (Josh Tedeku)

Where Was A Town Called Malice Filmed

The show was filmed on the island of Tenerife off the coast of Southwest Spain.

Where To Watch A Town Called Malice

The pilot episode premiered on Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Sky Max.

A Town Called Malice Synopsis

Gene and Cindy hit it off after a chance meeting in a nightclub. They’re visiting with his family when his brother, Kelly is stabbed by a Peckman boy. Albert orders his sons to battle it out with the Peckman gang. The Lord gang is holding its own when Barney goes missing. Len goes after him to only find himself trapped in a burning building. Gene saves him but gets arrested in the process. Cindy mows down DI Russo while helping him regain his freedom.

When Albert discovers what happened, he sends Cindy and Gene to live with Uncle Tony in Malaga. Cindy and Uncle Tony butt heads right from the start. They soon find out that he is a nightclub singer, not a wealthy tycoon. His dream of building a seaside resort is halted because Ernesto refuses to sell him his two acres to complete the property.

Gene and Uncle Tony set up a meeting with Ernesto to discuss a deal. Ernesto makes it clear that he will never do business with Uncle Tony because he cheated the local farmers out of their properties. Uncle Tony kills Ernesto and two local farmers, Juan and Carlos. Cindy is briefly abducted and held at gunpoint. She attacks her assailant and utilizes his gun to kill Uncle Tony. She points the finger at Gene.

Cindy is left facing a murder charge when Russo dies. The police run her name but there are no matches.

A Town Called Malice Review

The cast doesn’t coordinate with the 1980 Costa de Sol set. Tahirah Sarif is a good actress but her role is over-the-top unrealistic. Cindy is a petite woman who overpowers hardened gangsters.

The soundtrack sets the right tone and mood. The cinematography is good but in some scenes, the lighting is off.

The series is not without idiosyncrasies. The irritating scenes and lines will test your patience. You might find it enjoyable if you don’t set your expectations too high.

I question why Uncle Tony was killed off so quickly. Not a good move, in my own opinion.

The pilot episode deserves a 6. Get more A Town Called Malice recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Our advertising packages help build online brand awareness.