Warning: Spoilers ahead for episode 6 of MobLand

Episode 6 of Episode 5 of MobLand finally put the Harrigans on their heels at Tommy Stevenson's funeral and wake, but they managed to escape unscathed with Richie essentially calling a truce with everyone except Eddie Harrigan.

Immediately after, however, Richie's wife Vron was blown up as she turned on her car, doubling Richie's misery and immediately destroying any delusions of peace. While both Kevin Harrigan and Harry Da Souza spent the last three episodes trying to manufacture a permanent truce after Eddie (and Maeve) foolishly assassinated Tommy Stevenson, a furious Maeve nullified their work with just one phone call. The end of episode 6 of MobLand proved just how significant a mistake that may have been, as two Harrigans already found themselves in Richie's crosshairs.

What Happened To Brendan And Seraphina

Episode 6 Ends On A Cliffhanger For Them

The few scenes featuring Brendan and Seraphina Harrigan in MobLand's early episodes saw Brendan trying to pitch his financially successful half-sister on some sort of surefire scheme that will supposedly be very profitable not only for themselves, but also provide a method for the Harrigans to launder their money. Brendan's plan finally took shape in episode 6, as it was revealed he had a trying to move some Mozambiquan rubies at far less than market price. Seeking to endear herself to the Harrigans as a whole, Seraphina agrees to meet with his to feel out the deal.

The deal appears to be on the up-and-up, at least until a small army of gunmen assaults the warehouse where the deal is taking place. After slaughtering everyone, including Seraphina's personally-hired contingent of experienced security professionals, both Brendan and Seraphina find themselves surrounded by attackers. The identity of the gunmen isn't revealed, nor is the ultimate fate of Brendan or Seraphina, but it seems pretty safe to assume that they were taken captive. If they were going to be killed, it seems unlikely that it would happen off-screen or that quickly, especially if Richie was behind the attack.

Why Maeve Called Richie

She Describes It As Her Queen's Gambit

Once the Harrigans realize that Brendan and Seraphina are far away from the relative safety of the manor at the Cotswolds, Maeve sees an opportunity that she all but tells Conrad about. After describing both Brendan and Seraphina as "weak links" that she wouldn't mind losing, she enlightens her beloved grandson (and sometimes henchman) Eddie about her next move. She calls Richie Stevenson directly with Eddie in the room, and tells him where he can find Seraphina and Brendan in Antwerp, with the caveat that he is not to harm Brendan (but can do as he likes with Seraphina).

The Queen's Gambit in chess involves sacrificing the queen's pawn early in the game, but if an enemy takes said pawn, then the first player will control the center of the board.

Richie immediately calls "the Mexicans", essentially outsourcing the hit and kidnap of Brendan and Seraphina to the cartels, as they have active cells all over the world and could get to the wayward Harrigans quicker than he could himself. It's noted earlier in the episode that Jaime Lopez, who runs "half the fentanyl in the world" and is assumedly Richie's ultimate supplier, absolutely hates Conrad Harrigan for an offense given to his now-deceased father 30 years prior. Maeve describes her call as a "calculated risk", and even names it her Queen's Gambit after the popular chess strategy.

Who Actually Made The Call To Kill Vron Stevenson

Episode 6 Featured A Twist In The Plot

Based on the order of events in episode 5 (Vron insults Maeve, Maeve calls Paul, Vron is blown up), it was assumed that Maeve made the call to kill Richie's wife for the offense she gave. However, when the Harrigans are discussing it after gathering at the manor, Conrad claims that it was him and not Maeve who made the final decision to kill Vron. He dubs the action "plan B", and lays out the details of how he had Paul plant the bomb while Vron was out shopping a week earlier.

It seems all but certain that it was in fact Maeve who made the snap decision to kill Vron, but Conrad wants to maintain the image that he's the one in control.

However, Maeve seems completely shocked when he claims that he made the call to kill Vron. On top of that, the details he tells the family about when and how he had Paul set up the bomb were quietly refuted by Paul, indicating Conrad may have loosely known it was happening, but didn't actually have a hand in the planning and execution. It seems all but certain that it was in fact Maeve who made the snap decision to kill Vron, but Conrad wants to maintain the image that he's the one in control.

Why Brendan Wanted To Get The Ruby Deal Done So Badly

The Eldest Harrigan Wants Back Into The Family's Good Graces

Brendan may be Maeve and Conrad's firstborn son, but he is persona non grata in the family due to his history of terrible business deals, which have cost the Harrigans millions over the years. He also seems to be a coward and less intelligent, which certainly explains why Maeve labels him as the weakest link in the family. Brendan saw the ruby deal as a way to get back into the family's good graces, making them some fast and easy money at a time when they may soon need it.

As she is only half-Harrigan, Seraphina went along with Brendan for essentially the same reason: to prove her worth in the organization. While her father still adores her, Maeve absolutely loathes Seraphina, which is justifiable given her status as a living, breathing reminder of Conrad's serial infidelity. Closing the ruby deal would do nothing to win over Maeve, but it would still prove her as a valuable member of the family, so that everyone aside from her father would appreciate her savvy and intelligence.

What Maeve's Actual Endgame Is

Her Wildcard Ways May Have A Legitimate Purpose

Every move that Maeve has made in MobLand, from ordering Tommy Stevenson's death to giving the location of her son and Seraphina to their deadly and angry archrival, has clearly been working towards a greater goal. On the surface, it's clear that she wants war with the Stevensons, and each machination has brought them closer to that goal. While it seems like it would be bad for business, Maeve is more concerned with the Harrigans being feared and respected than financially profitable, a true Old-World gangster mentality.

However, her encouragement of the murder of Archie, and possibly the anonymous phone call about where his body could be found, wouldn't do anything to start a war with the Stevensons. What it would do, though, is put Conrad in the crosshairs of the feds and the police, along with destabilizing him personally (having killed his best friend himself). It now seems clear that Maeve's ultimate plan in MobLand is to actually depose Conrad as the head of the Harrigan crime enterprise, perhaps as a long-gestating punishment for his disrespect of her over their marriage.