‘Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia’ (2025) Netflix Series Review - A Great Insight into 90s Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia was a hub for mobs back in the 1990s. There were murders all around taking place, and people were afraid to get out. However, this was a much lesser and short-lived outbreak of crime in the USA compared to what the world has seen so far. Post the fall of mob boss Nick Scarfo, aka “Little Nicky”, there is a big empty place available for power. That’s when we see the rise of construction contractor John Stanfa, who has deep ties with the mob. Just as he gains power, his rival comes into the picture- none other than Joey Merlino. Joey is a comparatively young gangster who belongs to Southern Philadelphia. He endorses more flashy mobsters and is a big critic of John. Slowly and steadily, Joey’s team grows, and so do the shootings and murders. These two gangs are opposite of each other, and their rivalry becomes dangerous with each passing time.

Throughout the series, we are shown the growing differences between the two mob leaders and the impact it has had on the residents. Come into the picture, the FBI, which decides to take advantage of the chaos and starts to take its first step by planting informants in order to gather evidence. The situation takes a big turn when Stanfa has a narrow escape from death while he is with his son, and Merlino’s men are killed in a series of what look like planned attacks.  By the final episode, we see that Merlino continues to rise post-Stanfa’s imprisonment for a while until his own prison term comes knocking at the door. Meanwhile, as mentioned, Stanfa is arrested first on charges of RICO. And just like the greatest mob rivalry comes to an end.

The makers do a great job by showing us clips and videos from the past. It starts with Little Nicky’s clippings, and then, as the plot progresses, the related clips are shown to us. Followed by interviews of people who were once mob associates, we get a great insight into 1990 Philadelphia and the underworld.

Yes, there are times when a smooth transition between the scenes would have been helpful, but that doesn’t happen in a few places. However, that’s not a major problem, as the interviews and the sequential shaping of the storyline make it very intriguing to watch. Somewhere, I felt that three episodes somehow fell short for this documentary. I wish more aspects were covered by the makers. Three episodes make it feel as if they were wrapped up, which is why the pacing is quite fast. Right at the start of the first episode, we are shown what the entire documentary is going to be about.

What I loved the most was how Philadelphia was the main character here, even though it was a background for violence. This portrayal makes the series a great watch. So for those of you who are great fans of crime thrillers and history, this show will satisfy all your cravings for a great watch.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times