ITV fans claim gripping Irish crime thriller is ‘better than Kin’ as viewers brand the BBC series a ‘poor man’s version’ of classic show

ITV fans claim Irish crime thriller is ‘better’ than hit Irish BBC series Kin.

The classic series Love/Hate, which first aired in 2010, has recently become popular again in the country after being re-broadcast on ITVX.

Although the two Irish dramas are similar, viewers have said Kin is a “poor man’s version” of Love/Hate.

The RTE gangster thriller starring Charlie Cox, Clare Dunne, Aidan Gillen and Ciaran Hinds has kept viewers hooked since its premiere in 2021.

Kin was an instant hit on the Irish channel, with the season finale of the second season attracting almost 600,000 viewers.

First aired in 2010, classic series Love/Hate has recently taken the nation by storm after resurfacing on ITVX

The first season, which had a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, may not air a third time due to the expiration of the lead actors’ contracts, it was reported.

Now fans have turned their attention to classic favourite Love/Hate to satisfy their Irish fix.

Love/Hate is a gritty crime drama based in Dublin’s criminal underworld, depicting the drug addiction, misery and violence of organised crime that has grown in post-boom Ireland.

Fans wrote about X: ‘I’m watching #Kin again, it’s a brilliant show almost as good as love-hate’,

‘Family is surely a poor man’s Love Hate’,

‘I watched Love Hate after Kin and loved that too – some of the same people in it. Spicier than Kin but a great viewing experience x’,

‘I watch #Kin, I don’t know if it’s trying to be a #Love/Hate spin-off or if it’s just a coincidence, but even the music has the same vibe!’,

‘2 Irish crime dramas, Love/Hate (ITVX) & Kin (BBC iPlayer)’,

Although the two gritty Irish dramas are similar, viewers have said Kin is a ‘poor man’s version’ of Love/Hate

The first season of Kin, which has a 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, may not return for a third time due to the expiring contracts of its lead actors

‘If you liked Kin you should definitely check out Love/Hate (I think it’s on ITVx), Ireland’s answer to The Wire’,

‘Love/Hate written for kindred Irish but better’.

Sinan Sicimoglu, who played the pawn shop owner in season two of Kin, revealed to the Irish Sun in April: ‘It’s the end of the Kinsellas, because all the main actors signed three-year contracts to star in Kin in 2020, but it’s now 2024 and those contracts are up.’

This would eliminate the main cast members Cox (Michael Kinsella), Dunne (Amanda Kinsella), Gillen (Frank Kinsella), Emmett Scanlon (Jimmy Kinsella) and Sam Keeley (Eric Kinsella), all of whom have appeared in every episode RTE has produced to date.

Dunne, who brings the Kinsella matriarch to life, has previously spoken openly about the possibility of a third installment, admitting she is not yet aware of any plans.

However, she indicated that, contrary to Sicimoglu’s comments, she was open to a return.

“If it comes back, I’d be happy. But if it doesn’t, we’ll just have to count our blessings in what we had. Either way, it’ll be fine,” she said on the red carpet for the Irish Film & Television Awards – where Kin won Best Drama.

Dunne added: ‘I think we would all get back together if we could get all the stars aligned and everyone was available, because there are some big stars involved.’