Three stars out of four
From the thrilling opening moments of Lucky, in which a woman is being chased through a parking lot by FBI agents, it’s clear that this mysterious series — and its title character — will keep viewers guessing. The engrossing story (premiering Wednesday, July 15, on Apple TV) follows Luciana “Lucky” Armstrong, winningly portrayed by Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy, who also produces. She was raised by a con artist (Timothy Olyphant), which means she’s been a crime accomplice since she was little — and she’s very good at it!
The real action of the seven-episode show, based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Marissa Stapley, kicks off the day before the chase, in Las Vegas, where Lucky and boyfriend Cary (Drew Starkey) are celebrating their final heist and fantasizing about retirement on a faraway island. Alas, the next morning Cary — and the millions they stole — are gone, and Lucky’s left holding the literal bag. With police swarming the hotel, Lucky needs to figure out where her double-crossing ex has gone and how to get the money back before she’s caught.
But the feds, including Agent Billie Rand (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), aren’t the only ones looking for her. There’s also Cary’s mom (Annette Bening), a crime boss who needs to find the cash before Lucky does or else they’ll both be killed.
The propulsive series features characters that are up to no good, but also complex, and a particular highlight is watching Taylor-Joy portray Lucky’s obvious intelligence and vulnerability. She clearly regrets that all she knows is crime, and the combination makes for a thriller with unexpected depth. Lucky Armstrong is far from a perfect person, but much like Walter White and Tony Soprano before her, she’s a compelling antihero you won’t want to turn away from.
