Lucky, based on a 2021 novel of the same name by Marissa Stapley, will draw you in from the very first episode. The Apple TV limited series follows a young woman named Luciana "Lucky" Armstrong (Anya Taylor-Joy), who was raised by her single father (Timothy Olyphant) after her mother's death. Lucky's father is a con artist, so her childhood was spent learning to manipulate and outsmart everyone around her. Now, Lucky's husband, Cary Masterson (Drew Starkey), has decided they should break out on their own after pulling off a multi-million dollar heist. However, things become complicated since the person they're stealing from is actually Cary's mother, a ruthless mob boss named Priscilla (Annette Bening).
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When the first episode opens, Lucky and Cary are celebrating pulling off their heist by partying in Las Vegas. But Lucky's world gets torn upside down when she wakes up the next morning in their hotel room to discover that Cary and the money are gone. Lucky doesn't even have time to process the massive betrayal that's just occurred because the FBI, led by Agent Billie Rand (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), is now hot on her trail. Lucky must flee law enforcement while fighting desperately to survive. It's not just prison that Lucky fears, though — Priscilla is also determined to nab Lucky and get her money back. As the show unfolds, Lucky becomes caught up in a violent, dangerous chase as she tries to outrun both her past and her present.
Lucky is an incredibly exciting show because each episode provides non-stop action. Whether Lucky relies on her sharp intelligence to outwit the people around her or just barely evades Rand and Priscilla's clutches through pure coincidence, there's never a second when the viewer can forget that this is a very high-stakes situation. The cat-and-mouse game between Rand and Lucky, as well as Lucky and her mother-in-law, results in a propulsive thrill ride. Alongside its car chases, shootouts, and narrow escapes, Lucky rises above a traditional crime thriller by also diving deeper into the characters. By the series' end, you'll have a much deeper understanding of each of them, even the villains.
Lucky wouldn't have been as successful without Taylor-Joy in the lead. She has a magnetic quality that makes it easy to see why Lucky can survive the lifestyle she's in, and Taylor-Joy's nuanced depiction of Lucky's pain makes the character even more compelling. Ellis-Taylor is fantastic as the tough-as-nails agent intent on catching Lucky, while Olyphant infuses his role as Lucky's father with his signature low-key charm. The series is also a perfect vehicle for Bening's immense talents and should be cited as an example of why the iconic actor should play even more villains in the future.
Now that all seven episodes are out, Lucky is a great option for a weekend binge-watch, with the conclusion a thoughtful wrap-up that will leave you feeling completely satisfied with where all the characters have ended up. Likely, there will be plenty more exceptional crime thrillers this year, but there's no way Lucky won't make the list as one of the best.
English (US) ·