Anya Taylor-Joy Shines in Thrilling Mini-Series “Lucky” – Here’s Our Honest Take!

It has been a full six years since actress Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, Furiosa) last graced the small screen. Following her breakout success in the Netflix mini-series The Queen’s Gambit, she’s now lent her talents to Apple TV. Is her comeback worth the hype? We’ve seen the initial episodes of this brand-new action thriller titled Lucky, and we’re not going to sugarcoat it…

What’s it about?

Lucky tells the story of a master con artist whose life spirals out of control following a multimillion-dollar heist gone wrong. Forced to run, she finds herself pursued by the FBI and a formidable crime boss named Priscilla. Tensions escalate quickly as our protagonist fights to survive and escape.

Who’s in it?

Anya Taylor-Joy is in good company, sharing the screen with top-notch supporting actors including Timothy Olyphant (Justified, Die Hard 4), who plays her father; the esteemed Annette Bening (American Beauty, Mars Attacks), portraying gang leader Priscilla; and William Fichtner (The Dark Knight), who steps into the role of the menacing Whittaker.

Is it worth watching?

What strikes you first about Lucky is how distinct it is, both in content and style, from other action series on competing platforms.

Visually, the series offers deliberately crafted shots, a rarity in the TV industry where the sheer volume of content production often necessitates fast-paced filming schedules. This “cinematic” approach to visuals (and editing) is central to Lucky’s appeal, reminiscent of the sci-fi series Pluribus, where meticulous composition and color grading were also key.

Moreover, Lucky stands out in its pacing. Entire episodes may unfold in real-time, focusing on a single event such as entering and exiting a building. This stretching of time, although sometimes detrimental by creating excessive suspense, adds a unique flavor to the action sequences that are as impressive as they are entertaining.

While the pacing may not always hit the mark, the artistic quality of the series and the strength of its cast more than make a case for giving it a watch.

The first episodes of Lucky are available now on Apple TV.