Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a captivating performance as Luciana 'Lucky' Armstrong in the new Apple TV+ thriller Lucky, a seven-part series that plunges viewers into a world of cons, revenge, and high-octane action. The show, which premieres on Wednesday, follows a skilled thief who wakes up to find herself hunted by the FBI after stealing $10 million, forced into a reluctant last stand against both law enforcement and a crime boss's enforcers.
A Heist Story with a Twist
Lucky falls into the 'one last heist' genre but begins the morning after the heist. Our antiheroine stands on a Las Vegas casino hotel roof, having successfully stolen millions, toasting to a new legitimate life. Within hours, she appears betrayed by the man she loves and is forced to run penniless from authorities and murderous enforcers collecting a debt incurred by her career criminal father. The show smartly avoids the smugness of typical heist capers by making Lucky's predicament a reluctant last stand, reminiscent of Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven. Forced by circumstances beyond her control, she relies on the criminal arsenal she has renounced, offering depth through guilt and redemption.
Character Depth and Moral Ambiguity
Lucky cannot outrun the sins of her father, smooth-talking conman John Armstrong, played by Timothy Olyphant. John is always in Lucky's head, offering advice on pinching high-value items, evading the feds, and manipulating people. 'Read the room. Trust no one. And no shortcuts,' he advises, guiding her through life-or-death situations while also being the cause of them. Lucky herself acknowledges her predicament as 'a series of bad decisions over an extended period of time,' as she tells her mother-in-law, who is also a poor role model.
Taylor-Joy, known for The Queen's Gambit and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, relishes characters who resist being pliable or coasting on prettiness. Here, she literally steals from children, sets people on fire, lies as easily as breathing, and plays the female victim card with cynical precision. Despite her moral flaws, she is undeniably cool—leapfrogging lorry roofs, slipping in and out of personae to evade capture, and securing rooms for the night. Her competence is mesmerizing, proving that being not good doesn't mean being not great.
Supporting Cast and Style
Timothy Olyphant brings charisma to his role as Lucky's imprisoned father, his silver hair and arctic fox-like presence adding to the show's appeal. Lucky's striking appearance, played by Taylor-Joy with a face so distinctive that hiding is impossible, is a plot point—she dyes her hair peroxide blond but still stands out. Plausibility, however, takes a backseat to excitement. The show delivers cat-and-mouse thrills, improvised weaponry, explosive set-pieces, and a Fiona Apple theme song: a brooding, Bond-esque banger where she yowls about being 'born in the horns of a bull' and becoming a toreador.
Final Verdict
This walking nature-versus-nurture experiment wants to leave her criminality in the past, but viewers will want her to keep running, exacting revenge, and kicking asses as if someone's keeping score. Lucky is a thrilling ride that showcases Taylor-Joy's intensity and range, making it a standout addition to Apple TV+'s lineup.
