Lucky Review: Apple TV+ has been on a roll lately with its crime thrillers, and this week’s release, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, features some very interesting themes surrounding failed heists, dangerous criminals and a protagonist who gets out of dangerous situations based solely on her wit rather than brute force. The series is based on Marissa Stapley’s 2021 novel of the same name and features some great storytelling surrounding a con artist who finds herself on the run as her past catches up to her.
While it can get a bit repetitive and tread familiar tropes, the series succeeds in bringing forth some great action and confident direction and holds on to the tension throughout the runtime. That’s also thanks to a magnetic performance by Taylor-Joy. The series also stars Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Clifton Collins Jr., Drew Starkey, William Fichtner and Mo McRae. It’s directed by Jonathan Van Tulleken, Greg Yaitanes and Jet Wilkinson.
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What is Lucky on Apple TV+ about?
Lucky follows con artist Lucky Armstrong, who goes on the run after a multi-million-dollar heist goes wrong. Hunted by both the FBI and a ruthless crime boss, she must rely on her skills to survive while confronting her past.
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Is Lucky based on a book?
Yes. Lucky is adapted from Marissa Stapley’s bestselling novel of the same name, which was also a Reese’s Book Club selection.
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Who stars in Lucky?
The series stars Anya Taylor-Joy alongside Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Drew Starkey and Clifton Collins Jr.
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How many episodes are in Lucky?
Lucky is a seven-episode limited series on Apple TV+, with the first two episodes premiering together before weekly releases.
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Is Lucky worth watching?
If you enjoy stylish crime thrillers featuring strong performances, tense action and character-driven storytelling, Lucky is well worth adding to your Apple TV+ watchlist.
Lucky Review
A Cat-and-Mouse Thriller That Rarely Slows Down
With a woman’s love for her father and a complicated history that leaves her running to find a better life, Lucky follows its titular character trying desperately to find herself in a mess created by those around her. The series follows her journey from leading a magical life with her husband to going on the run for stealing money from the mob. With both the bad and good guys after her, she intends to find those who wronged her and find a way out of the mess that she didn’t want to be a part of.
What makes the series interesting is Lucky herself, as she navigates dangerous situations and enemies to run to safety and find Cary, hoping to get answers, while only relying on her wit and determination to turn any situation around. Regardless of what difficulty comes in front of her, she finds a way out of it, and it’s these moments that leave viewers rooting to get to the bottom of the situation. It’s clear from the get-go that her relationship with her father will be dissected as the episodes move on, focusing on everything that she has been taught and making you question their relationship.
It’s a nuanced emotional ride that highlights the trauma and complexity of her upbringing and who she is as a result.
Anya Taylor-Joy Is the Show’s Greatest Strength
The series rests on Taylor-Joy’s vulnerable performance as a woman who knows the tricks of the trade but doesn’t want to employ them, desperately wanting to leave them behind to start life afresh. Unfortunately, in their line of work, things rarely go how you want them to go. Taylor-Joy is fantastic as Lucky, as she navigates a complex situation while trying to understand her complicated feelings that come out of her rough upbringing. As she realises everything that has gone wrong in her life thanks to her father’s influence, things get more complicated as she desperately tries to save him at the cost of everything and everyone.
Intelligent, resourceful and emotionally guarded, Taylor-Joy plays her with a ton of vulnerability, so much so that viewers never find her invincible. As a result, we are constantly on edge, wondering whether she will get out of all the sticky situations she finds herself in. Drowning in fear, regret and uncertainty, this is Lucky’s show, as the title would suggest, and Taylor-Joy plays her with enough confidence to make her a memorable lead.
Style Meets Substance
Lucky embraces every part of its beautiful landscape that doubles as a desolate and lonely wasteland when the script requires it to. The cinematography and direction are stylish and add to the storyline, making it tense and arresting to watch. As the danger escalates and the truth starts to come out, viewers will find themselves lost in the action and the emotions. Although the series can get slow at times, it doesn’t take away from the rather sad outcome that awaits Lucky as she slowly realises who she idolises.
At its core, the series does a great job building the tension, not just with the mob and the FBI trying to nab her, but with her own realisations that feel even more terrifying. While Lucky isn’t some damsel in distress, in many ways, her heart still craves validation from her father, whose motivations are less than good. With an interesting plot wrapped with fantastic visuals, the series delivers an engaging watch.
Familiar Themes, Fresh Energy
As mentioned earlier, the series isn’t particularly about gangs and evading the law; it’s about Lucky coming to terms with understanding that her love for her father might be misplaced. Through her relationship with Cary, she eventually pieces together various parts of her complex relationship with John to make tough decisions that crack the truth wide open. As Luck desperately tries to leave her con artist life behind, she gets more entangled with it, showcasing how difficult it is to leave behind a core part of your identity.
Themes surrounding family legacy, trust, redemption and self-reinvention drive the series forward, adding emotion to the story instead of being moved forward by only action set pieces. There’s heart here that drives the action forward, and, if nothing else, viewers will find themselves entangled in the emotions of the story as she reinvents herself.
Final Verdict
Lucky is a moving watch that is more about coming to terms with oneself rather than running from the mob. Once our protagonist realises that you can’t run from who you are, she finds a way to face the fear she has been ignoring for so long to finally come to terms with her mistakes and start a new life. It’s a redemption journey told through a different lens, and despite some obvious and familiar beats, this is a moving watch that gets under your skin.
Lucky is set to release on Apple TV+ from July 15, 2026, to August 19, 2026. What are your thoughts on the series? Let us know in the comments below!
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