This Anya Taylor-Joy Show Started off Strong, but Transformed Into a Dull & Boring Disaster

Lucky promised to be a true highlight, with its stellar cast and an experienced showrunner in Jonathan Tropper, known for Banshee and the recent Your Friends & Neighbors.

The first few episodes were promising: a dynamic start, a charismatic heroine, and hints of a complex moral dilemma created the impression that a gripping journey into the world of criminal intrigue awaited us.

However, as the story unfolded, Lucky quickly lost steam – what began as a witty, tense thriller became a tedious spectacle by the end.

What Is 'Lucky' About?

The plot centers on Luciana "Lucky" Armstrong and her husband, Cary. Lucky is a young and charming con artist who gets involved in a daring scam, stealing a huge sum of money from influential crime bosses.

However, their idyllic life is shattered overnight. Cary mysteriously disappears, taking all the stolen funds with him. Suddenly alone and penniless, Lucky becomes the target of two extremely dangerous hunters.

On the one hand, she is being hunted by Priscilla, the mother of her missing husband and a ruthless crime boss. On the other hand, FBI agent Billie is relentlessly on Lucky's trail.

'Lucky' Is a Derivative Project That Doesn't Even Attempt to Offer Anything New

At first, the story of Lucky, who was raised by a con man father and is trying to escape a vicious cycle, sounds intriguing. However, it has been depicted hundreds of times before in far more talented projects.

The series' creators were clearly inspired by Better Call Saul, in which the main character navigates an incredibly complex moral journey, balancing light and darkness. However, Lucky doesn't come close to meeting this standard.

While Vince Gilligan created a multilayered tragedy about a man trying to do good in an impossible situation, Tropper only hints at Lucky's internal conflict, which never develops into anything substantial.

Lucky is portrayed as a victim of circumstance, raised by a criminal father. However, this backstory is executed so poorly that it evokes neither sympathy nor understanding.

The authors seem afraid to delve into their main character's darkest depths, preferring to limit themselves to clichéd phrases about her doubts and desire to change.

Don't Expect 'Lucky' to Be as Ingenious as Other Heist Projects Like 'Ocean's Eleven'

Another serious issue with the series is its total absence of the ingenuity that distinguishes a good show about con artists. If you're expecting the kind of clever schemes and masterful deceptions seen in Ocean's Eleven from Lucky, you'll be sorely disappointed.

The creators are inept at building suspense around fraudulent operations. All the climactic moments involving the scams play out sluggishly, even with Anya Taylor-Joy's brilliant performance.

Furthermore, the show clearly suffers from excessive length: instead of offering viewers a dynamic, focused narrative, the writers fill the time with endless dialogue that doesn't advance the plot and scenes that could have been cut without issue.

It's clear that Lucky didn't have enough material for seven episodes, and the creators are stretching the story to justify the format.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Lucky'?

• Lucky has 79% from critics and 67% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.7/10.

Where to Watch 'Lucky'?

Lucky is available to stream on Apple TV.