{"id":4694,"date":"2026-07-16T19:42:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4694"},"modified":"2026-07-16T19:42:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:42:01","slug":"what-to-watch-lucky-series-turns-marissa-stapleys-novel-into-addictive-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4694","title":{"rendered":"What to watch: ‘Lucky’ series turns Marissa Stapley’s novel into addictive TV"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This week, we review an addictive crime-thriller series and another brilliant anime release from Netflix.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s our roundup.<\/p>\n

\u201cLucky\u201d:<\/strong> Apple TV\u2019s thoroughly enjoyable adaptation of author Marissa Stapley\u2019s noirish thriller hews to a predictable but reliable plot schematic. Consider. After pulling off their biggest heist yet, a gorgeous con artist Lucky (Anya Taylor-Joy, a true joy in the role) and her equally gorgeous con-artist hubby Cary (Drew Starkey) down a bunch of shots, look adoringly at each other and party hard. A big problem \u2014 besides the ensuing hangover \u2014 happens the day after when Lucky rolls over in a bed that\u2019s bigger than a Winnebago and makes the startling discovery that cutie Cary has taken the loot and skedaddled, leaving her to play dodgeball with a fierce, committed FBI agent (Aunjanue Ellis Taylor) who is hot on her trail.<\/p>\n

Sounds sort of familiar, right? Where the film diverts from the norm lies in the unique, complicated characters and their weird, tortured even touching relationships. The family trees here have a lot of branches and some of them are a bit rotten. Oh, yes, there is action galore and a lot of violence. But what makes the seven-part series a cut above derives from the on-target performances, especially Annette Bening as Priscilla, Cary\u2019s cunning, grifter momma bear who has an axe to grind with Lucky and Lucky\u2019s dad, also a con artist. Clifton Collins Jr. lends strong support as Priscilla\u2019s thuggish enforcer, as does William Fichtner as a candidate for worst dad of the year. Of course, Taylor-Joy is a force to reckon with and an anti-hero worth rooting. And it\u2019s an unabashed pleasure to watch Bening tap into her \u201cThe Grifters\u201d role.\u00a0 Creator, co-showrunner, writer\/executive producer Jonathan Trooper never allows the series to go slack. Try it, you\u2019ll be hooked. Details:<\/strong> 3 stars, first two episodes drop this week with a new episode every Wednesday through Aug. 19.<\/p>\n

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