We've watched the first two episodes of the series "Lucky," released two days ago, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as a woman from a family of grifters, playing cat-and-mouse with the mafia and the FBI.
Forget the quiet genius and green felt of Beth Harmon from "The Queen's Gambit." Before us is a completely different Anya — predatory, incredibly charming, and ready to do anything to survive.
Her new character is a bundle of charisma, cunning, and adrenaline. She doesn't just lie; she weaves a web that traps the most dangerous people. Playing cat-and-mouse with both the ruthless mafia and the meticulous FBI is not a task for the faint of heart, but Taylor-Joy cracks these nuts with her signature slight smirk. Her trademark wide-set eyes, which now convey not naivety but cold calculation, are simply mesmerizing. She swaps chess pieces for real lives, and this raises the tension tenfold.
But the secret to "Lucky's" success lies not only in the impeccable casting. Behind the scenes of the project is a powerful team. The series is made by Reese Witherspoon's company Hello Sunshine — and that's an automatic mark of quality. This means it's based on a bestseller by a certain lady, in this case, Marissa Stapley. Reese herself is listed as a producer, which guarantees a strong female lead, attention to the heroine's psychology, and, of course, a stylish visual presentation.
And at the helm as creator and showrunner is Jonathan Tropper (known for the series "Friends and Neighbours" and "Banshee"). This tandem worked flawlessly: the literary basis with a deep female character was overlaid with a male hand that knows how to crank up the thriller's tension to the limit.
What do we have in our favor after the first two episodes?
Sufficient pacing that allows no respite. The plot starts with a bang, immediately throwing the protagonist into the epicenter of the conflict. There are no drawn-out backstories or long buildups here: we are instantly in the thick of events, where one mistake costs a life. The chemistry between Anya and her adversaries (both FBI agents and mobsters) sparks in every frame. It's an intelligent, stylish, and audacious thriller that knows what it wants and confidently leads the viewer forward.
If you were looking for a project that would make you forget about sleep, turn off notifications, and get glued to the screen, "Lucky" is your ideal candidate. Anya Taylor-Joy has once again proven that she's not just "that girl from The Queen's Gambit," but a true queen of the modern screen, ready for any games, even the most dangerous ones.
Gaya's Rating — 7.1/10 For the good pacing and the undeniably extravagant Anya Taylor-Joy, along with the cast. The plot's "cohesion" and real drive were slightly lacking.
