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Anya Taylor-Joy’s ‘Lucky’: So Dumb It’s Actually Brilliant
Why Apple TV+’s "Lucky" Is the Perfect "Turn Off Your Brain" Show (And Why That’s a Good Thing)
TL;DR: Apple TV+ continues to win the streaming wars by greenlighting shows that know exactly what they are. "Lucky" is absurd, over-the-top, and logic-defying — but with a cast this good and a showrunner who leans into the chaos, it becomes wildly entertaining "middlebrow" comfort viewing.
The Streaming Wars: Why Apple TV+ Is Currently Winning
Let’s be real: picking a streaming service these days feels like picking a flavor of disappointment.
| Service | The Vibe |
|---|---|
| Netflix | Throwing everything at the wall, soon to star an AI actor in every show |
| HBO Max | Run by a cost-cutter whose cultural compass is stuck in 1990 |
| Paramount+ | Mostly 44-minute infomercials disguised as TV |
| Apple TV+ | Actually seems to care about making good shows |
Apple TV+ gets it. They give creators like Severance‘s Dan Erickson years to perfect a season. They let Gary Oldman be gloriously grumpy in Slow Horses. And sometimes, they just put a massive movie star in front of a camera and get out of the way.
What Is "Lucky" Anyway?
The Elevator Pitch: Anya Taylor-Joy plays a con woman on the run from the mob, the FBI, and her own mother-in-law — all while looking like she’s about to walk a Paris runway.
- Based on: A pulp novel by Marissa Stapley
- Showrunner: Jonathan Tropper (Banshee, Your Friends and Neighbors)
- Executive Producer: Reese Witherspoon (picked the book for her book club in 2021)
- Episodes so far: 4 (Season 1 ongoing)
- Genre: Action / Crime / Soap Opera / Dark Comedy — all at once
The Plot (Spoilers Ahead — You’ve Been Warned!)
Episode 1: The Setup
- Vegas heist: Lucky (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her boyfriend Cary (Drew Starkey) steal millions from an unknown source.
- Bad decision: They stay in Vegas to party instead of running away immediately.
- Betrayal: Lucky wakes up — Cary is gone, money is gone.
- The escape: Lucky flees the casino in… designer jeans and a hoodie. Poof. Invisible.
- The makeover: She gives herself a DIY haircut and dye job in a gas station bathroom. Still looks exactly like Anya Taylor-Joy.
- The trunk scene: Gets beaten up, locked in a car trunk. Emerges looking flawless.
- The party crash: Infiltrates a rich lady’s cocktail party, steals everything not nailed down, struts out like a supermodel.
The "Wait, What?" Family Tree
Wayne (William Fichtner) — The Big Boss (fossil fuel scam kingpin)
│
▼
Priscilla Masterson (Annette Bening) — Wayne’s lieutenant, fresh out of jail
│
├── Cary (Drew Starkey) — Priscilla’s son, Lucky’s husband (!), has "a face for crypto"
│
└── Lucky (Anya Taylor-Joy) — Married to Cary, stole Priscilla/Wayne’s money
The Pursuers (Stock Characters, But Good Stock Characters)
- Clifton Collins Jr. — Oily mob enforcer with questionable hair product
- Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — FBI agent who takes this way too personally
- Mo McRae — Her sidekick who’s actually smarter than her
- Timothy Olyphant — Lucky’s dad, small-time crook in jail, gives crime advice via tapped prison phone
The All-Star Cast: Why They Make the Absurdity Work
Important: This show doesn’t work on paper. It works because every single actor commits 100%.
| Actor | Role | Why They’re Perfect |
|---|---|---|
| Anya Taylor-Joy | Lucky | Magnetic, beautiful, sells every ridiculous moment |
| Annette Bening | Priscilla | Overqualified, having a blast, "I still have to kill spiders for him" |
| William Fichtner | Wayne | You never want a William Fichtner character mad at you |
| Timothy Olyphant | Lucky’s Dad | Grizzled charm, late realization about tapped phones |
| Drew Starkey | Cary | "Has a face for crypto" — showrunner’s words, not mine |
Why "Stupid" TV Can Be Great TV (The Art of the Chekhov’s Screwdriver)
There’s a moment in Episode 4 where a random screwdriver sits on a table. You think: "Someone’s getting stabbed with that." Minutes later — they do.
That’s Chekhov’s Gun (a storytelling rule: if you show a gun in Act 1, it must fire by Act 3) — but with a screwdriver. It’s Chekhov’s Screwdriver.
The Secret Sauce Jonathan Tropper Brings
- No pretension — Starts trashy, stays trashy, owns it
- Pacing — Big action set pieces between scenery-chewing monologues
- Soap opera logic — Everyone’s connected, everyone has secrets, bitcoin is a plot point
- Prestige talent, zero prestige ego — A-listers doing B-movie material with A+ effort
Think of it like: A Michelin-star chef making the world’s best greasy cheeseburger. Same skill. Different goal. Delicious either way.
The "Middlebrow" Trend: TV That’s Just… TV
"Lucky" isn’t Mad Men. It’s not trying to be. Neither is Widow’s Bay (cursed island, Matthew Rhys) or HBO’s The Pitt (hospital drama, very normal).
These shows are creating a new golden age of "middlebrow" entertainment:
| Old School Middlebrow | New School Middlebrow |
|---|---|
| ER, The West Wing, Lost | The Pitt, Widow’s Bay, Lucky |
| Network TV, 22 episodes | Streaming, 8-10 episodes |
| "Watercooler shows" | "Binge-weekend shows" |
| Good actors, solid writing | Prestige actors, prestige writers, pulpy premises |
The difference? The new versions have Better Call Saul-level talent applied to Burn Notice-level plots. And it rules.
How to Enjoy "Lucky" (A 3-Step Guide)
- Check your brain at the door — Don’t ask "why didn’t she just…" or "how did she afford…"
- Lean into the absurdity — Laugh when she converts millions to bitcoin. Cheer at the screwdriver.
- Watch for the actors — The plot is the vehicle. The performances are the destination.
Summary
- Apple TV+ is the only streamer consistently betting on creator-driven, actor-forward content.
- "Lucky" is a pulp thriller that makes zero sense — and knows it.
- Anya Taylor-Joy + Annette Bening + William Fichtner + Timothy Olyphant = a masterclass in "elevating material."
- Jonathan Tropper understands the assignment: make it fast, make it fun, make it stupid in the smartest way possible.
- This is "middlebrow prestige" — a growing genre where top-tier talent embraces genre silliness.
- Bottom line: Not every show needs to be The Sopranos. Sometimes you just want a cheeseburger made by a master chef.
FAQ
Is "Lucky" actually good, or just "so bad it’s good"?
It’s "so committed it’s great." The writing knows exactly how ridiculous it is. The actors play it straight. That contrast is the entertainment.
Do I need to read the book first?
Nope. The show takes the premise and runs its own chaotic race. Tropper adapts freely.
How violent/gory is it?
Moderate. There’s action, fights, the screwdriver incident — but it’s stylized, not gratuitous. Think Banshee lite.
Will there be a Season 2?
Not officially renewed yet, but with this cast and Apple’s track record of backing creator vision, the odds are decent.
What should I watch next if I like this?
- Slow Horses (Apple TV+) — Gary Oldman, spy dysfunction, British insults
- Banshee (Max) — Tropper’s earlier, wilder, punchier action show
- Widow’s Bay (Apple TV+) — Matthew Rhys, cursed island, same "prestige pulp" energy
- The Pitt (Max) — Medical drama that feels like 1990s network TV in the best way
Final verdict: Pour a drink, silence your phone, and let Anya Taylor-Joy steal millions, change hair colors in gas stations, and outrun the FBI while looking like a supermodel. Television doesn’t have to be important to be essential.
