Anya Taylor-Joy was recently spotted relaxing in Key Biscayne, Florida, alongside her husband, Malcolm McRae. The sighting comes amidst the mixed critical rollout of her new seven-part Apple TV+ thriller, Lucky.
A Seven-Part Thriller from Jonathan Tropper
Apple TV+ premiered the series Lucky on July 15, positioning it as a high-stakes addition to its summer programming. Created by Jonathan Tropper, the mind behind Your Friends & Neighbors, the series follows a con artist forced into a desperate flight from the law. according to the report, the show establishes its momentum immediately, with the protagonist ducking and diving through Caesars Palace while being pursued by the FBI within the first ten minutes.
This project follows Taylor-Joy's recent high-octane work in 2024's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, where she showcased significant action capabilities. In Lucky, she portrays a "gimlet-eyed opportunist with a conscience," a role that seems designed to leverage her ability to play complex , morally ambiguous characters.
Two-Star Ratings from The Daily Telegraph and Roger Ebert
Despite the star power involved,the series has encountered significant pushback from several prominent critics. The Daily Telegraph issued a two-star review, with critic Ed Power suggesting that Taylor-Joy's "streak of good fortune has run out" due to a script heavily reliant on cliches. Power's critique suggests the series struggles to elevate its lead character beyond standard genre tropes.
The criticism extends to other major outlets as well. Writing for Roger Ebert, Brian Tallerico awarded the show two stars, labeling it a prime example of the "Why Isn't This a Movie?" dilemma currently plaguing the modern streaming era.. This critique implies that the series' episodic format may actually work against its narrative tension, a sentiment echoed by the report's mention of the show being described as "tediously formulaic" by some reviewers.
Nick Levine’s Four-Star Nod for Taylor-Joy’s Action Chops
However,the critical reception is far from universally negative. NME critic Nick Levine provided a much more enthusiastic four-star review, describing the thriller as "instantly gripping" and "breathless." Levine specifically highlighted Taylor-Joy's performance, noting that she remains riveting even as the plot twists through various high-pressure scenarios.
Even The Guardian offered a more moderate middle ground, awarding the series three stars. While the outlet called the show "classic summer viewing," it also noted a lack of narrative decisiveness,stating that the production "refuses to commit to its nonsense." This sugggests that while the entertainment value is present, the execution remains a point of contention among professional reviewers.
The Unknown Impact of the 'Formulaic' Label on Viewership
While the critical landscape is clearly divided, several key pieces of information remain unverified. The report focuses heavily on the tension between critics like Ed Power and Nick Levine, but it does not provide any data regarding actual viewership numbers on Apple TV+. It is currently unknown whether the "formulaic" criticisms are impacting the show's popularity with a general audience or if the series is a streaming hit despite the low scores.
Furthermore, the report does not indicate if Apple or Taylor-Joy's representatives have responded to the scathing reviews from The Daily Telegraph or Roger Ebert. Without data on audience retention or subscriber engagement, it is difficult to determine if Lucky will be remembered as a successful summer staple or a missed opportunity for the streaming platform.
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