A gripping new miniseries has landed on Apple TV+. Whereas subscribers of the streaming service have been blown away by season 2 of Severance, they proceed to supply new content material that manages to be fairly spectacular. Dope Thief is their thrilling new crime drama show starring Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura as Ray and Manny, two buddies who fake to be DEA brokers and bust drug operations, solely to grab the cash and medicines for themselves. This present solutions the query of what occurs when considered one of their busts goes horribly mistaken.
An interesting premise with higher execution, the primary two episodes of Dope Thief are actually streaming on Apple TV+. This has been a superb present, significantly in the way it handles its characters. Very similar to different distinctive TV sequence surrounding medicine, akin to Breaking Unhealthy, Narcos, and Ozark, this present will get off to a gripping begin that guarantees even better turns sooner or later. The premiere begins by displaying Ray and Manny, and their chemistry is shortly established. Despite the fact that we don’t know their actual historical past, the way in which they work together with one another has years of historical past behind it, and the performances promote each little bit of it.
They go right into a home as DEA brokers and take a bunch of cash and medicines from individuals. However we shortly study that they don’t seem to be who they are saying they’re, and from right here, we’re hooked. There’s a stage of genius in what they do, however they’re additionally taking cash and medicines from individuals who shouldn’t be messed with. The inciting incident is when Ray and Manny carry out a drug bust on a big narcotics operation. The bust goes mistaken, individuals find yourself lifeless and hospitalized, they usually depart behind one key piece of proof; one which will value them their lives.
Ridley Scott directs the primary episode. Sure, the Ridley Scott behind movies like Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, and Thelma & Louise. He’s been one of the vital legendary filmmakers working in Hollywood for many years, and he brings each little bit of himself into that first episode. This can be a uncommon enterprise into tv directing, however he brings some phenomenal performances out of those actors. Brian Tyree Henry is likely one of the most dependable actors working in movie and TV. From Atlanta to the Spider-Verse films, he’s an actor I can by no means get bored with seeing, and he’s actually wonderful on this present.
Dope Thief is what you get if you mix unprecedented expertise behind the digital camera, on the display, and naturally, on the web page. Peter Craig is a reputation that not many could acknowledge, however it was solely upon additional analysis after I noticed how a lot astounding work he’s written over the previous few years. He’s stacked up writing credit on The Batman, Prime Gun: Maverick, The City, Unhealthy Boys for Life, and two of the Starvation Video games films. He creates this present and adeptly adapts Dennis Tafoya’s novel with compelling teleplays that spend a whole lot of time on the characters.
It’s a star car for Henry, who performs Ray, a person who’s coping with loads. He’s making an attempt to get cash for the lady who raised him from childhood, they usually have a deep emotional connection. Early on, we all know that he misplaced somebody in his youth, and he nonetheless misses her to at the present time. On high of all that, he had a tough childhood along with his abusive father who struggled with dependancy, portrayed by Ving Rhames in his greatest non-Mission: Not possible position of current years. He’s additionally not too long ago sober, however sticking to his sobriety will not be simple, particularly within the face of rising worry and instability in his world.
When the motion kicks in, it’s fairly intense. The shootouts don’t really feel like shiny Hollywood motion; they’re grounded and gritty. Neither Ray nor Manny are killers by commerce, they usually each have individuals near them who they care about. They’re two individuals who discover themselves in over their heads in a sticky scenario that builds and builds. The partitions shut in shortly as they discover themselves on the mercy of a person who we don’t see. He seems on the opposite ends of telephones and walkie-talkies, and he’s out for blood. Regardless of not bodily showing within the first two episodes, he’s a power to be reckoned with.
The cinematography can be a spotlight. There’s a scene close to the top of the second episode the place it’s merely a second at night time the place Ray stands outdoors a lawyer’s workplace. It’s a really transient scene, and but, partially due to the nightmare of a day Ray has gone by way of, this second is so lovely. It’s a gorgeous-looking scene, and the present solely continues to get higher as Ray sits down contained in the workplace and breaks down into tears. Henry’s efficiency is nothing in need of magnificent. He will be humorous all through this present, however he’s normally below a lot stress and to see his partitions come crashing down, that sealed the primary two episodes as an intense, emotional deal with which will proceed to get even higher as extra episodes come out over the following few weeks.
SCORE: 9/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a rating of 9 equates to “Glorious.” Leisure that reaches this stage is on the high of its kind. The gold customary that each creator goals to achieve.
Disclosure: ComingSoon obtained screeners for our Apple TV+ Dope Thief overview.
