Sophie Turner stuns in the CW crime drama

Based on Joan Hannington’s memoir “I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief” and a television adaptation by Anna Symon, The CW’s “Joan” is a standout crime series about opportunity, motherhood and the chances we are prepared to take to achieve the life we ​​want. Smart and clever Sophie Turner plays a great role as Joan, a young mother desperate to take control of her life. and achieve the luxurious social status she has always wanted.

“Joan” begins in 1985 on the Kent coast, an hour outside of London. The audience finds Joan, a 20-something mother celebrating her birthday in her tiny apartment above a Chinese takeout restaurant with her young daughter Kelly (an absolutely precious Mia Millichamp-Long). Unfortunately, their mother-daughter euphoria is short-lived. The next day, Joan is woken up in the middle of the night by gangsters looking for her boyfriend Gary. Terrified, she grabs Kelly and runs away, desperate to escape the wrath Gary has incurred.

In six fast-paced, fantastical episodes, viewers learn more about Joan, her background and her motivations. After putting her and Kelly’s fate in Gary’s hands for so long, Joan is now determined to take their fate into her own hands. Without a job or a place to stay, Joan places Kelly in foster care for her protection. After her daughter recovers, Joan heads to London to work in her sister Nancy’s (Kirsty J. Curtis) hair salon. Unfortunately, the sweeping and shampooing doesn’t bring in the income Joan needs to rebuild her life. And Joan and Nancy’s strained relationship – which stems from her turbulent childhood with her abusive father – eventually leads to Joan seeking employment elsewhere.

Her passion for wealth and her flair for accents lead Joan into the jewelry business. Although she initially finds work as a jeweler’s assistant for the skilled Bernard (Alex Blake), being constantly surrounded by gems and diamonds becomes too tempting to ignore. Joan immediately sees a greater opportunity. When she meets Boisie (Frank Dillane), an antique dealer with sophisticated methods for acquiring unique items, their lives merge romantically and professionally. Turner and Dillane’s magnetic attraction to each other is perfectly captured on screen. A deep understanding and a hint of suspicion contribute to their intense chemistry.

As with most British dramas, nothing is wasted in Joan. The limited series is breezy and engaging, without the superfluous characters and storylines that often clog American television shows. Joan is feisty and determined, focused solely on getting Kelly back into her care. Despite the threat of explosive characters, including Boisie’s co-worker Albie (Gershwyn Eustache Jr.), she refuses to let anyone fire her or usurp the disadvantages she has so carefully crafted. The aesthetics of the 1980s surrounding Joan are also richly implemented. With hair and makeup by Kaleena Jordan and incredible costumes by Richard Cook, the fact that Turner transforms before our eyes adds to the realism of the series.

Joan’s initial scams tend to be low stakes. But the further the show goes on, the more dangerous it becomes for both her and Boisie. Although Joan makes dressing up seem glamorous, a deal in Episode 4 shows the true strain of the job and takes away all the romance that had previously built up in Joan’s world. As euphoric as Joan’s professional victories are, her losses are catastrophic.

“Joan” is fascinating because Turner takes the audience into the emotional interior of her character, allowing the viewer to understand how the jewelry thief’s mind works. A natural hustler with profound intelligence and the ability to quickly hatch a plan, viewers watch as Joan transforms into everything from a posh British socialite to a down-and-out American newspaper reporter. Because the series is so tense, there is spectacular tension throughout. Still, the interactions between Joan and Kelly are some of the most effective in the series. The viewer can feel the tender affection and bond between mother and daughter, making Joan’s shocking decisions as frightening as they are understandable.

While “Joan” is full of twists and turns, at its core, the series is about what a mother is willing to do to give her child a better future. But as much as Joan is driven by the desire to ensure Kelly has a stable life, she is also obsessed with the power that comes from wealth and deception. In the end, freeing herself from the world she created will cost her much more than she expects.

“Joan” premieres October 2 on The CW, with new episodes airing weekly on Wednesdays. The series premiered on ITV in the UK on September 29th