“If you rip me off, I’ll kill you,” purrs Joan Hannington in the new BritBox miniseries, Joan. She’s addressing her new partner in crime (literally and figuratively), and while she has many steps to take to fully become the “Godmother” of the criminal underworld — her ultimate fate — the chilling remark strikes a nerve. It appears that the fang marks will leave an imprint, in fact, giving the audiences something to look forward to in the series and its star, the marvelous Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones), who shines yet again in a role that seems perfectly suited to her exceptional talents.
Coming from ITV and airing on BritBox and The CW, the appealing British miniseries is based on notorious jewel thief Joan Hannington’s 2002 autobiography, I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief. Set in 1980s London, a time when economic and social hierarchies were even stricter than today, writer Anna Symon (The Essex Serpent) and director Richard Laxton (Rain Dogs) have ultimately created a winning drama that checks plenty of creative boxes — great story, intrigue, fine acting, suspense. Some things, however, get in the way.
Joan tends to be far too focused on just Joan, making the overall feel slightly narrow in its storytelling. Perhaps that’s the point; it’s the title, after all. But it does suffer in comparison to other dramas that flesh some of their side players a bit more. Still, with the fabulous Sophie Turner leading the way, there’s no turning your eyes away from the screen.
Joan Has a Great Premise That’s Sharply Executed
How did a random woman manage to become one of the UK’s most notorious jewel thieves? Watching that backstory is part of the fun in Joan. She’s not all that steely when we first meet her. After an initial setup establishing Joan as a sophisticated woman, clad in designer clothes, we’re taken back to her humble beginnings. Deeply scarred and fearful, she’s a loving mother to her six-year-old daughter, Kelly. It’s her dead-end marriage to violent criminal Gary that’s screwing up her life.
The series quickly moves Gary (Nick Blood) out of the picture, but not without some bruises along the way — literally. His absence creates a new playing field for Joan, who becomes laser-focused on eliminating the middleman, as it were, and establishing her own fortune the way that she wants. All this so she can better care for her dear Kelly. A stint at a local jewelry shop creates a major pivot — why hide diamonds when you can swallow them? — and Joan is soon taking on new identities and making something of herself in the underworld. She has some help.
The quick-moving miniseries creates a good pairing then with Sophie Turner and Frank Dillane (Fear the Walking Dead), whose creepy antiques dealer character, Boisie (Frank Dillane), is smart and a good mentor for Joan perhaps, but ever so slippery. Other characters float in and out throughout the tale, such as Joan’s sister, Nancy (Kirsty J. Curtis), shady boss Bernard (Alex Blake), and Gershwyn Eustache Jr.’s Albie, Boisie’s foreboding BFF. They serve the purpose of the central story, which is track Joan’s unlikely rise as a major crime figure.
A Standout Role for Sophie Turner
To be sure, Sophie Turner delivers a tour du force performance here as Joan. The actress, who nabbed an Emmy Awards nomination (for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019 for Game of Thrones) proves she can aptly handle her own outing. She’s mesmerizing throughout the caper (and we wanted more episodes to see her work).
Joan the jewel thief is sharp, intelligent, and charming. She can handle a new accent and impersonation with ease. Joan the mother, forever hopeful that she can secure new footing to properly give her daughter a solid upbringing, is entirely another woman. She’s strong, sure, but there’s so much more at stake for this Joan, and watching Turner flip between the two personas — her true self and somebody she had to become — is a work of genius on Turner’s part. The script employs a fine balance of plot twists and other dilemmas that rarely overstay their welcome. There’s some refreshing breeziness to this tale, and the creator wants to get us in and out of Joan’s “episodes” quickly.
What also works in this series’ favor is the delicious soundtrack — so very ’80s. There’s “Brass in Pocket” by The Pretenders, Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love,” “I’m So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters, and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” to note but a handful. The songs and the editing drive the plot, making for a spirited affair all around. Its narrow focus aside, Joan has all the makings for a binge-worthy hit. The premise is intriguing, the real-life subject is compelling, and the headliner, Sophie Turner, is downright sublime. This thief will steal your heart. Joan streams on BritBox and premieres on The CW October 2. You can watch it then through the link below:
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