Sophie Turner Is Thrilling in The CW's Tense and Engaging Jewel Thief Drama 'Joan': TV Review

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Sophie Turner Is Thrilling in The CW’s Tense and Engaging Jewel Thief Drama ‘Joan’: TV Review

Aramide Tinubu | Variety | October 2, 2024

Based on Joan Hannington’s memoir, “I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief,” and adapted for television by Anna Symon, The CW‘s “Joan” is a stellar crime series about opportunity, motherhood and the chances we are willing to take to go after the lives we desire. Sharp and slick, Sophie Turner is magnificent as Joan, a young mother desperate to take her life into her own hands. and obtain the lavish social status she has always coveted.



“Joan” begins in 1985 on the Kent Coast, an hour outside London. The audience finds Joan, a 20-something mother, celebrating her birthday in her tiny flat 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 awakened in the middle of the night by gangsters looking for her boyfriend, Gary. Terrified, she grabs Kelly and runs off, desperate to flee whatever wrath Gary has incurred.

Viewers learn more about Joan, her background and her motivations throughout six rapidly paced, fantastic episodes. Having placed her and Kelly’s fate in Gary’s hands for so long, Joan is now determined to control her destiny. Without employment and housing, Joan puts Kelly in foster care for her protection. With her daughter squared away, Joan heads to London to work at her sister Nancy’s (Kirsty J Curtis) hair salon. Unfortunately, sweeping and shampooing heads doesn’t bring in the income Joan needs to rebuild her life. And Joan and Nancy’s strained relationship — stemming back to their tumultuous childhoods with their abusive father — eventually leads Joan to seek employment elsewhere.

A preoccupation with wealth and a knack for accents leads Joan into the jewelry business. Though she initially finds work as a jeweler’s assistant for the handsy Bernard (Alex Blake), being constantly surrounded by gems and diamonds becomes too enticing to ignore. Joan immediately recognizes a larger opportunity. When she meets Boisie (Frank Dillane), an antique dealer with crafty ways of acquiring unique items, the pair merge their lives romantically and professionally. Turner and Dillane’s magnetic pull toward each other is captured perfectly on screen. A deep understanding and a ribbon of distrust add to their intense chemistry. ..more
https://variety.com/2024/tv/reviews/joan-review-sophie-turner-the-cw-1236160657/

Sophie Turner is absolutely amazing. Don't miss this new 5 Star series.