Steal

It’s another day in the office for Zara (Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner) at the start of Prime Video’s Steal as she shows a new employee the ropes at the pension management company where they work. Events then take an unexpected turn when a group of heavily armed and highly skilled thieves arrive, forcing Zara and her coworker Luke (Archie Madekwe) to transfer them £4bn in funds. In a shocking early twist, it’s revealed that Zara was in on it the entire time. While she earns a massive payday, she quickly finds herself in an impossible situation. Caught between the ensuing police investigation and the thieves’ own schemes, she must do whatever she can to keep the money and her life. What follows is a sensational and delightfully twisty crime drama fronted by a scene-stealing Turner.

The opening episode is dedicated entirely to the heist. It’s tense, punctuated with flashes of violence, and (more importantly) establishes how dangerous these antagonists are. The suspense rarely lets up as the plot unfolds, with every new piece of information suggesting that everything goes deeper than viewers expect. And with Zara being just as cunning herself, expect plenty of surprises along the way. There are occasional moments where extended exposition slows the pacing, but it’s never long before the stakes ratchet up again, with episodes often concluding in heart-pounding set pieces.

Turner gives one of the best performances of her career, ensuring that Zara stays relatable throughout. She’s particularly excellent when paired with Anastasia Hille, who plays Zara’s mother. Their explosive exchanges are consistent highlights, conveying every ounce of pain and history between the pair without the script ever having to spell it out. Madekwe is likewise fantastic here, with Jacob Fortune-Lloyd being another noteworthy addition to the cast as DCI Rhys Covac.

The show also functions as a broader commentary on money and greed. While there are remarks about how catastrophic losing the pensions of thousands would be alongside a handful of jabs aimed at overpaid corporate elites, these mostly serve as background noise and wouldn’t make much of a difference if they were cut entirely.

From its white-knuckled opening, Steal is a clever and exhilarating thriller that never fails to deliver. Although there are some lulls in the action, a career-topping performance from Turner and a wholly gripping plot make this series essential viewing.