12 Review: Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan Can’t Save Apple TV Heist Drama That Lurches From Promising to Disappointing
A heist in three timelines
FBI agent Jack Strickland explains the series’ central rule: a heist takes 12 months to plan and 12 hours to carry out. If the thieves are not caught within 12 days, he says, they will not be caught at all.
The story follows those three periods in parallel. Dornan’s Paul Galvin, a thief trying to begin again in France with partner Severine, is drawn into a risky job by his brother Bobby; Mackie’s Strickland is pursuing him, still haunted by an earlier heist at Newark airport.
A capable ensemble and crew
The job is arranged on behalf of Bazin and involves stealing from a ruthless Russian mob family. The crew includes Paul’s ally Gunda, contortionist Albrech and train expert Kira, while Severine’s father Serge remains loyal to her.
Sallie Harmsen plays Strickland’s Swiss partner Lena. Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble created and executive produced the series, and Kari Skogland directs multiple episodes, including the premiere.
Structure offers gains and losses
The format gives each timeline comparable attention, with new information emerging over the episodes. The planning period effectively shows how the job comes together, and the cinematography is solid, though the timelines lack distinct visual styles and the holiday setting is not prominent.
The execution period is less effective because the audience already knows the crew gets out of the vault and is pursued afterward. That foreknowledge slows the plot when the heist is underway, although the final three episodes gain momentum with a late reveal.
The aftermath brings tension
The 12 days after the theft provide the series’ most compelling stretch, building tension around Strickland’s pursuit. The structure’s strongest payoff comes after the crew has completed the job.
The show offers an engaging heist story, but its approach can make the narrative feel unnecessarily complicated. Its uneven pacing keeps the promising premise from delivering consistent excitement.
Key points
- The series divides its story into 12 months of planning, 12 hours of execution and 12 days afterward.
- Anthony Mackie plays FBI agent Jack Strickland, while Jamie Dornan plays thief Paul Galvin.
- The planning and aftermath are stronger than the heist itself, whose outcome is already known.
- The final three episodes pick up pace after a late reveal.