The episode opens with a snapshot of Joan’s troublesome life. Struggling financially and emotionally, Joan finds herself trapped in a poisonous relationship with a controlling and abusive felony husband. Proper from the beginning, the present makes it clear that Joan is determined to interrupt free, not only for herself, however for her daughter, who she fiercely protects. This twin motivation—love for her baby and the necessity for freedom—units up Joan as a personality you root for, even when her selections take her down morally grey paths.
Sophie Turner’s portrayal of Joan brings plenty of layers to the position. You’ll be able to see her uncooked vulnerability as a lady who has been overwhelmed down by life, however there’s additionally an simple energy and defiance simmering simply beneath the floor. There are moments of quiet pressure, the place you’ll be able to nearly really feel Joan calculating her subsequent transfer, weighing the dangers and rewards of entering into the world of crime. This steadiness between her softer facet as a mom and her rising ruthless facet as a felony is among the standout facets of the episode.

The pilot additionally introduces a few of the facet characters who’re more likely to play important roles in Joan’s rise. These embrace shady figures from the London felony underworld, whose preliminary interactions with Joan are laced with pressure and distrust. The episode provides us hints that these relationships will develop extra sophisticated as Joan turns into extra entangled of their world. It is clear that belief and betrayal shall be recurring themes as Joan navigates her new life.

The pacing of the episode is deliberate, specializing in Joan’s sluggish, deliberate descent into the felony world reasonably than dashing into motion. This offers the present time to construct her character and motivations in a approach that feels genuine. Nonetheless, viewers anticipating quick high-stakes heists may have to be affected person. The present appears extra occupied with telling a slow-burn story about transformation, with the pilot laying a strong basis for what’s to come back.

One of many extra delicate facets of the episode is the way it explores gender dynamics. Joan operates in a male-dominated felony world, and the best way she navigates these energy buildings—generally utilizing her femininity as a weapon, different occasions battling in opposition to the condescension of her male counterparts—provides an attention-grabbing layer to the story. It’s not only a crime drama; it’s additionally a commentary on the constraints and expectations positioned on ladies, particularly within the Nineteen Eighties.

“Pilot” – JOAN. Pictured: Sophie Turner as Joan. Photograph: ITV © 2024 Snowed-In Productions. All Rights Reserved. 

For followers of crime dramas, Joan affords a contemporary twist by specializing in a feminine anti-hero. The primary episode units up the present’s potential properly, promising a deeper take a look at how a seemingly abnormal lady turns into a infamous felony. It looks like a powerful begin for what may very well be a fascinating character-driven crime story.

In case you take pleasure in character transformation, Nineteen Eighties nostalgia, or complicated feminine leads, Joan may be one so as to add to your watchlist! Your flip, Joan viewers! What did you consider the pilot? Do you discover Joan to be a relatable character? Is her lifetime of crime only a means to an finish, or do you suppose she’s drawn to the thrill and hazard of all of it? We need to know your ideas! Share them under – we’d love to listen to what you suppose!