Streaming on Apple TV, the new cops-and-robbers thriller series 12 12 12 review centres on a high-asset robbery conceived with utmost professional precision. The show opens with a catchy and arresting voiceover establishing the rules laid down by creators Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble. According to the premise, a professionally planned robbery takes 12 months to prepare and 12 hours to execute, and a bank robber who is not caught within 12 days is never caught at all. This clever gimmick makes for an intriguing conceit, establishing the series as a fun addition to the small-screen heist-caper catalog at its best moments.
A Non-Linear Structure With Pros and Cons
Divided across an eight-episode season, the narrative moves back and forth through the planning phase, the execution of the robbery, and the subsequent takedown, utilizing occasional time-skipping and rewinding liberties. This structural approach carries distinct advantages and disadvantages. There is undeniable satisfaction in watching various pieces of the heist snap together, especially as new perspectives force viewers to reframe earlier events. However, this arrangement frequently places the audience ahead of the characters, which occasionally dilutes dramatic tension. Knowing from the outset that the heist ultimately succeeds removes a layer of suspense, shifting the focus entirely to how the crew pulls it off rather than whether they will escape.
Confident Direction From Industry Veterans
A steadying constant throughout the run is the confident direction guiding the episodes. Television veteran Kari Skogland, known for The Falcon And The Winter Soldier and The Handmaid’s Tale, helms half of the episodes, while Takeshi Fukunaga from Tokyo Vice and Shōgun, alongside Ellen Kuras from The Umbrella Academy, split the remaining four. On-location shooting lends a tangible, grounded quality to proceedings, providing the series with a welcome visual panache that elevates the production value and immerses the audience fully in the gritty atmosphere of the unfolding cat-and-mouse game.
Nuanced Performances From the Leads
The central dynamic benefits immensely from characters that refuse to fit neatly into conventional good-guy and bad-guy archetypes. FBI Agent Jack Strickland, played by Anthony Mackie, is driven by a relentless vengeance that frequently pushes him past ethical boundaries. Conversely, the brilliant criminal Paul Galvin, portrayed by Jamie Dornan, harbors his own righteous motivations for placing his loved ones in jeopardy. Both actors deliver convincing, committed performances, shining brightest when laying bare the conflicted interiorities of their respective characters and adding emotional weight to the high-stakes narrative.
A Mixed Bag of Supporting Players
While the central rivalry anchors the drama, the surrounding cast proves somewhat uneven. Agathe Rousselle cuts a striking, formidable figure as Paul’s romantic partner Severine, holding her own opposite Dornan. Meanwhile, Sallie Harmsen’s Swiss police officer Lena establishes an agreeable rapport with Mackie’s agent while aiding the investigation, though her role ultimately leaves her underutilized. Most frustrating is Paul’s volatile older brother Bobby, played by Jack Kesy, whose constant erratic outbursts and grating temperament quickly become exhausting, despite minor narrative attempts to explain his persistent volatility.
A Strong Back Half and Binge-Worthy Finish
Fortunately, these narrative missteps are outweighed by a remarkably strong back half that introduces a major character-altering twist. While it may not quite elevate 12 12 12 to the absolute pinnacle of the heist genre alongside historic greats, the narrative momentum and charismatic lead performances successfully make it a thoroughly entertaining and worthy candidate for a breezy weekend binge-watch.
