Dope Thief Review: Apple TV+ Scores a High-Grade Crime Drama Packed With Humor and Dynamite Performances

Just like December is Oscars season, with films rushing into theaters to qualify for awards, now March and April have become Emmys season for TV shows, with prestige TV hopefuls piling in before the May 31 Emmys deadline. As a result, we get an avalanche of awards bait every spring, and it can be tough to sort through it all to find the truly worthwhile stuff. So it’s my duty to call your attention to Apple TV+’s top-notch crime drama Dope Thief, premiering this Friday, so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. (I’ve seen six of the eight episodes.) Gritty and riveting with a wicked sense of humor, it puts a few fresh twists on the crime drama formula and has terrific performances, too, with Brian Tyree Henry making a very strong case for Emmy consideration.

Dope Thief’s story centers on two small-time Philadelphia hustlers, Ray and Manny (played by Henry and Narcos alum Wagner Moura), who come up with the bright idea to pose as DEA agents and rip off drug dealers for cash. It’s easy money at first, but after one of their busts goes horribly wrong, they find themselves way in over their heads and caught in the middle of a deadly gang war between rival cartels. Being a bleak crime drama set in suburban Philly, there’s definitely a Mare of Easttown flavor to this, with a hint of True Detective in there, too. In other words, if you’re waiting for a new HBO Sunday night crime drama, Dope Thief should fill that void nicely.

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There’s a lot of levity here as well, to lighten the mood amid all the shootouts. Ray and Manny have a raucous and rude banter that’s reminiscent of ‘80s buddy cop movies like Running Scared and Midnight Run — and they’re not exactly action heroes, either. They’re ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances, and that everyman angle is refreshing as Ray and Manny bumble their way through some highly dangerous situations. The danger is very real, to be sure, but Ray and Manny’s comical ineptitude keeps it from getting too grim.

Series creator and showrunner Peter Craig helped pen big-screen blockbusters like The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick, but the closest analogue to this show on his résumé is the 2010 Ben Affleck film The Town, which similarly elevated the heist genre with a uniquely human touch. Craig applies the same care here, tackling big topics like morality and spirituality with smart dialogue and rich emotional depth. (Dope Thief is also conspicuously set in a post-COVID world, with desperate people scratching and clawing to rebuild their lives.) The action scenes generate serious tension as well, and famed filmmaker Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) directs the pilot with a kinetic spark that carries throughout the series.

Henry might be the highlight, though. He first grabbed our attention as aspiring rapper Al on FX’s Atlanta, but he tops himself here with a knockout performance, infusing Ray both with goofy charm and touching vulnerability. Even when bullets are flying by his head, he keeps it all grounded. Moura does stellar work, too, as Manny becomes increasingly haunted by the things he’s done to make a quick buck. (The violence in Dope Thief isn’t just for thrills; it comes with serious psychological consequences.) The supporting cast has a number of standout turns as well, with Kate Mulgrew as Ray’s surrogate mom and Ving Rhames as his incarcerated dad.

Now could Dope Thief have been six episodes instead of eight? Yeah, maybe. But I didn’t mind, because Craig fills every frame with tiny details that ring true and add to the overall power of the series. Dope Thief does spin a compelling crime story, but it’s more than just a series of plot points — it’s a vibe. I realize your TV time is limited this time of year, but if you have an opening for a thoughtful, satisfying crime drama that bends the rules a little? Dope Thief just might give you the fix you’re looking for.

THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: Apple TV+’s Dope Thief puts a refreshing twist on the crime drama genre with top-notch performances and a wicked sense of humor.

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