Joan Review: A Sparkling Gem With Rough Edges

Sophie Turner takes on the true story of one of Britain’s most infamous jewel thieves. Joan tells the tale of Joan Hannington, a woman who broke free from an oppressive past and made her own fortune through audacious heists in 1980s London. Turner steps into the shoes of this resilient character, but how well does she capture Hannington’s spirit of adventure and defiance?

Set amongst the flashy excess of Thatcher-era Britain, the series explores Hannington’s journey from battered housewife to cunning “godmother” of the criminal underworld. We join her at a low point, fleeing her abusive partner with only her young daughter in tow. With few options and fewer allies, Hannington fights to carve her own path. Her flair for gemology and skill at winning people over serve her well as she plots increasingly daring jobs.

It’s an engaging story that seems ripe for a captivating drama. So how does Turner measure up in the lead role? She gives it her all, taking on Hannington’s quick wit and charm. But does the script truly do justice to the dramatic twists in Hannington’s real life?

The show aims to portray her desperate motives yet still thrill with tales of glittering heists. Only time will tell if it balances these elements as artfully as Hannington balanced risky schemes and motherhood. If Turner can convince as both a compassionate mother and cunning criminal, this series may prove the perfect showcase for her talents.

The Precious Life of a Jewel Thief

Joan Hannington has seen her share of hard times. Born into an impoverished home with an abusive father, she endures further torment in an unstable marriage. When threats from her criminal partner Gary force a flight, Joan must once again rely on her own wits to provide for her daughter Kelly.

Seeking refuge in London, Joan’s first job at a jeweler’s offers an unexpected chance—she pockets a stash of gems during an ill-timed confrontation with her lecherous boss. This sparks the start of a lucrative, if illegal, new career. In a pub one night, chance introduces Joan to shrewd antique dealer Boisie, with thieves for hire on the side. Impressed by her guile, Bonnie recruits Joan as an accomplice.

Their early heists yield rewards yet remain small-time ventures. But Joan’s skill and daring push the pair to bolder schemes. Posing as marks within high-security vaults, the duo raid caches of precious diamonds and rubies. As Joan furthers her gemology education, their cons grow more intricate.

Not all partnerships last, though trusting the wrong people brings Joan trouble. When associates turn violent, Joan must rely on her quick wits to escape harm’s way. Throughout escalating dangers, Joan never loses sight of her priority—providing for Kelly, no matter the cost.

As law enforcement closes in, Joan and Boisie take ever greater risks to stay one step ahead. But how long can luck and fortune favor these felons of fortune? And will Joan ultimately pay too high a personal price for the privileged life of luxury she fights to win?

Uncovering the Woman Behind the Jewels

At the center of this story is one Joan Hannington—a complex figure who endured much yet refused to be defined by her past. It falls to Sophie Turner to bring this daring woman to life on screen. Does she succeed in capturing both the steeliness of a career criminal and the tender heart of a mother?

Turner throws herself into the role with enthusiasm. She nails Joan’s brassiness, whether charmming marks or commanding men twice her size. Yet she ensures we glimpse the vulnerable woman beneath, bearing scars from childhood abuse. Turner conveys Joan’s protective instincts towards daughter Kelly with poignancy.

Through flashbacks, we witness Joan’s transformation—from frightened victim to shrewd survivor—seizing control of her destiny. Turner gradually hardens her performance as Joan grows bolder, while keeping a flinty spark of hope in her eyes. Her empathy for the character draws us firmly to Joan’s side, even as her schemes escalate.

Not all is seamless, though. At times Joan’s motivations shift abruptly between provision for Kelly and pure adrenaline-seeking. And while Turner forges a believable double act with Boisie, their romance arrives suddenly.

Still, Turner earns acclaim for imbuing Joan with grit, flair, and resilience and defiantly overcoming society’s expectations. She brings welcomed nuance to a figure navigating shades of gray between daring outlaw and caring mother. In spotlighting Joan’s humanity above all, Turner does justice to the complexity of the real woman behind the gems.

Stepping Into the 1980s

This series really transports you back to the dazzling excess of Thatcher’s Britain. From the neon-drenched streets to Joan’s glamorously retro wardrobe, the attention to period detail is impeccable.

Costume designer Andrea Busfield outdid herself dressing our stars in big hair, heavy makeup, and eye-catching fabrics. Turner looks every inch the glamazon in sequined mini-dresses, power-shouldered blazers, and fake fur galore. Likewise, Dillane plays charming rogue Boisie with just the right amount of smarm, whether in pinstripes or leather jackets.

Set decorators filled each scene with authentic touches—from pubs stuffed with wood paneling to flats cluttered with clashing florals. You practically smell the hairspray and cigarettes through the screen. Alongside a banging 80s soundtrack, these elements create a vivid sense of time and place.

While the directing maintains suspense adequately during heist scenes, some domestic interactions feel stilted. Dark cinematography in certain episodes also hinders visual storytelling.

However, talented supporting actors like Dillane inject life into their characters. The chemistry between leads Turner and Dillane as their criminal duo develops drives the pulse of episodes.

Overall, production values shine in resurrecting a flashy decade and its attitudes. Style remains the series’ forte, helping transport viewers straight to the indulgent thrills of 1980s London’s criminal underbelly.

A Woman’s Prerogative

At its core, this series examines what it means to take control of one’s destiny, even through unlawful means. As a victim of abuse and a woman struggling in a patriarchal system, Joan sees crime as her sole road to independence.

The show avoids easy moralizing, reflecting the complex motives behind Joan’s actions. While unlawful, her exploits arise from a lack of safer options. Society had failed to offer this formidable woman legitimate ways of providing for her daughter through her skills and wit.

Viewers find themselves conflicted—we recognize the injustices that drove Joan to criminality, yet her escalating schemes test empathy. Sympathy is complicated by harm to innocents. The drama shrewdly leaves judgment to the audience.

Through Joan, we glimpse the limited place allotted to women in 1980s Britain. Oppression shapes her yet cannot quash her spirit. Turner imbues these nuances with subtlety, avoiding caricature.

Ultimately, Joan’s story becomes less a celebration of crime than a hard-won tale of self-determination. Her defiance reminds us that societal progress depends on smashing restrictive gender roles.

While not condoning Joan’s law-breaking, the series sparks thoughtful debate on its root causes and our struggle for control over our own lives. In spotlighting a formidable female protagonist navigating shades of gray, it highlights universal desires to overcome oppression through our own strengths and skills.

Life Imitates Art

For those eager to compare Joan the series to the real-life exploits of its titular thief, frustrations emerge. Parts of Hannington’s colorful career seem whitewashed for television, with risks downplayed and relationships streamlined.

Still, the essence remains—a resilient woman prevailing over the broken system that twice failed her. And somehow, in spotlighting the very human within the criminal, Turner’s haunted yet humorous performance feels truthful to the spirit of Hannington’s memoir.

When held beside dramas treading similar criminal ground, Joan holds its own. Like Peaky Blinders before it, the atmospheric period setting and bold leads keep viewers hooked, even if threatened lives are resolved too conveniently at times.

Where some shows glorify crime unchecked, Joan wisely leaves judgment open. By layering moral complexity upon Hannington’s already remarkable tale, it sparks discussion on justice, gender, and taking control of one’s destiny.

Not all storytelling needs to match truth to the letter. In capturing the thrill and jeopardy interwoven through a life of extraordinary circumstances, if not precise facts, Joan the series does justice to the woman who lived it. And in highlighting humanity over unlawful deeds, it presents a three-dimensional protagonist to remember.

On the whole, while liberties are taken, this drama translates the essence of its real inspiration to an engaging television character study. Life may never equal art, but sometimes it comes close—as with Sophie Turner’s portrait of Joan Hannington, jewel thief and survivor.

A Diamond in the Rough

So in the end, does Joan sparkle as television or fall somewhat short of greatness? It seems this dramatization of Joan Hannington’s sensational life had the potential to shine brighter.

While Sophie Turner gives it her all with empathy and charm, the script at times feels too tame or rushed to do full justice to its complex, compelling source material. And some directing decisions weaken vital tension-building.

Yet for all its flaws, Joan also flashes true brilliance. Its talented leads and sumptuous recreations of 1980s London really do transport us straight to the glamorous highs and dangerous lows of Hannington’s criminality. And its nuanced exploration of feminism, social issues, and moral ambiguities remains thoughtful.

For those who enjoy gripping, visually arresting crime dramas with grounded yet formidable female protagonists, it may prove an imperfect gem. And fans of Turner’s abilities deserve to see her shine in a role with more opportunity to sparkle.

While not flawless, Joan does offer glimpses of brilliance amongst its rough edges. Ultimately, it presents an intriguing real-life tale in an engaging way, ensuring this diamond in the rough still merits discovery for its shining qualities and committed performances.