Steal Show Review: Does Sophie Turner’s Live Up to the Hype?

Steal follows office employees who are forced into a £4 billion pension-fund robbery after armed thieves storm their workplace. From the start, the series positions Turner’s Zara at the center of the chaos.

Critics have responded to Steal show with generally positive, though not universally glowing, reviews. The series currently holds a 77% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 35 critic reviews, while Metacritic lists a score of 64 out of 100 based on 12 critic reviews. That response fits the show well: Steal is gripping and well-performed, but not without flaws.

You can watch Steal Season 1 on Prime Video, where the full six-episode season is available to stream.

Prime Video Series

Watch Steal Season 1 on Prime Video

Sophie Turner leads this tense British heist thriller about a normal workday that turns into a high-stakes £4 billion pension-fund robbery.

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This review avoids major spoilers, though it discusses the show’s pacing, structure, and overall ending quality.

But does Steal on Prime Video live up to the hype, or does it feel weighed down by the pressure?

What Is Steal show About, and Who Is in the Cast?

Sotiris Nikias created the TV series Steal, turning an ordinary pension-fund office into the stage for what the show frames as the heist of the century. Zara Dunne works at Lochmill Capital, a company that manages pension-fund investments. She processes trades there with her coworker and friend Luke. Their day begins like any other, but everything flips when thieves carrying machine guns and wearing prosthetic disguises storm the office floor.

The criminals hold all workers hostage and force Zara and Luke, who are on the trade processing team, to carry out unauthorized transfers. What first looks like a simple robbery takes unexpected turns. By the end of the chaos, the thieves walk away with £4 billion of ordinary people’s pension money.

The story doesn’t stop at the robbery itself. After it happens, DCI Rhys Covaci jumps into action, rushing to figure out who planned the massive theft and why. Rhys isn’t without his own problems—he’s a gambling addict who slipped back into old habits, and he’s juggling financial troubles. While he sorts out the case, he also has to deal with hidden motives driving the crime.

The cast is led by Sophie Turner as Zara, Archie Madekwe as Luke, and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as DCI Rhys Covaci.

Sophie Turner’s Role and Cast Dynamics

Critics have praised Turner’s performance as Zara, often highlighting her emotional control and screen presence. She anchors the show with grounded emotion and a believable sense of desperation. Her character hits rock bottom, and Turner says playing someone so raw felt freeing after years of taking on tougher, more serious roles. She describes Zara as a layered character shaped by a life that does not fit neatly into hero-or-villain labels. This approach works because Turner keeps Zara’s emotions controlled yet visible.

The connection between Turner and Madekwe comes across as effortless from the start. Madekwe explains how building instant warmth and closeness was crucial since their characters are portrayed as career-driven people who focus on their work and each other. Spending six intense weeks filming in a scorching studio helped them create a genuine bond that carried into their performances. Their off-screen ease also seems to carry into their performances, making Zara and Luke’s friendship feel believable.

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd brings a lot of charm to his role as Rhys. He balances Rhys’s drive to solve the case with the character’s gambling relapse and financial pressure. The three leads have enough chemistry to keep the roughly five-hour season moving. On the downside, the heist crew itself feels underwritten. They seem bland and fail to stand out, feeling more like predictable stereotypes than interesting, memorable personalities.

Highlights and Flaws of This Heist Thriller

Across its six episodes, Steal maintains a brisk pace that grabs attention from the start. The opening episode builds gripping tension and includes sudden bursts of violence, even though the heist itself unfolds through computers rather than vault-breaking. The premiere closes with a sharp narrative turn that raises the stakes for the rest of the series. Episode 3, titled “Short Run,” shines. It digs into Zara and Luke’s friendship while shedding light on Zara’s strained relationship with her mother, Haley, who struggles with alcoholism.

The series starts strongly but struggles to maintain the momentum after its impressive premiere. The middle episodes lose their focus with complicated decisions that weaken the story. Zara’s reckless behavior feels careless and makes me question her ability to protect herself. DCI Rhys also becomes too personally involved, which makes parts of the investigation feel less convincing. Instead of adding depth, the messy personal backstories distract from the plot. To make matters worse, predictable twists and red herrings pile up, weakening the suspense instead of deepening it. It leans too much on unbelievable last-second escapes from risky moments.

The ending may let some viewers down, with a climax that feels dull compared with the show’s stronger opening. Turner’s outstanding performance holds everything together, helping Steal remain engaging even when the writing falters. The title becomes more meaningful as the series connects the heist to broader questions about financial exploitation and ordinary people losing control of their futures.

Final Thoughts

Sophie Turner’s strong acting holds Steal together even when it stumbles, and that’s what makes it enjoyable despite its clear issues. The story grabbed my attention right away, and the six episodes help maintain a steady pace. Still, the twists felt obvious, and the ending fell flat, keeping the show from truly standing out. In the end, I cared more about Turner’s portrayal than the heist plot itself. Steal offers solid entertainment, but it never quite rises to the level of a standout heist thriller.

FAQ

Is Steal show worth watching? Yes, Steal is worth watching for Sophie Turner’s performance and its fast-paced opening, though its predictable twists and uneven ending may disappoint some viewers.

Who stars in Steal? Steal stars Sophie Turner as Zara Dunne, Archie Madekwe as Luke, and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as DCI Rhys Covaci.

How many episodes are in Steal Season 1? Steal Season 1 has six episodes.