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<\/a><\/div>\nJoan, a six-part British Crime Darama Series, made its American debut on the CW tonight. The series centers around the infamous 1980s British criminal Joan Hannington, often dubbed “The Godmother.” In the series, Sophie Turner plays Joan – a complex, ambitious woman who evolves from a struggling single mother into one of the UK\u2019s most notorious jewel thieves. The series leans heavily into the gritty and glamorous world of 1980s London, showing Joan’s rise in the criminal underworld while she grapples with the duality of being a loving mother and a cunning criminal mastermind.<\/p>\n
In the pilot episode, we meet Joan as she’s at a crossroads: on one hand, she’s dealing with a toxic relationship and the pressures of motherhood, but on the other, she’s drawn to the thrilling allure of crime. The first episode wastes no time setting up the stakes, giving viewers a sense of Joan\u2019s desperation, as well as her tenacity and resourcefulness. Sophie Turner shines here, delivering a strong, nuanced performance that anchors the show. The character is written with depth, combining vulnerability and ruthlessness, which makes her intriguing to follow.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n“Pilot” – JOAN. Pictured: Sophie Turner as Joan and Mia Millichamp-Long as Kelly. Photo: ITV \u00a9 2024 Snowed-In Productions. All Rights Reserved.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The pilot also introduces some of the side characters who are likely to play significant roles in Joan\u2019s rise. These include shady figures from the London criminal underworld, whose initial interactions with Joan are laced with tension and mistrust. The episode gives us hints that these relationships will grow more complicated as Joan becomes more entangled in their world. It’s clear that trust and betrayal will be recurring themes as Joan navigates her new life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n “Pilot” – JOAN. Pictured: Sophie Turner as Joan and Alex Blake as Bernard. Photo: ITV \u00a9 2024 Snowed-In Productions. All Rights Reserved.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the more subtle aspects of the episode is how it explores gender dynamics. Joan operates in a male-dominated criminal world, and the way she navigates these power structures\u2014sometimes using her femininity as a weapon, other times battling against the condescension of her male counterparts\u2014adds an interesting layer to the story. It\u2019s not just a crime drama; it\u2019s also a commentary on the limitations and expectations placed on women, especially in the 1980s.<\/p>\n
\nSophie Turner’s portrayal of Joan brings a lot of layers to the role. You can see her raw vulnerability as a woman who has been beaten down by life, but there\u2019s also an undeniable strength and defiance simmering just beneath the surface. There are moments of quiet tension, where you can almost feel Joan calculating her next move, weighing the risks and rewards of stepping into the world of crime. This balance between her softer side as a mother and her emerging ruthless side as a criminal is one of the standout aspects of the episode.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n