Lucky Man

It's early days, but the pilot episode shows real promise. Played out as a proper British cop show/gangland drama, with characteristic British tropes, the excellent London setting and some fine actors, but with Stan Lee influence. What's not to love as a concept!

There is a danger that it may over play the clichés and tropes - court room, marriage drama, mysterious strangers, corrupt cops, hard arse bosses and instantly dislikable colleagues all make an appearance (not spoilers!). That's fine as long as the writers continue to keep them balanced.

But if they can maintain this balance and keep it dark and true then it bodes well.

This series started with great potential, but they really missed the opportunity to end on a high note at the end of series two. Series three was a mistake, a big mistake. By the time I was watching the third last episode of series three it had become so repetitive and boring that I threw the towel in and fast forwarded to the final episode. Loved the first two series, but series 3 was utter tosh and heaven forbid they ever make a series 4!

This is exactly the type of TV show that has an great first season, but due to lack of initial momentum does not get picked up for a second. That is why I urge anyone who is thinking about watching this show to take a chance with the first two episodes, and go from there. Odds are, you'll appreciate the gamble, and eagerly await the next chapter.

On the surface is a very well produced detective/mystery show with episodic, seasonal, and perhaps even a series arc. The main character is a very colorful fellow at the outer edge of middle age. He's clearly a man of contradiction - experienced, good at his job, but also an addict with his personal life spinning out of control.

The surrounding characters are very well cast, and there really are not any weak links to the ensemble. Everyone comes off as well thought out, with their own lives, history, goals and desires.

This isn't your typical comic book hero, or comic book realm. By all accounts this is the same reality we inhabit, but with a touch of magic in the form of an enchanted object. Once the power can't be denied, it becomes a question of what to do with this yin yang ability involving the positive and negative qualities of luck.

Perhaps the number one quality on display here is the writing. The dialog comes off as believable, the deliveries are well performed. This says something about experience, and the actors we are dealing with. It's refreshing to watch a new show with no gimmicks, just rock solid writing, production, acting, and premise.

Lucky man has gotten off to a great start, and deserves a following to ensure not only a first good season, but a complete series run.

An excellent start - 8/10

I was delighted to see that "Stan Lee's Lucky Man" was not yet another interminable '~man' (Bat/Ant/Super/X- etc etc ad nauseum) comic on screen. Instead we are treated to a show for adults rather than teens/YAs. Remarkably, the drama is set in London and features as the eponymous character a rather flawed and somewhat insular copper. We soon see that "Lucky Man" may not be that lucky at all, and that his luck is rather double edged. The characters are believable, often unlovable, and well portrayed; the roles are quickly fleshed out and we easily grasp the character of each participant. The background of London does not distract, as say New York might, instead it provides a gentle and interesting canvas against which the story rapidly, and often brutally, unfolds. Well written, well acted, and tightly edited, I haven't felt that the show slackens at any point. Excellent and believable drama despite the 'comic book' premise.

Reading the other reviews, I believe that most people expected to see a spandex-dressed superhero series. Stan Lee's name in the very title of the series would cause that.

This is a police story. Police detectives who have to deal with something seemingly impossible. It is the concept of ordinary people who have to deal with extraordinary situations.

It is closer to "Fringe" than anything else. Not much action, but plenty of mystery. It has an intriguing plot (with a few minor flaws) that keeps interest quite high. Acting is OK, nothing exceptional, but nothing disappointing either.

Overall this is a great story, told in a satisfying way. As I am a fan of the genre, I consider "Lucky Man" to be one of the top 3 series of 2016.